Naomi Swain Elected President-Elect of Dane County Bar Association

The Dane County Bar Association (DCBA) has elected attorney Naomi Swain as its new President-Elect. Swain, a Senior Associate Attorney at Madison-based firm Hawks Quindel, steps into the leadership role with a defined agenda focused on expanding mentorship, enhancing professional development, and strengthening local pro bono initiatives. Her election follows years of prominent advocacy within the Wisconsin legal community, specializing in workers' compensation and short- and long-term disability benefits. Swain's practice centers on representing injured workers and individuals navigating denied disability claims, combining deep legal expertise with a structural focus on expanding access to justice.

Swain's strategic priorities for her term include professional development and mentorship, public education, and pro bono and community engagement. She aims to strengthen structured programs to support attorneys at all stages of their careers, drive initiatives that help Dane County residents better understand their legal rights and responsibilities, and expand collaborative public service programs to bridge gaps in legal access for underserved populations. Swain's career is anchored in advocacy and public service, with early work including volunteering as a counselor at the Dane County Rape Crisis Center, assisting low-income clients via the University's Family Court Clinic, and providing legal rights education to asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Her focus on systemic legal access recently earned her high-profile recognition, including being named the Wisconsin Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the State Bar of Wisconsin in 2026, acknowledging her significant contributions to expanding legal representation for low-income families. She also received the Individual Attorney Award at the DCBA's Pro Bono Breakfast. Swain takes the helm at a time when regional bar associations face growing demands to address attorney wellness, structured mentorship, and community outreach. Her dual experience as a private practice litigator at Hawks Quindel and a dedicated pro bono advocate provides a distinct foundation for leading the DCBA's upcoming initiatives. Hawks Quindel is a Madison-based law firm known for its client-focused approach, advocating for Wisconsin workers and individuals facing complex legal challenges, with a strong emphasis on helping clients recover benefits after workplace injuries and resolving short- and long-term disability claim disputes.