Milwaukee Bar Association President Emil Ovbiagele honored at 40 Under 40 event

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On March 18, 2024, Emil Ovbiagele was once again recognized for his accomplishments. This time he was honored “among Milwaukee’s best and brightest young professionals and emerging leaders” at the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 awards event.

“It’s humbling to be acknowledged,” Ovbiagele said during an interview with the Wisconsin Law Journal.

“It’s a reminder for how far I’ve come, and a beacon for where I’m heading,” Ovbiagele added.

Although the March award marks the first one for Ovbiagele in 2024, he is no stranger to receiving awards.

On Dec. 13, 2023, Ovbiagele received a Wisconsin Law Journal award for being a Legal All Star. Not even two months earlier, Ovbiagele was named to the Wisconsin Law Journal’s Power 30 Personal Injury attorneys.  The Power 30 list serves as a significant benchmark for recognizing legal professionals who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and remarkable achievements in their respective fields.

Just one year earlier, the American Bar Association named Ovbiagele as an On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyer. And in 2017, Ovbiagele was honored as an Up and Coming Lawyer by the Wisconsin Law Journal.

Expressing humility, Ovbiagele acknowledged, “there are so many Black leaders doing great things in city of Milwaukee, too many to count.”

Ovbiagele also noted he enjoyed going to the 40 Under 40 event because, “you get to learn about the others and the great things they are accomplishing.”

As previously noted by both the Wisconsin Law Journal and the Milwaukee Business Journal, Ovbiagele, in addition to serving as the founder and managing partner, OVB Law & Consulting S.C, he also is the president of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s board of directors. Additionally, Ovbiagele is an adjunct associate professor at Marquette University Law School.

Over the next year, Ovbiagele said his goal is to “engage in more civil rights impact litigation.”

When asked by the Milwaukee Business Journal, what is one change you would make to improve Milwaukee, Ovbiagele replied, “More attorneys of color.”

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, only 2% of all attorneys in the greater Madison area identify as Black, in-part due to reputational and quality-of-life barriers that inhibit recruitment. Also, as previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, in 2022 only 11.4% of all law firm partners nationwide were lawyers of color, according to a NALP report, which raised a number of questions.

Ovbiagele said being recognized in a room full of Milwaukee’s emerging leaders was inspiring.

“It’s quite inspiring. I also came to realize Milwaukee is a place filled with a lot of great people, and a lot of talent. It’s a rare opportunity to all be acknowledged in a common space. It was very cool to witness and be part of,” he said.