In a recent article for Bloomberg Law, Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Tamarra Matthews Johnson joined fellow former clerks of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in reflecting on the justice’s pragmatic view of the law, and her lessons on excellence, strength, and kindness. Making history as the first female justice, O’Connor was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and served until 2006. “O’Connor gave me and my co-clerks the opportunity to serve the court and our country for the October 2000 term. She taught and tested us with her sharp intellect, incisive questions, sheer speed, and dedication to the court’s work,” Tamarra told Bloomberg Law. “Yet she still found time to make us lunch on Saturdays, to take us to see the azaleas bloom at the National Arboretum and the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, and yes, to enjoy weekly aerobics sessions.” An …
Five Associates Join Wilkinson Stekloff
December 1, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff is pleased to announce the addition of five associates to the firm. This new class is comprised of highly accomplished attorneys who share a commitment to trial work and pro bono service. “Training the next generation of trial lawyers remains a crucial tenant of the firm’s culture. We are excited to welcome this class of exceptionally bright attorneys and look forward to the many contributions they will make in the courtroom and engaging with clients,” said Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson. “Our dynamic approach to high-stakes, high-profile trial work continues to attract some of the best minds in the legal field. Joining us from top-tier law schools, prestigious clerkships, and multinational firms, these five associates are an exciting addition to our team, ” said Founding Partner Brian Stekloff. The new WS associates include: Guus Duindam Before joining the firm, Guus was a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond Kethledge of the …
National Law Journal Recognizes Beth Wilkinson As a 2023 General Litigation Trailblazer
November 2, 2023
Wilkson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson was recognized among the National Law Journal’s 2023 Trailblazers for General Litigation. This prestigious award spotlights individuals who have moved the needle in the legal industry. Beth has served as lead counsel in over 50 jury trials, including numerous bet-the-company, multibillion-dollar cases, earning an unrivaled record of victories in federal and state courts throughout the country. The National Law Journal’s award recognizes Beth’s fresh and pragmatic approach to complex antitrust litigation. “Often, and especially in antitrust matters, parties believe that the economist with the most complicated model will win. We have taken a different approach,” Beth told the National Law Journal. “Rather than get bogged down in technical minutiae or economic jargon, we have worked to explain market realities in an accessible, commonsense manner that resonates with the factfinder and reinforces our core themes.” Beth was lead trial counsel for Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to …
Renowned Litigator and Legal Scholar Daniel Epps Joins Wilkinson Stekloff
October 25, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff is pleased to welcome Daniel Epps, a renowned legal scholar and law professor, to the firm as Of Counsel. Dan is an experienced appellate litigator and is nationally recognized for his expertise on constitutional law, federal courts, criminal law and procedure, and the U.S. Supreme Court. “Dan has cultivated an illustrious career as both a legal scholar and litigator,” said Partner Rakesh Kilaru. “We are excited to welcome him to the firm and add yet another experienced brief writer and appellate strategist to our team.” An experienced Supreme Court practitioner, Dan’s notable matters include serving as co-counsel for the defendant in Ocasio v. United States and drafting the successful petition for certiorari and merits briefing in Walden v. Fiore. He has also drafted a number of Supreme Court certiorari petitions and amicus briefs, as well as numerous briefs in the federal and state appellate courts. Dan is an …
Benchmark Litigation Names Wilkinson Stekloff a Top 20 Trial Law Firm, Honors Eight Partners
October 19, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff has been named a Top 20 Trial Law Firm in the 2024 Benchmark Litigation guide. Along with this prestigious recognition, the firm is also ranked as Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation and Highly Recommended for Dispute Resolution, and is recognized as a Top Boutique. Considered the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers, Benchmark Litigation rankings are determined by six months of extensive research, which includes interviews with peers and clients. In addition to the firm’s rankings, Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partners Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff were recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, an elite group selected by peers and clients as the best of the best in the practice of trial law, with the representative work to exemplify this status. This recognition comes on the heels of Beth being named a Top 10 Female Litigator by Benchmark Litigation for the third year in a row. Benchmark Litigation also …
Law360 Recognizes Wilkinson Stekloff Among Top Firms in 2023 Pro Bono Ranking
September 28, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff recently placed third nationally among firms with fewer than 100 attorneys in the 2023 Law360 Pulse pro bono ranking. An essential component of Law360’s Social Impact Leaders rankings, the pro bono ranking is based on several metrics including overall participation rate in pro bono activity. In addition to its third-place ranking, Wilkinson Stekloff’s 86.1% attorney participation rate was the second highest participation rate noted in the firm’s size category. Pro bono representation is woven into Wilkinson Stekloff’s DNA. The firm has handled more than 100 pro bono matters since its 2016 founding, and the vast majority of the firm’s attorneys devote significant time to pro bono matters across areas including family law, immigration, post-conviction representation, appeals, and drafting amicus briefs. In addition to Law360, Wilkinson Stekloff has been recognized by organizations including Chambers and Partners, the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, and the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice …
10 Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Recognized in 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
September 15, 2023
Lawdragon has recognized 10 Wilkinson Stekloff partners in the second edition of its 500 Leading Litigators in America. This guide spotlights attorneys who excel in representing corporations and other market-leading entities in their most significant legal battles. Lawdragon’s selection process involves extensive independent research into the attorneys making a significant impact on the legal field, with an emphasis on recent matters handled. Those selected for the guide typically have decades of experience in leading roles in state or federal courts, or before government agencies and international adjudicatory entities. They are also chosen for their intellect, wisdom, conduct, and leadership. The Wilkinson Stekloff partners recognized include: Beth Wilkinson Brian Stekloff Keri Arnold Jeremy Barber Kieran Gostin Rakesh Kilaru Moira Penza Ralia Polechronis James Rosenthal Kosta Stojilkovic
NLJ Legal Awards Once Again Recognize Wilkinson Stekloff for Litigation Prowess
September 11, 2023
In recognition of Wilkinson Stekloff’s work on some of the most consequential products liability trials across the country, the National Law Journal selected the firm among its finalists for the 2023 Legal Awards Litigation Department of the Year: Products Liability. In addition, Founding Partner Brian Stekloff was named a finalist in the Winning Litigators category for the second year in a row, and Counsel Anastasia Pastan was named a Rising Star. The National Law Journal’s Legal Awards is a prestigious annual series that highlights the top litigation and appellate work of law firms and attorneys from the previous year. Wilkinson Stekloff is the leading trial litigation boutique in the country, demonstrating a depth of talent and dexterity of skill unmatched by firms of any size. Since the firm’s 2016 founding, it has served as lead trial counsel in seven major bellwether products liability trials and continues to lead teams that …
15 Wilkinson Stekloff Attorneys Recognized in 2022 D.C. Pro Bono Honor Roll
September 7, 2023
D.C. Courts, in partnership with the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, honored 15 Wilkinson Stekloff attorneys in its 2022 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. The Honor Roll, which is jointly sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of D.C., recognizes attorneys who provide 50 or more hours of pro bono services or 100 or more hours of service for the High Honors category. These honorees played a vital role in providing desperately needed legal representation to those living in poverty and/or to disadvantaged small businesses and community-based nonprofits that are critical to the economic well-being of our community. The Wilkinson Stekloff attorneys recognized include: Anastasia Pastan, Counsel (High Honors) Matthew Skanchy, Counsel (High Honors) Tania Martinez, Associate (High Honors) Brian Stekloff, Founding Partner Jeremy Barber, Partner Kieran Gostin, Partner Rakesh Kilaru, Partner Sarah Neuman, Counsel Alison Zoschak, …
Bloomberg and Law360 Feature Wilkinson Stekloff’s Game-Changing Approach to High-Stakes Litigation
September 5, 2023
Demonstrating the firm’s standing as the leading trial litigation boutique in the country, recent press coverage chronicled Wilkinson Stekloff’s innovative trial strategies in articles examining the firm’s latest groundbreaking victories. In “Microsoft Lawyer’s 10-Day Race to Save the Biggest Gaming Deal,” Bloomberg recounts Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson’s successful defense of Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the second-biggest merger trial — and largest ever involving a technology company — in American history. Law360’s “How Monsanto Attys Turned Roundup Trial Losses Into Wins” details how Founding Partner Brian Stekloff’s pivotal trial strategy led to a string of victories on behalf of client Monsanto in high-stakes multidistrict litigation after three earlier trials had resulted in plaintiff verdicts ranging from $81 million to over $2 billion. Bloomberg outlines how Beth’s team defeated the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction just four weeks after the FTC filed its federal court complaint aimed at …