Women in the Law 2026 – Elizabeth Odian, Michael Best & Friedrich

Elizabeth Odian is a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich in Milwaukee, where she practices employment law. Known for guiding employers through sensitive and complex workplace issues with clarity, pragmatism and compassion, she consistently delivers solutions that balance strong legal advocacy with business practicality.

Odian is entering her fourth year as co-chair of the firm’s Summer Associate Committee, a role that has evolved significantly under her leadership. In the past year, she led a strategic re-evaluation of the program, conducting detailed analysis of industry trends in hiring, retention and summer program design. That work resulted in the creation of a new campus Ambassador Program now active at Marquette University Law School and the University of Wisconsin Law School, strengthening the firm’s recruitment pipeline and on-campus presence. Earlier in her career, she served in an advisory role within the firm’s General Counsel’s Office, supporting employment-related issues during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Odian approaches client service by tailoring strategy to each organization’s needs, whether through aggressive defense or early resolution to reduce cost and disruption. She also counsels clients through employee relations matters to minimize litigation risk.

In the community, Odian is currently serving her second year as board chair and her fifth year on the board of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. She also mentors through the firm’s Venture Best group.