MILWAUKEE, WI – Today, the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel (OCC) announced that Karen Tidwall will join the office as its new Deputy Corporation Counsel on February 7. Tidwall joins Milwaukee County after nearly twenty years as a litigation partner with the law firm Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, S.C. and its successor firm, Husch Blackwell LLP.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Karen Tidwall to our team at Milwaukee County. For over 25 years, Karen has provided legal advice to clients and become one of Wisconsin’s most decorated commercial litigators. We couldn’t be more excited to have such a talented individual make a commitment to join the County and help us continue to navigate the pandemic and achieve our vision of racial equity and the best countywide wellness in Wisconsin,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
“We are extremely grateful that Karen has decided to enter public service at a time when we need top-tier talent more than ever in government. Karen’s commitment is another step towards reinvigorating the public’s trust in government and its dedicated public servants. Karen will do so by helping us provide top quality and best-in-class services to our residents each day,” added County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.
“Karen is an incredibly talented litigator and a valued addition to our team. Her deep complex commercial litigation and risk management experience will translate directly to the role our office plays in advocating for the best interests of the County and the residents we serve,” said Margaret Daun, Chief Corporation Counsel for Milwaukee County. “At a time when the County sees both challenges and incredible opportunities on the horizon, the addition of someone like Karen, with a breadth of legal experience, extraordinary skills, talent, and a strong commitment to social justice, will unquestionably bolster the OCC’s ability to efficiently and effectively help the County achieve its vision of racial equity and wellness for all of our residents.”
Tidwall graduated from the Creighton University School of Law, cum laude, and holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Tidwall comes to the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel after being listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America and a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. Tidwall also was named the Wisconsin Law Journal’s Women in the Law Award in 2015 and the BizJournal’s Notable Women in the Law Award in 2020. In addition to her legal work, Tidwall has served as a volunteer attorney for the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Guardianship Clinic, chairperson of the Board of Appeals for the Village of Shorewood, a Board Member (and Past President) of the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, Inc. and United Methodist Children’s Services, Inc., and has held various leadership positions with the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association and other professional organizations.
