The ‘mom mentor’ always knows best

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Farrah N.W. Rifelj isn’t sure why she was always drawn to the law, but growing up she knew it’s what she wanted to do.

When she was in elementary school, she would dress up in a suit and take a briefcase for career days.

“Early on I liked the academic piece of it. I think that’s what really attracted me to it,” she said. “I love learning about the law, the history of the law, the history of government. Now, as I’ve progressed in my career, it’s also having this relationship with clients and helping solve their problems.”

Rifelj is a partner and deputy general counsel at Michael Best & Friedrich. She specializes in employment counseling and employment litigation and has an emphasis on discrimination and harassment prevention and litigation, noncompetition, and Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Rifelj started at Michael Best 15 years ago as a member of a trial team. As her career progressed, she continued to build relationships with clients while making sure they stayed abreast of any developments that could affect their businesses.

“Early on in your career you get involved with litigation and it gets really fun to advocate and defend your position and whatnot,” she said. “I still enjoy doing that when it comes time to do that, but I think sometimes I play a more important role with respect to my clients in compliance.”

As deputy general counsel, Rifelj leads the firm’s employment practices and procedures. Her accomplishments include drafting policies related to flexible work hours, alternative work policies, paternal leave policies and anti-harassment training.

Jonathan Margolies, partner at Michael Best & Friedrich, said Rifelj has an encyclopedic knowledge of employment law and advises clients on ways to stay out of trouble. Clients appreciate her for both her knowledge and clear explanations.

He added Rifelj is a trusted advisor to the law firm’s biggest clients.

“Farrah exudes a polite confidence when giving advice. She has worked hard developing her expertise in the law and will explain to clients, and to the law firm, what the correct course of action is,” Margolies said. “She is never arrogant or brusque about it and will explain her thinking and her suggestions in a wise and persuasive way.”

Rifelj chaired Michael Best’s Women’s Development Group for five years, where she set up an internal training seminar with a colleague while expanding programs for female employees throughout the firm.

She helps employees with different aspects of their careers, such as making informed career choices, dealing with the glass ceiling, women in leadership and work-life balances. She has also earned the name the “mom mentor” by offering guidance to colleagues who have recently become parents.

Rifelj also strives to help families and children outside of work. She served as board president for Family Services of Madison Inc. for nine years. She also served as a board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison.