After a distinguished 15-year career sitting on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Judge Ellen R. Brostrom (ret.) stepped down from the bench in May of 2024 to pursue a full-time career providing Mediation, Arbitration and other Alternative Dispute Resolution services. Judge Brostrom, throughout her judicial career, was highly effective helping litigants reach resolution through the pre-trial mediation process. She completed mediation training at the Pepperdine University Law School’s Strauss Institute of Dispute Resolution.
While on the bench, Judge Brostrom’s experience included presiding over hundreds of trials, including in the civil division over personal injury, construction defects, contracts (including employment, real estate and UCC), medical and professional malpractice, products liability, insurance (including coverage and bad faith), business/commercial, employment, eminent domain, financial matters, class actions, and evictions.
Judge Brostrom is known for her ability to digest complex facts, along with her critical thinking and analytical skills. As a judge, she was noted for her excellent communication skills both written and oral.
In addition to judicial duties, Judge Brostrom has significant adult teaching experience, including:
- Associate Dean of the Wisconsin Judicial College, 2019 – present
- Faculty of the Wisconsin Digital Evidence Bootcamp, 2020 – present
- Faculty at the National Judicial College on the Fourth Amendment, 2021
Prior to her judicial career, Judge Brostrom practiced law privately as an associate and non-equity shareholder, where she concentrated her practice on litigation of complex civil cases, including commercial, contract, employment, insurance and actuarial malpractice claims.
Professional Experience
REINHART, BOERNER, VAN DEUREN, S.C, Milwaukee, WI
Associate and then non-equity shareholder, January, 2004 – May, 2009
Litigation of complex civil cases, including commercial, contract, employment, ERISA, insurance and actuarial malpractice claims
EARLE & BROSTROM, LLP, Milwaukee, WI
Partner, April, 2002 – December, 2003
Run small law firm, including managing client relationships, budget and administrative staff. Manage litigation of product liability, employment, civil rights, and personal injury cases
GILLESPIE, ROZEN & WATSKY, Dallas, TX
Litigation Associate, November 2000 – November 2001
Assist with employment litigation, including all phases of litigation, trial preparation, case management and client interface
BRIOL & ASSOCIATES, Minneapolis, MN
Litigation Associate, September 1998 – August 2000
Assist with commercial and securities litigation, contract disputes, securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
CROSBY, HEAFEY, ROACH & MAY, Los Angeles, CA
Litigation Associate, August 1995 – June 1998
Assist with employment, general business and bad faith insurance litigation
Education
JD, UCLA School of Law, 1995, Los Angeles, CA
BA, French Literature, Boston College, 1989, Chestnut Hill, MA
- Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude
Community Service
KINSHIP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
- Consultant to the Board of Directors, 2019 – present
MILWAUKEE BAR ASSOCIATION
- Board Member, July, 2019 – 2023
- President 2022-2023
OUTREACH FOR HOPE
- Board Member, JULY, 2018 – JUNE, 2021
WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF TREATMENT COURT PROFESSIONALS
- Board Member, JULY, 2015 – JUNE, 2018
ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN LAWYERS
- Board Member, July, 2012 – July, 2013
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES – MILWAUKEE WOMEN’S CENTER, Milwaukee, WI
- Board of Directors, September, 2006 – 2009
LAKEFRONT DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION, Milwaukee, WI
- Milwaukee County Citizen Appointee, December, 2004 – 2009
Bar Memberships & Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- Milwaukee Bar Association
- Association for Women Lawyers
Awards
- Wisconsin Law Journal 2015 Women in the Law