On July 14, the American Lawyer named Beth Wilkinson its “Litigator of the Week,” and described Wilkinson Stekloff as “the legal equivalent of an elite special ops unit,” for leading Microsoft’s successful defense of its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This intensely competitive recognition highlights the entire Wilkinson Stekloff team — including, in addition to Beth, Rakesh Kilaru, Kieran Gostin, Grace Hill, Anastasia Pastan, and Sarah Neuman — for its representation of Microsoft in a five-day evidentiary hearing in late June related to the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to block Microsoft’s largest-ever acquisition. On July 10, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the Northern District of California denied the FTC’s bid for an injunction to block the deal, finding the agency hadn’t proven that Microsoft was likely to pull the game “Call of Duty” from Sony’s PlayStation “or that its ownership of Activision content will substantially lessen competition in the video …
Wilkinson Stekloff Secures Denial of FTC Motion to Block Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal
July 10, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff, led by Beth Wilkinson and Rakesh Kilaru, secured a groundbreaking victory for Microsoft, winning the second-biggest merger trial in American history. On June 12, 2023, the FTC filed a federal lawsuit to enjoin Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Just four weeks later, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley denied the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that the Federal Trade Commission failed to make its case that the acquisition would substantially lessen competition in the gaming industry. Wilkinson Stekloff has served as litigation counsel for Microsoft since the day after the acquisition was announced, in January 2022. Over the following 18 months, the WS team led all aspects of litigation strategy, including developing the factual record and handling more than 40 depositions of company witnesses and experts. Just weeks before the transaction’s outside closing date of July 18, 2023, the FTC filed suit in the Northern District of California to enjoin the …
Ralia Polechronis Named 2023 Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business
June 20, 2023
Ralia Polechronis has been named a 2023 Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business. This annual list recognizes exemplary women in the legal profession for their outstanding professional achievements, pro bono work, and involvement with industry and community organizations. Ralia is a highly skilled litigator representing Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial actions including antitrust, products liability, breach of contract, and other matters. Most recently, Ralia represented a chemical manufacturer in a bellwether trial that was recently continued and related to alleged contamination in a public water supply. In addition, following the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, Ralia led Wilkinson Stekloff’s team in helping to convince a federal district court judge to grant a preliminary injunction preventing a 2021 law granting “personhood” rights to fetuses, embryos, and fertilized eggs from being used to prohibit abortion care in Arizona. She …
Wilkinson Stekloff Ranked Among 2023 Trial Elite
June 14, 2023
In recognition of Wilkinson Stekloff’s work on some of the most consequential trials across the antitrust, product liability, and sports landscape, legal industry research outlets Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 have ranked the firm among the trial elite in their recently released 2023 editions. Chambers has maintained Wilkinson Stekloff’s position as one of the country’s most highly sought litigation boutiques, ranking it for General Commercial Litigation (DC) — The Elite (Band 3) and Product Liability & Mass Torts (USA-Nationwide) – The Elite (Band 4). Chambers also recognized Partners Beth Wilkinson (Star Individual in Trial Lawyers USA-Nationwide, Product Liability & Mass Torts Nationwide, General Commercial, DC, and Sports Law Nationwide, Band 4) and Brian Stekloff (Product Liability & Mass Torts Nationwide, Band 5). Wilkinson Stekloff is also newly noted as a “Firm to Watch” in Antitrust — Civil Litigation/Class Action Defense by The Legal 500, and is newly ranked …
Beth Wilkinson Interviewed by Bloomberg Law’s Vivia Chen
March 24, 2023
In an interview with Vivia Chen, author of Bloomberg Law’s popular “Unfiltered” column, founding partner Beth Wilkinson shares her “insider view” of the sometimes fraught path of women in Big Law, and discusses what drove her to build a different kind of culture in Wilkinson Stekloff. Beth explains how leaving behind the conventional Big Law structure — and, in particular, the billable-hour model — enabled Wilkinson Stekloff to focus exclusively on high-stakes trials, create a different model of success for top-tier legal talent, and train up the next generation of superstar trial lawyers. Gifted women lawyers in particular, Beth reflects, tend to thrive in a firm culture that gives them the freedom to do their best work alongside meaningful commitments in other aspects of their lives. With the recent return of celebrated litigator Tamarra Matthews Johnson, Keri Arnold’s induction as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and …
Brian Stekloff Is Benchmark’s Trial Lawyer of the Year
March 16, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Brian Stekloff was named Trial Lawyer of the Year at last night’s 2023 Benchmark Litigation US Awards ceremony in New York City, confirming his standing as one of the country’s most accomplished and in-demand trial lawyers. Benchmark also named Brian as the year’s Top Product Liability Litigator, and gave its National Impact Case Award to the Wilkinson Stekloff trial team, led by Brian, that secured a defense verdict in Clark v. Monsanto. Benchmark Litigation is considered the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers. Previously, the organization has honored Brian as a Litigation Star, and named Wilkinson Stekloff a Top 20 Trial Law Firm, Top Boutique, and Highly Recommended Firm, and ranked it as Tier 1 for General Commercial Litigation, in its 2023 Benchmark Litigation Guide. Brian’s outsize accomplishments are both remarkable and no surprise to the colleagues and clients who are fortunate to …
Tamarra Matthews Johnson Rejoins Wilkinson Stekloff as Partner
March 13, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff is pleased to welcome back Tamarra Matthews Johnson as partner following her nearly two years serving as Counselor to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland. A renowned litigator who has served as lead and co-lead trial counsel in dozens of criminal and civil cases, including multiple cases for Bayer Corporation, Tamarra now brings unparalleled Department of Justice experience to her work. “It was an honor and a privilege to serve as Counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland, and now I am pleased to rejoin the amazing team of attorneys and professionals at Wilkinson Stekloff,” Tamarra said. “I look forward to working with my talented colleagues to offer exceptional service to clients across an array of industries.” An accomplished first-chair trial lawyer who has succeeded in challenging jurisdictions, Tamarra will resume her litigation and strategic counseling practice at the firm. In her most recent role, Tamarra served as the Attorney …
Wilkinson Stekloff Sponsors LCLD Fellow and Pathfinders
March 8, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff is pleased to announce its selection of three rising leaders to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows and Pathfinder Programs. Being a Member of LCLD means that your organization is helping to make history by bringing more diversity to the U.S. legal profession and justice system. This year, Wilkinson Stekloff is sponsoring Counsel Anastasia Pastan as a Fellow and Associates Hannah Bedard and Chelsea Shaffer as Pathfinders. Lawyers selected for the LCLD programs demonstrate leadership skills, impact in their organization, engagement within the community, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Participants will receive professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, and relationship-building opportunities, including access to LCLD members and alumni throughout the year-long program. Anastasia, who was recently promoted to Counsel and participated as an LCLD Pathfinder last year, has represented clients in a variety of areas including product liability, environmental, and contract matters. She …
Partner Keri Arnold Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers
March 1, 2023
Wilkinson Stekloff congratulates Partner Keri Arnold on her induction as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years’ trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including active Fellows, Emeritus …
Wilkinson Stekloff, Brian Stekloff Shortlisted in Four 2023 Benchmark Litigation Awards Categories
January 18, 2023
Benchmark Litigation has announced shortlists for its 2023 U.S. awards, naming Wilkinson Stekloff a finalist in two firm categories and Founding Partner Brian Stekloff a finalist in two individual categories. The firm has been shortlisted for Trial Firm of the Year as well as top D.C. firm in Benchmark’s state-by-state recognitions, while Brian has been shortlisted for Trial Lawyer of the Year and top Product Liability Litigator in the practice-area awards given to individual attorneys. The winners will be announced at a Wednesday, March 15, event in New York City. The past year has cemented Wilkinson Stekloff’s position as the leading trial boutique in the country. In 2022, the firm represented Bayer in national products liability litigation concerning Roundup and PCBs; 3M in national products liability litigation about PFAS groundwater levels; Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard; and Altria in a range of high-profile cases related …