Variety suits von Briesen’s Noyes just fine

Listen to this article

Kelly Noyes knew from an early age that she wanted to be an attorney.

“I saw it as a way to combine critical thinking skills with my writing abilities,” said Noyes, a shareholder in the litigation and risk management practice group at von Briesen & Roper S.C. in Milwaukee. “And personality-wise, working in corporate litigation is a good fit. I enjoy putting together the strategic arguments, as well as the persuasive writing to get my client’s point across.”

And just as no two businesses are the same, likewise no two corporate litigation cases are the same. Noyes enjoys the variety.

“I learn a lot about different businesses and how they work,” she said. “One day I may be learning about something related to engineering and the next day, it’s something related to credit card processing. I majored in business as an undergrad, so I really love that kind of thing.”

Although Noyes is a litigator, she’s rarely in court. Most corporate litigation cases settle or a judge issues a summary judgment without oral argument.

“I had one trial, but that was a pro bono case, so I need to make sure as I’m putting my arguments on paper that everything is down on the page before it goes to a judge,” she said. “It’s fun, but it’s definitely a challenge.”

Noyes’ cases can last for years. For example, she’s worked on a lawsuit involving the removal of PCBs from the Fox River in northeast Wisconsin for seven years.

“The discovery process is very important in corporate litigation cases and the e-discovery process. Reading emails and such really helps you understand a lot about the business and how it works,” Noyes said.

Finding a balance among her cases can sometimes be a challenge since the intensity of the cases ebbs and flows.

“It’s a struggle to strike a balance and know when to say ‘yes’ to a case and when to say ‘no,’” Noyes said.

Since her cases cover numerous areas, Noyes tries to identify experts and resources at the different businesses that she can turn to when she has questions.

“It’s important to understand the businesses involved in these cases, so I ask a lot of questions,” she said.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Kelly Noyes: My work is important because my job, at its core, is to help clients resolve problems and get back to focusing on what they do forward. Some of the problems are more complicated than others and some take longer than others, but the end result always provides some clarity for my clients. Personally, my work is also important because it keeps me mentally stimulated. I love how I have to think deeply about issues and be creative to help solve clients’ problems and to figure out how to best present my clients’ cases to the court.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Noyes: I look up to women in the legal field who were able to pave their own way in their careers while also having a family because the ability to do both well is so important to me. There are a lot of judges who fit this bill — Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are notable examples — but I am also lucky to have wonderful women in my own firm and in the Milwaukee community who have not only paved the way, but have taken me under their wing and provided invaluable mentoring.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Noyes: I have two young kids who keep me very busy and entertained outside of the office. We’re a pretty active family and like to hike and be outdoors on the weekends, which can be great stress relief. I also work out regularly and distance run, which is about the greatest stress relief there is.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Noyes: My friends in other fields are surprised to hear how infrequently I’m in court. I have a mainly federal practice so even on important motions there are rarely hearings. I’ve had cases go for years and never actually step foot in the courtroom. It’s a blessing and a curse. I love the writing process and the flexibility of not being tied down by a lot of court dates, but I also miss getting to regularly argue motions and getting to know the judges.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Noyes: Well, I got married during law school so that’s a great memory. My favorite memory from the actual academic process is probably of my time in the Consumer Law Clinic during my 2L year. I worked on a case involving a child who was denied health care coverage for cancer treatment because all of the treatments available for that rare type of cancer were “experimental” and excluded under the policy. I was part of the team that briefed the case before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. It was such a great experience, not only because we won and got a good result for our client, but because it was my first exposure to both ERISA and appellate law, both areas that I love and continue to practice in today.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Noyes: I worked for several years on an ERISA case involving payment of health care expenses for a very sick little girl. That case stands out to me because it had a long scope — four years and two trips to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals — and because it really helped me develop as a lawyer. I learned a lot about effective legal writing and oral advocacy from that case, as well as the strategic aspects of knowing when to make an argument and when to let it go. And the most important thing was that we got a good result for our clients.