O. Emil Ovbiagele

Bar / Professional Activity

• State Bar of Wisconsin, Young Lawyer Division, Former President, 2022
• Milwaukee Bar Association, President-Elect, 2022
• ABA GP Solo Diversity Fellow, 2019
• U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Wisconsin Advisory Committee-Member, 2019
• Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers (WAAL), Member, 2014
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
• State Bar of Wisconsin, 2014
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Walker v City of Milwaukee (Eastern District of Wisconsin): Obtained a $2,000,000 Jury Verdict on behalf of the Plaintiff in a civil rights police shooting case., 2023
• Always Towing v City of Milwaukee (Wisconsin Court of Appeals): Successfully challenged a city towing ordinance on state law grounds, 2023
• Successfully negotiated a $215,000 pre-suit severance settlement in an employment matter for a former employee (a 718% increase from the initial severance offer), 2023
• Rock Hemp Corp. v. Dun et al (7th Circuit Court of Appeals): Successfully obtained affirmance of lower court decision dismissing a case against the defendants in a commercial transactions dispute), 2022
• Moore v Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, WI ERD Case #CR201900458 (Represented the Plaintiff in an employment discrimination case against the Defendant and obtained a full trial verdict in favor of Plaintiff), 2021
• Obtained an early suit settlement of $50,000 for client in an employment disability discrimination/retaliation case., 2021
• Farrah Group LLC v Capital Auto Mart, LLC- Obtained a $159,000 (plus attorney fees) trial verdict award in favor of Plaintiff in a commercial breach of contract case., 2021
• Obtained a favorable post-suit settlement of $150,000 for client in a real estate misrepresentation/breach of contract case, 2021
• Successfully obtained a $250,000 pre-suit settlement payment for client in an employment discrimination matter, 2021
• Quick Charge Kiosk v Josh Kaul (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 2018AP000947)-- (Represent Plaintiff-Appellant as lead attorney and successfully got the Wisconsin Supreme Court to grant client's petition for certiorari review on an issue of first impression involving sweepstakes and gambling laws in Wisconsin) , 2020
• Shirley Dedrick v Miloudi, Inc et al (18CV415, Milwaukee County) (Successfully obtained dismissal for defendants in a case involving nursing home wrongful death claim), 2018

Videos

• We Look At Law Differently We are attorneys who think like entrepreneurs. We take a concierge approach to the practice of the law. We strive to create long-term partnerships with clients, built, on a foundation of responsive communication and practical solutions. We align our interests with those of our clients through transparent billing practices. We don’t allow rigid and archaic billing practices to curb our passion for representing our clients’ interests. , What OVB Law & Consulting is all about?, Employment Law, Civil Litigation, Business Law, 2021

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Litigation Certificate, Marquette University Law School, 2014

Pro bono / Community Service

• Co-Host- the “Bottom Up” Podcast
• Assistant Adjunct Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School. For the past 2 years, I have taught a Trial Advocacy Class at the law school., 2022

Educational Background

• Marquette University, B.A., Major: International Affairs (Concentration: Politics of the Developing World), 2011
• Marquette University Graduate School of Management, M.B.A., 2017

White Papers

• Addresses how will full-time remote work policies affect the career prospects of new lawyers, Final Thought: New Lawyers: A Generation that Might Get Left Behind the Screen, Law, 2021

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• In business, every decision is a business decision. That’s especially true in a business dispute. Unfortunately, sometimes the decision-making around dispute resolution gives way to emotional responses and is less efficient and more costly than it should be. This session concentrates on approaching any business dispute from the proper perspective at the outset: Identify and evaluate the proper factors based upon the type and nature of the dispute, the persons involved and the business ramifications; and consider the proper use of ADR opportunities at the proper time and in the proper manner. Business lawyers and litigators together with ADR professionals discuss the questions to ask and the considerations to make to take advantage of every opportunity to efficiently and timely resolve disputes and get back to business., Presenter, Using Proactive ADR Strategies to Efficiently and Successfully Navigate Business Disputes, Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Business Litigation, 2023
• In this CLE presentation, I and my co-presenter explored certain litigation issues affecting CBD and Cannabis businesses in Wisconsin:  False advertising Regulatory enforcement Supply chain contract disputes Complex investment disputes Changes and challenges to intellectual property protections, Presenter, CBD Business Litigation: Five Trends to Watch in 2021, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, Cannabis, CBD, Agriculture, 2021
• CLE on CBD and Hemp., Presenter/Panelist, The Rise of CBD in Wisconsin: Pitfalls and Considerations CLE, 2019, Milwaukee Bar Association., Cannabis, 2019
• First State Bar of Wisconsin CLE on CBD, hemp laws, and pertinent developments, Presenter/Panelist, Hemp & CBD Oil in Wisconsin: The New Green Gold CLE, 2019, State Bar of Wisconsin, PINNACLE®, State Bar of Wisconsin, PINNACLE®, Cannabis, CBD, Small Business, 2019
• Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law, Select Trials Skills and Advocacy Class, 2018
• First Wisconsin stat bar CLE on benefit corporations (b corps), Presenter, Wisconsin’s B Corps- Blending Profit and Purpose CLE, 2017, State Bar of Wisconsin, PINNACLE®, State Bar of Wisconsin, PINNACLE®, Corporate, 2017

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Star Award Recipient- Diversity in the Law, 2023
• Recipient of the Wisconsin State Bar “John Lederer Distinguished Service” Award, 2023
• Recognized in the prestigious 30th edition of the “Best Lawyers in America” for his expertise in Employment Law, 2023
• Named to the Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Power 30 Personal Injury Attorney” list, 2023
• Recipient of the American Bar Association “On the Rise-Top 40 Lawyers” Award, 2022
• Emil was named to the Wisconsin Law Journal's selection of ``Up and Coming Lawyers.`` This prestigious honor was bestowed upon roughly 35 attorneys who had demonstrated leadership, contributed to their community and successfully achieved legal outcomes early in their career., 2017

Honors

• Up and Coming Lawyers, Wisconsin Law Journal, 2017
• One of the Top Attorneys in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Super Lawyers "Rising Star" list, 2017, 2018, and 2019

Awards

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Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com

Industry Groups

• Cannabis
• Gaming
• Gas Station
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Retailers
• Technology