WASHINGTON – For the second consecutive year, Wilkinson Stekloff partners Rakesh Kilaru and Kosta Stojilkovic have been selected as leading litigation attorneys in Benchmark Litigation’s 2019 “40 & Under Hot List.” The annual ranking recognizes the “best and brightest law firm partners who stand out in their practices throughout the US” and who are “among the top young talent in their respective litigation communities.” “Rakesh and Kosta continue to demonstrate what it means to be stellar attorneys and exemplary role models,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson. “Their back-to-back recognitions from Benchmark validate the unparalleled performance that we see on a daily basis in the office and in the courtroom. On behalf of the entire firm, we are so proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success.” Kosta and Rakesh joined Wilkinson Stekloff from the federal government. Kosta was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern …
Wilkinson Stekloff Again Named Top Litigation Boutique by Vault
July 16, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vault named Wilkinson Stekloff the sixth best Litigation Boutique Law Firm in its “2020 Best Law Firm by Practice Area” rankings. Wilkinson Stekloff appeared in these rankings for the second consecutive year, rising one spot from its ranking last year. The award is based on a score determined by a survey of peer firms, where associates vote for the strongest firms in their self-identified practice area. “We are honored to be selected again as one of Vault’s top Litigation Boutique Firms,” said founding partner Sean Eskovitz. “Our exceptional team of talented and committed attorneys has distinguished us as a go-to firm that is developing the next generation of trial lawyers while consistently delivering outstanding results for our clients.” Vault previously recognized Wilkinson Stekloff’s excellence in several other rankings. It named Wilkinson Stekloff as the sixth best midsize law firm. Among other accolades, Vault ranked Wilkinson Stekloff second for compensation, third for diversity, and fourth for pro bono. In addition, Vault selected Wilkinson Stekloff for its “Top 150 Under 150” list, which recognizes “outstanding law firms …
Chambers Recognizes Wilkinson Stekloff’s Beth Wilkinson For “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession”
June 19, 2019
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson was recognized by Chambers and Partners with the “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession” award for exceptional achievements in litigation. Chambers wrote that “there is no shortage of acclaim for [Beth’s] exceptional handling of industry-defining disputes for international giants such as Bayer and Facebook, which sees her described by one peer as ‘the go-to person for any trial you’d have.’” Peer litigators described Beth as “one of the finest trial lawyers in the country today” and “truly extraordinary,” with Chambers noting that “she stands out for consistently achieving excellence in all settings.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Chambers,” said Wilkinson. “This award is possible only because of standout work by the entire Wilkinson Stekloff team, who consistently deliver impressive results for all of our clients.” Since founding Wilkinson Stekloff four years ago, Wilkinson has notched a string …
Maximus Dismissal Affirmed by Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
June 18, 2019
WASHINGTON — The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously upheld a major victory for Wilkinson Stekloff client MAXIMUS Inc., affirming the dismissal of a securities fraud class action case at the motion to dismiss stage, before any discovery was taken. Just 38 days after Wilkinson Stekloff’s Brant Bishop argued the case in the Fourth Circuit, the Court issued a two-page opinion stating that, after “having carefully considered the record and the briefs and arguments of the parties, we find ourselves in agreement with the district court that the complaint fails to allege a material misrepresentation.” The opinion was joined by Circuit Judges Motz, King, and Thacker. In August 2017, MAXIMUS was sued under sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on allegations that the company, along with several members of its executive team, had over the course of several months made …
Wilkinson Stekloff Announces Three Promotions
June 6, 2019
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff today announced three promotions. Kieran Gostin and Ralia Polechronis were elected to the partnership, and Andrew Croner was promoted to counsel. The promotions took effect on June 1. “Kieran, Ralia, and Andrew have each in their own ways played an integral role in many of the firm’s successes, from inside the courtroom to mentoring fellow colleagues,” said founding partner Alex Walsh. “We are truly fortunate to have them in the Wilkinson Stekloff family. Their well-deserved promotions are a testament to their value to the firm.” An experienced defense attorney, Kieran has represented government and corporate clients in products liability, antitrust, data breach, copyright, national security, First Amendment, Privacy Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and other complex civil litigation matters. Kieran recently helped lead a trial team that won a decisive victory for Bayer in a $600 million certified consumer class action lawsuit (Farar et al. v. Bayer) …
Wilkinson Stekloff’s Beth Wilkinson Featured in Law360 Article on “What It’s Like to be the Only Woman in the Room”
June 3, 2019
WASHINGTON — Law360 featured Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson in a piece spotlighting “five women who are succeeding in largely male-dominated areas” of trial law. In her interview with Law360, Wilkinson recounted how she has “had to fight for respect from male opponents and supposed allies alike.” In one anecdote, Wilkinson described her first civil trial in private practice, where, as the only woman playing a lead role, she was belittled and demeaned by both opposing counsel and her own co-counsel. “Instead of letting the male attorneys throw her off focus,” according to the article, “she used the experience as motivation to win her case — which she did.” When Wilkinson later ran into that same opposing counsel, she recalled that “his approach has changed in that I think he takes me more seriously. Beating him twice is probably the best revenge for that,” Wilkinson said. Beth Wilkinson has …
Wilkinson Stekloff Secures Victory in Pro Bono Employment Discrimination Case
May 10, 2019
Washington, D.C. — Wilkinson Stekloff associate Amelia Frenkel helped secure victory in a pro bono case challenging alleged employment discrimination by the U.S. State Department. Frenkel was appointed by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to argue on behalf of a pro se litigant who challenged employment decisions on disparate treatment and impact bases but had lost on summary judgment. On behalf of Richard Figueroa, a foreign service officer in the State Department who alleged employment discrimination in promotions, Frenkel and Wilkinson Stekloff partner James Rosenthal successfully argued that the United States District Court for the District of Columbia had misapplied the McDonnell Douglas framework, a three-step process to help employees make their cases for employment discrimination. After “thank[ing] Rosenthal and Frenkel for ably discharging their duties” in court, Circuit Judges Henderson and Wilkins and Senior Circuit Judge Edwards ordered that “the District Court …
Wilkinson Stekloff Again Named “Boutique Firm of the Year” by Benchmark
March 1, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Benchmark Litigation again named Wilkinson Stekloff the “Boutique Firm of the Year” during its annual awards ceremony in New York City — the second time in three years that Wilkinson Stekloff has received the recognition. This prestigious award recognizes Wilkinson Stekloff’s high-profile trial wins over the last year, including a defense verdict for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in McNair v. NCAA and multiple state-court bellwether trial victories for Bayer in trials involving the blood-thinner Xarelto. Wilkinson Stekloff also achieved several other pre- and post-trial victories in 2018, including judgment granted as a matter of law to Wilkinson Stekloff’s clients Oculus and Facebook on plaintiffs’ false designation claim in Zenimax Media et al. v. Oculus VR and complete dismissal, before any discovery, of a securities fraud class action case in In re MAXIMUS, Inc. Securities Litig. “We are deeply appreciative of Benchmark’s recognition of our firm for …
Litigation Daily: “Killer Crosses: How Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Shredded Witnesses in $600M Save for Bayer”
February 26, 2019
After the Wilkinson Stekloff team, led by Sean Eskovitz, Alex Walsh, James Rosenthal, and Kieran Gostin, won a decisive victory for Bayer in a $600 million certified consumer class action lawsuit brought on behalf of One A Day multivitamin consumers, Litigation Daily‘s Jenna Greene wrote about how Eskovitz and Walsh were “so good” at the cross-examinations that “the Wilkinson Stekloff team called no defense witnesses. They annihilated the case on crosses alone”: If cross-examination is an art form, then Wilkinson Stekloff name partners Alexandra Walsh and Sean Eskovitz (pictured above) are masters. The duo led a trial team defending Bayer AG, which faced a $600 million certified consumer class action over its One A Day multivitamin. The plaintiffs alleged Bayer made false and misleading claims that One A Day supported heart health, immunity and physical energy. How good were the cross-examinations? So good that that the Wilkinson Stekloff team called no defense witnesses. They annihilated the case on …
Wilkinson Stekloff Secures Trial Win for Bayer in $600 Million One A Day Class Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Wilkinson Stekloff team, led by Sean Eskovitz, Alex Walsh, James Rosenthal, and Kieran Gostin, won a decisive victory for Bayer in a $600 million certified consumer class action lawsuit brought on behalf of One A Day multivitamin consumers. Without calling any witnesses in the defense case, the team relied on devastating cross-examinations of plaintiffs’ expert and fact witnesses to convince the jury to reject plaintiffs’ claims that Bayer had misrepresented the health benefits of One A Day multivitamins. The jury deliberated for just an hour before returning a complete defense verdict. The class action suit, filed on behalf of purchasers of One A Day multivitamins in California, New York, and Florida, challenged as false and misleading Bayer’s claims that One A Day multivitamins support heart health, immunity, and physical energy. Plaintiffs originally sought over $4 billion in damages, which Wilkinson Stekloff successfully reduced to $600 million …