MWH Law Group's Emery Harlan diversifying law: Diversity in Business Awards: - Milwaukee Business Journal - The Business Journals
Emery Harlan has dedicated his entire career to advocating for the representation of women and minorities in the law field. He noticed early on that there weren’t many people who looked like him, so he spoke up and created solutions.
With over 32 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Harlan uses his knowledge and resources to mentor young lawyers.
“I am someone who feels as though there’s a role for advocacy in business and government,” said Harlan.
He started his career in Chicago before moving his practice to Milwaukee. While working at Ross & Hardies, Harlan went to leadership to discuss the lack of diversity and got involved in the firm's recruiting efforts.
Thanks to Harlan’s efforts, the firm reached out to encourage more minorities to apply to their firm.
In 2016, Harlan co-founded MWH Law Group in Milwaukee with his partner Kerrie Murphy. He’s continuously looking for opportunities to diversify the legal profession.
Murphy, who has worked with Harlan for over 20 years, said she’s honored to be his partner, noting that he is extremely humble and prefers to work in the background.
“Throughout his career, Emery has taken the same focus and energy he uses on behalf of his clients and used it to promote greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession,” said Murphy.
Their law firm started the MWH Law Group Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship to further Harlan’s career mission. MWH Law will award a $5,000 scholarship to an incoming or current law student who is positively impacting diversity and inclusion. Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited law school in Wisconsin or Iowa. The 2021 recipient was a Marquette University Law School student.
Harlan also co-founded a trade association focused on creating opportunities for women and minority-owned law firms – the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms, or NAMWOLF. The organization partners with more than 200 firms and 100 major companies, including Google and Salesforce.
The nonprofit was created in 2001 to “promote diversity in the legal profession by fostering successful relationships among preeminent minority- and women-owned law firms and private/public entities.”
Harlan truly understands how important representation is because it impacted him firsthand.
Richard Gordon Hatcher was the first Black mayor of Gary, Ind., and he also was an attorney. Harlan’s parents worked with Hatcher, so Harlan saw up close what his future could be like.
“If he can find success, then kids who come from any background, any place can be successful,” said Harlan.
source: https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/04/14/diversity-in-business-awards-emery-harlan-mwh-la.html
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