- Attorney Brenda Lewison -

Brenda Lewison (BA, UW-Madison (Major: History; Certificate: Women’s Studies), 1981; JD, UW-Madison, 1995) became an associate with the Law Office of Arthur Heitzer in April 2006.  She ran her own practice from 1995-2005 and was associated with a different firm in the interim.  Since graduation from law school, Ms. Lewison has primarily worked representing individuals in employment discrimination cases and other employment-related matters.  Notable cases include Najieb, et al. v. Bardes Products, Inc. (federal court litigation over race discrimination and retaliation with jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs), Schroeder v. Hamilton School District, et al., (federal court litigation over sexual orientation discrimination under federal law), Boles v. Candy II, Inc., d/b/a Eve, (state court litigation over race discrimination in public accommodations with court decision in favor of plaintiff) and Meyer v. Spectrum Brands (administrative unemployment decision awarding benefits to an employee discharged for engaging in protected union activity). 

Ms. Lewison is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the National Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Association.  She helped found and served on the first Boards of Directors for the Washington Heights Rainbow Association and the Human Rights League Political Action Committee (now Fair Wisconsin PAC).  She has served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Heights Neighborhood Association (WHNA) and currently serves on the WHNA Green Committee. 

Ms. Lewison is a past member of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Legal Services to the Indigent Committee.  She has served as president of the Individual Rights and Responsibilities (now the Civil Rights and Liberties) Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. 

Attorney Lewison also helped found and served on the first Board for Marquette Law School Unemployment Appeals Clinic.  The Clinic received the Outstanding Special Project Award in June 2004 from the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association and Legal Action of Wisconsin Volunteer Lawyers Project, which Ms. Lewison accepted on the Clinic’s behalf. 

Ms. Lewison has participated in the representation of indigent clients by volunteering for Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Volunteer Lawyers Program since becoming an attorney, and she has helped staff the Repairers of the Breach Legal Clinic, providing services for homeless individuals.  She has also helped staff the Voces de la Frontera Citizenship Clinic, assisting legal permanent residents to become U.S. citizens.  

In 2006, her colleagues at the 5th Annual 7th Circuit National Employment Lawyers Association conference awarded Ms. Lewison a Spirit Award for successfully Litigating on a Shoe String Budget.