Variety keeps Michael Best’s Streff on her toes

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Kimberly Streff thrives on variety.

An associate attorney in Michael Best & Friedrich’s Milwaukee office, Streff handles a variety of commercial litigation cases from contract to insurance coverage conflicts.

“I take whatever comes in. The subject matter is always different and the cases may be at different stages in their litigation, which makes my days very interesting,” she said.

After handling insurance coverage cases at a Chicago law firm, Streff appreciated the switch to general civil litigation when she joined Michael Best.

She said working on a variety of cases with different subject matters broadened her legal experience. Through those cases, she said she had the opportunity to observe and learn from other practitioners, adapting to new areas of law or changing industries.

“If you know how to pursue litigation and understand the different stages it does not matter what the topic is since you know the right steps to take to get started,” said Streff, who has experience in all stages of litigation in both federal and state courts. “You can then dive in deeper and learn more about the specific industry and issue.”

Although she has only been out of law school for less than five years, Streff has participated in several high-profile cases. While at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Va., she was a student-attorney with the school’s Advanced Administration Litigation Clinic, where she represented coal miners pursing federal black lung benefits.

At her first job in Chicago she handled insurance coverage defense regarding a variety of different types of underlying cases and represented an insurer in pending coverage litigation related to concussion claims by athletes in the NFL and NCAA.

“All cases are important and it is vital to understand the options for your clients and what you can do to help them achieve their goal,” Streff said.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Kimberly Streff: I really enjoy interacting with and developing relationships with clients and other attorneys. When you have a close relationship with a client it is particularly rewarding working hard on a challenging problem to come to a favorable solution.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Streff: I cannot really identify one ‘hero.’ I always skip this type of question. There are so many different aspects of being a lawyer that I would have to say I generally just look up to anyone using their skills for good, who is exceptionally intelligent and successful in their practice and/or is generally committed to fighting for justice.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Streff: It depends. If I need to wind down I like to watch television. I watch an embarrassing amount of television when given the opportunity. If I need to get out stress I run, play Ultimate (Frisbee) and recently joined a gym that incorporates kickboxing. I particularly enjoy running along the river and perhaps stopping into Lakefront (Brewery) for a nice cool down. Also I am new to Milwaukee so I generally just enjoy checking out new bars, restaurants or activities in the city.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Streff: This is less about what I do and more about how I do it, but I am a very laid back person, which can make it seem like I do not stress about my work or my cases. That’s not true, I just have a very laid back demeanor. I prefer to get my work done efficiently and without communicating stress to clients or other attorneys — at least to the extent possible.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Streff: I grew up in Chicago and went to college in the Midwest, but I went to law school in a small town in the south. There were a lot of new experiences, so it is hard to pick just one. I particularly enjoyed going to Devil’s Marbleyard; it was always a tough hike but had beautiful views. I also spent time volunteering at one of the local schools assisting children with homework. I worked with children who spoke Spanish as their first language. During my first time volunteering the kids would speak Spanish when they did not want the tutors to know what they were talking about. About an hour in, I finally responded in Spanish, shocking many of the students, and explained that it was my major in college. They loved it, and would challenge my language skills but seemed to have a lot more respect for me.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Streff: About a week into practicing law I was put on a case and told that we were expecting a large amount of discovery, implying I was definitely to come in over the weekend. At the time I was working in Chicago and it was the same weekend as the Air and Water Show. I cancelled my plans and headed in to the office early, and after waiting for two hours, we found out the box would not arrive until Monday. I think that stands out to me because right at the beginning of my career I came to understand the unpredictability and flexibility required to be a litigator — always keeping me on my toes and never knowing what my day will bring.