Super Lawyers highlights stories from court’s last 70 years WASHINGTON — Founding Partner Alexandra Walsh and Partner Rakesh Kilaru were two of the seven D.C. lawyers who shared their experiences working as SCOTUS clerks with Super Lawyers Magazine. Founding Partner Alexandra Walsh spoke with Super Lawyers about the moment she was called in for an interview to work for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Stephen Breyer from 2003-04. Alexandra recalled the moment to Super Lawyers stating, “I had less than 12 hours to prepare. Breyer called me late afternoon and I went in the next morning. In some ways, that was liberating. I said, “Well, we’ll just see how it goes.” It felt a little bit like winning the lottery.” Partner Rakesh Kilaru described his time working in the office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan from 2011-12. Rakesh tells Super Lawyers, “We’d often have some pretty fun debates, where Kagan would ask …
Wilkinson Stekloff Continues Its Ascent in Chambers and Partners
April 24, 2020
Firm and Attorneys Moved Up the Ranks in 2020 WASHINGTON — Continuing its rapid rise, Wilkinson Stekloff made a strong showing in the 2020 Chambers and Partners rankings. Chambers recognized the firm as a litigation and products liability powerhouse, and also spotlighted three of the firm’s founding partners. In recognition of the firm’s track record of success in bet-the-company cases, Chambers moved Wilkinson Stekloff up to Band 2 for General Litigation. Additionally, for the first time, Wilkinson Stekloff received recognition for success in Product Liability & Mass Torts. Chambers and Partners described Wilkinson Stekloff as an “impressive litigation boutique, noted for its expert handling of complex, bet-the-company cases for leading corporate clients across a wide range of sectors, with a substantial market share in the pharmaceutical industry.” Chambers also praised Wilkinson Stekloff’s “enviable bench,” including “several leading practitioners with significant federal prosecutorial and public defense experience,” as well as the …
Wilkinson Stekloff Lawyers Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America List
April 6, 2020
Washington – For the second year in a row, Partners Beth Wilkinson, Alexandra Walsh, Brian Stekloff, and Kosta Stojilkovic were named to Lawdragon 500’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. In its 15th year, the Lawdragon 500 comprises the top legal talent across the profession. Over the last year, all four attorneys have received accolades for their industry-leading accomplishments. For example, Alexandra was named a Law360 Trials MVP of the Year, Beth Wilkinson has received the Chambers USA Lifetime Achievement Award, Brian was named to Washingtonian Magazine’s top lawyers list, and Kosta was named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 and Under Hot List. Founded in February 2016, Wilkinson Stekloff has grown to nearly 45 lawyers and has quickly established itself as the leading boutique trial firm in the country. The firm has tried over a dozen cases to verdict across the country, winning the vast majority, and won several …
Beth Wilkinson Featured on Benchmark Litigation Behind the Trial Podcast
March 25, 2020
WASHINGTON – Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson recently joined the Benchmark Litigation Behind the Trial podcast for an in-depth discussion on trial practice. The episode is focused on the art of persuading juries. Wilkinson discussed the front lines of trial practice and some of her tricks of the trade. “One of the arts of trial work is be able to take something that is complicated and get it down to its essence,” Wilkinson said. “I am not an expert in any area of the law, or science or technology. The learning process I go through allows me to turn around and be a teacher to the jury.” Wilkinson’s additional advice included telling lawyers to “start with what do you want to argue in closing arguments.” Wilkinson also emphasized the importance of developing memorable and personally resonant themes: “When you think about learning, the first time you don’t learn it as …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Moira Penza Named to City & State New York’s Law Power 100 List
March 10, 2020
Washington – Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Moira Penza was named to City & State New York’s Law Power 100 list, recognizing New York’s 100 most influential lawyers. City & State highlighted Moira’s work as an Assistant United States Attorney leading the trial team that convicted Nxivm leader Keith Raniere of racketeering and other charges and her move to Wilkinson Stekloff. Since her return to private practice, Moira has continued to be a leader in her field. She has held key roles in several high-stakes litigations, including serving as co-lead trial counsel for subsidiaries of Allergan in an $8 billion antitrust case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, which settled just days before Moira was set to deliver the opening statement. Currently, Moira, along with Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson, is leading her firm’s pro bono representation of Summer Zervos in her defamation case against President …
Law360 Spotlights Beth Wilkinson’s Approach To Connecting With Jurors
March 9, 2020
Law360 interviewed Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson to highlight “her approach to trial preparation and techniques for connecting with juries.”
Wilkinson Stekloff Honored by Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice for Exceptional Pro Bono Advocacy
February 11, 2020
The Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ) recognized Wilkinson Stekloff as its Pro Bono Partner of the Year. In honoring the firm’s pro bono advocacy on behalf of low-income women who are experiencing domestic violence, LACLJ underscored how Wilkinson Stekloff’s representation “has been vital to these individual clients and has brought safety and security to them and their children.” Wilkinson Stekloff will receive the award at LACLJ’s 47th Anniversary Awards Gala on May 28, 2020. The award follows the firm’s work in a pro bono legal separation and custody case, which culminated in a four-day trial in L.A. Superior Court in July 2019. At trial, Wilkinson Stekloff associates Roxana Guidero and Rahul Hari secured a favorable judgment for their client, who was seeking an equitable division of marital assets and primary custody of her children. Wilkinson Stekloff took on the representation as part of its ongoing partnership with …
Wilkinson Stekloff Celebrates Another Outstanding Year of High Stakes Trials and Accolades for the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers
December 30, 2019
WASHINGTON –Wilkinson Stekloff enters its fifth year having cemented its status as the premier trial litigation boutique in the country. 2019 featured three high-stakes, high-pressure trials, in which different partners served as lead trial counsel and eight partners in total had stand-up roles. The firm continued to receive accolades for its successes in delivering results to its clients while deepening its diverse bench of go-to litigators.
Wilkinson Stekloff’s Kosta Stojilkovic Appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States
December 4, 2019
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Kosta Stojilkovic was appointed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. to a three-year term on the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure. The “Standing Committee,” as it is commonly known, reviews, drafts, and recommends new rules governing practice and procedure in federal courts. Five advisory committees supplement the Standing Committee and propose changes to appellate, bankruptcy, civil, criminal, and evidence rules.
Wilkinson Stekloff Adds Five New Associates
November 12, 2019
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff today announced the addition of five new associates in its Washington D.C. office. Samiyyah Ali, Alysha Bohanon, Jenna Pavelec, Benjamin Raker, and Caitlin Callahan join Wilkinson Stekloff’s team of expert litigators as the firm nears its fourth year. “We are thrilled to welcome Samiyyah, Alysha, Jenna, Benjamin, and Caitlin to the Wilkinson Stekloff family,” said Sean Eskovitz, Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner. “As our firm continues to grow, the diversity of our new associates’ experiences and training will further empower us to continue delivering the best results for our clients.” Samiyyah Ali comes to Wilkinson Stekloff after completing three clerkships, most recently on the Supreme Court for Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She previously clerked for Judges Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Judge Amul Thapar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Before clerking, Samiyyah worked at Williams & …