Attorney
Eileen A. Brownlee
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(608) 822-3251
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Assistant
Sabrina Hagen
(608) 822-3251
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Eileen has over 35 years of experience in the areas of municipal law, school law, and public sector employment law. Her clients include school districts, cities, villages, and other governmental entities throughout Wisconsin. Eileen has a wide practice that includes policy and ordinance drafting and implementation, drafting governmental agreements, labor negotiations, grievance arbitration, employee misconduct investigations, advice on employee improvement plans and performance evaluations, and analysis of and application of all major federal and state labor and employment statutes, including FMLA, ADA, ADEA, and other discrimination laws.
Admitted to Practice
- Wisconsin State Courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Honors & Recognition
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America©
- “Women in Law” list, 2017-present
- Education Law, 2017 - present
- Municipal Law, 2019 - present
- Employment Law, Management, 2021 - present
- George Tipler Award for Distinguished Service in School Law, Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, 2012
- Elected Fellow, Wisconsin Bar Foundation, 2012
See our disclaimer regarding third-party awards.
Presentations, Publications, & Contributions
- Speaker, numerous conferences in areas of school, public sector labor and municipal law:
- “Public Records, Open Meetings and Technology,” League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Clerks, Treasurers & Financial Officers Institute, 2000
- “The Federal and State Family and Medical Leave Acts: Putting the Puzzle Together,” Wisconsin Association of School Boards-Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, School Law Seminar, 2000
- “E-business for Municipalities,” League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Clerks, Treasurers & Financial Officers Institute, 2001
- “The Federal and State Family and Medical Leave Acts,” Wisconsin Association of School Boards-Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, School Law Seminar, 2007
- “Pupil and Law Enforcement Records, Wisconsin Association of School Boards-Wisconsin School Attorneys Association,” School Law Seminar, 2010
- “The School District Annual Meeting, Wisconsin Association of School Boards-Wisconsin School Attorneys Association,” School Law Seminar, 2011
- “When Extra-Curriculars become Extra-Complicated: Managing Costs and Legal Risks,” Wisconsin Association of School Boards-Wisconsin School Attorneys Association,” School Law Seminar, 2013
- “Top Ten Employment Issues Every Municipal Lawyer Should Recognize,” League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Municipal Attorneys Institute, 2018
Community Involvement & Board Memberships
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Foundation Scholarships and Awards Night, Sponsor, 2004-2015
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Fee Arbitration Panel, 2003 - present
- Office of Lawyer Regulation/Supreme Court of Wisconsin
- Special Investigator, 2002-2017
- District Twelve Investigative Committee,1992-2000
- Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, President, 1998-1999
- Family Advocates, Inc., Board of Directors, 1989-1998
- Boscobel High School Mock Trial, Attorney Coach, 1988-2010
Professional Memberships
- Wisconsin School Attorneys Association
- Grant County Bar Association
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Labor & Employment Section
- Government Attorneys Section
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Marquette University Law School, 1984
- B.A., Psychology & Spanish, cum laude, Marquette University, 1978
- Minor, Secondary Education
Representative Work
- Drafting contracts, developer's agreements, ordinances and resolutions
- Developing and reviewing employment documents including handbooks, agreements and policies
- Analysis of and application of all major federal and statement labor and employment statutes, including FMLA, ADA, ADEA and other discrimination laws
Eileen’s Latest Writing & Presentations
Upcoming Deadlines for Renewal and Nonrenewal of Administrator Contracts
School Law FYI | 11.30.23
Wisconsin law requires school boards to contract in writing with certain administrators and provides specific statutory procedures for the renewal or nonrenewal of these contracts. The renewal or nonrenewal of contracts must be accomplished by certain statutory deadlines; if not, the contracts automatically renew.