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 & …
American Healthcare Leader: “Wilkinson Stekloff Help Bayer Stand Its Ground”
October 22, 2019
WASHINGTON — After the Wilkinson Stekloff team won a decisive trial victory for Bayer in a $600 million certified consumer class action lawsuit brought on behalf of One A Day multivitamin consumers, American Healthcare Leader’s (AHL) Sara Deeter highlighted how Walsh and Eskovitz’s “confidence and strategy” helped Bayer win a “resounding victory” in such a “high stakes” case. Without calling any witnesses in the defense case, the Wilkinson Stekloff team — led by Sean Eskovitz, Alex Walsh, James Rosenthal, and Kieran Gostin — relied on devastating cross-examinations of plaintiffs’ expert and fact witnesses, which were “pivotal” and “yielded further important insights.” The cross-examinations were so effective that it only took the jury one hour to reject plaintiffs’ claims that Bayer had misrepresented the health benefits of One A Day multivitamins. The feature acknowledged one of Wilkinson Stekloff’s key strategies to engaging with the jury in a case that centered on …
Wilkinson Stekloff Associates Win Client’s Release in Pro Bono Resentencing Case
October 9, 2019
Washington, D.C. — Wilkinson Stekloff associates Betsy Henthorne and Hayter Whitman, with assistance from partner Rakesh Kilaru, helped secure the early release of their pro bono client, Momolu Stewart, who had been sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16. Following Wilkinson Stekloff’s successful efforts, Stewart, who is now 39 years old, was released from prison this week. Under a recent Washington, D.C., law, the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (known as “IRAA”), Stewart was eligible to ask the court to reduce his sentence because he was under 18 at the time of the crime and had served more than 15 years in prison. Wilkinson Stekloff successfully argued that Stewart should be resentenced based on, among other factors, the circumstances of his childhood, his accomplishments during his time in prison, and his demonstrated rehabilitation and fitness to society. “The Wilkinson Stekloff team is honored to stand beside Mr. Stewart …
Assistant US Attorney Moira Penza Joins Wilkinson Stekloff
September 4, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wilkinson Stekloff announced today that Moira Kim Penza has joined the firm’s rapidly growing litigation practice as a partner in its New York office. Moira is an experienced prosecutor who has handled numerous high stakes matters, most recently serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, primarily in the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit. “It is an honor and pleasure to join such a young but already renowned firm,” said Penza. “Wilkinson Stekloff has made a name for itself over the last few years as a litigation powerhouse led by skilled attorneys. I am thrilled to work with such a talented group of litigators on winning high-profile and high-stakes trials.” “We are excited to welcome Moira to the Wilkinson Stekloff family,” said Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson. “Moira’s experience as a trial lawyer and her experience with both criminal and civil …
Wilkinson Stekloff’s Beth Wilkinson, Alex Walsh Again Named “Top Women in Litigation” by Benchmark
August 27, 2019
WASHINGTON – For the second consecutive year, Wilkinson Stekloff founding partners Beth Wilkinson and Alexandra Walsh were ranked among Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation,” a recognition of “the most distinguished women in the world of litigation.” In addition, Beth Wilkinson was again named among the “Top 10 Female Litigators” in the country, which recognizes “a separate but elite group of leading lawyers who have been nominated specifically for their litigious acumen.” “Beth and Alex’s repeated recognition by Benchmark is a testament to their leadership at our firm and their expertise in the courtroom,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Managing Partner Brant Bishop. “In an industry that continues to suffer from an underrepresentation of women – especially in leadership roles – we are proud to have trailblazers like Beth and Alex.” Benchmark’s extensive research process encompasses months of investigation into the individual litigators’ professional activities as well as client feedback surveys and individual …
Wilkinson Stekloff Leads the Way in Legal Aid’s Generous Associates Campaign
August 15, 2019
WASHINGTON — The Legal Aid Society recently recognized Wilkinson Stekloff for its record-breaking contributions to its Generous Associates Campaign, an annual fundraiser to help support Legal Aid’s efforts representing those most in need. Wilkinson Stekloff raised the most money from firms with 50 attorneys or fewer, and topped the “Per Attorney Giving” competition, raising $1,452 per attorney in the D.C. office. “Our firm is strongly committed to pro bono representation, and we are thrilled to support Legal Aid’s mission to bring fair and equal access to justice for all,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Alex Walsh. “We look forward to continuing to support Legal Aid’s important work representing those most in need.” The Generous Associates Campaign is an annual fundraiser dating back to 1990. Led by associates at 82 law firms in DC and chaired by an associate co-chair committee, nearly 5,000 attorneys and staff contributed to the Campaign this year. …