Members who inspire. ?Lucky in Life

• Author: Amanda Robert
• Pages: 62-64

MEMBERS WHO INSPIRE

‘Lucky in Life’

Emily Feinstein creates opportunities

for others through pro bono and hockey

BY AMANDA ROBERT

When Emily Feinstein was

in high school, a retired

Catholic priest lived

next door to her family

and would often invite them to Mass at

a convent near their home in the south

suburbs of Chicago.

After a Christmas Eve Mass, Fein-

stein spoke with one of the sisters, who

asked about her plans after gradua-

tion. She told the sister she intended

to become a lawyer, and she has never

forgotten the woman’s response.

“She said, ‘Well, of course you would

use your degree to provide pro bono

services to women and children who

need help, right?’” Feinstein says. “I

had no idea what pro bono was at the

time, but that statement has always

stuck with me.”

In 2001, Feinstein graduated from

the University of Wisconsin Law School

and joined the Madison, Wisconsin,

of ce of Quarles & Brady , where she

began doing pro bono to help people

in need and hone her legal skills. Now,

more than 20 years later, as a partner

and the Madison of ce’s pro bono coor-

dinator, she also helps her colleagues

connect with the right opportunities.

Zachary Eastburn , who works with

Feinstein in Quarles & Brady’s litiga-

tion and dispute resolution practice

group , is one of those attorneys. As

an associate, he has been inspired by

her dedication to pro bono and gotten

involved in several of the  rm’s efforts.

“In a lot of ways, Emily embodies

the  rm’s cultural commitment and

historic legacy of pro bono work,” East-

burn says. “And it’s not something that

she does simply because it’s there to do.

She does this work because of a strong

conviction to do the right thing.”

Feinstein followed the sister’s advice,

gravitating toward pro bono matters

that bene t women and children. But

she also credits her upbringing for

giving her the opportunity to make a

difference.

She was 6 when her mother married

her father, who was then  nishing his

residency in pediatrics. Together, her

parents have raised nine children and

instilled in them the importance of com-

munity service.

“I always say I have been so lucky in

life,” Feinstein says. “I was lucky that

ABA Insider edited by

LEE RAWLES

lee.rawles@americanbar.org

Members Who Inspire is an ABA Journal series prof‌i ling exceptional ABA members. If you know members who do unique and important work,

you can nominate them for this series by emailing inspire@abajournal.com.

Photo courtesy of Quarles & Brady

ABA JOURNAL | APRIL–MAY 2022

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