In recognition of Wilkinson Stekloff’s remarkable run of wins in some of the past year’s most consequential trials and matters, Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson and Partner Rakesh Kilaru were named joint Winning Litigators at the 2024 National Law Journal Legal Awards. This prestigious annual series highlights the top litigation work of law firms and attorneys from the previous year.
Selected from a competitive field of 20 accomplished finalists, Beth and Rakesh secured the Winning Litigators recognition for their work taking on some of the largest and most complex antitrust litigation in the country. They led the team that won the second largest merger trial in American history and the biggest involving a technology company, defeating the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. They continue to represent Microsoft in the FTC’s appeal in the Ninth Circuit and the FTC’s challenge to the merger through an administrative proceeding.
Additionally, following nearly a decade of litigation, Beth and Rakesh, along with Founding Partner Brian Stekloff, led the Wilkinson Stekloff team that obtained full judgment for the NFL this summer in post-trial proceedings in a $21 billion challenge to the NFL’s media model. Rakesh also represents longtime client the NCAA in the groundbreaking settlement of antitrust claims brought by broad classes of student-athletes seeking greater compensation and benefits. Preliminary approval of the $2.78 billion settlement, one of the largest and most consequential litigation settlements in sports and antitrust history, was granted on October 7, 2024. The firm’s strategic application of sophisticated trial technique to antitrust practice has truly changed the game for market-leading organizations facing challenges to their fundamental business practices.
Counsel Sarah Neuman was also honored during the awards ceremony as a Rising Star. This recognition follows her work as a key member of the Wilkinson Stekloff team dubbed “the legal equivalent of an elite special ops unit” by The American Lawyer for its win on behalf of Microsoft. Sarah is known as a go-to leader and is regularly called upon to manage large case teams on significant matters. Since joining the firm in 2017, she has been a member of four winning trial teams.
Read the complete list of the National Law Journal Legal Award 2024 winners and finalists here.