Wilkinson Stekloff Honored at 2024 Benchmark Litigation U.S. Awards

On March 13, 2024, Benchmark Litigation honored Wilkinson Stekloff at their 12th annual U.S. Awards in New York City in celebration of “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.”  Wilkinson Stekloff was awarded “Trial Firm of the Year” for serving as lead trial counsel in several major litigations, which culminated in significant activity and favorable results within only a three-month span. During that period, the firm took on a litigation docket unlike any other, including representing Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to its proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Altria in a range of high-profile cases related to its $12.8 billion purchase of a minority interest in JUUL Labs, and a major chemical manufacturer in the first bellwether trial in the most significant PFAS products liability MDL in the country.    In addition, Wilkinson Stekloff received the “Impact Case …

Law360 Features Beth Wilkinson and Rakesh Kilaru on the Firm’s Competition Practice Group of the Year Award

Law360 recently featured Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson and Partner Rakesh Kilaru in an article chronicling the groundbreaking trial victories that led to the firm’s Competition Practice Group of the Year recognition. In 2023 alone, Wilkinson Stekloff solidified its standing as the go-to firm for clients who want to litigate cases with an eye toward trial rather than settlement, serving as lead counsel in numerous bet-the-company cases for major clients including Microsoft, Altria, NCAA, NFL, and Cargill. When asked about what has driven their success, Beth and Rakesh said the answer goes well beyond just having expertise in competition law. The firm has been, and continues to be, focused on trial work. “And one thing that I think has become clear over the last two years in particular is that antitrust is where a lot of the trials are,” Rakesh noted. “It has to do with trial work, getting down to …

Wilkinson Stekloff Shortlisted in Six 2024 Benchmark Litigation Awards Categories

Wilkinson Stekloff and Founding Partners Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff have been shortlisted for the 2024 Benchmark Litigation U.S. Awards.  The firm is a finalist in three categories, including Boutique Firm of the Year, Trial Firm of the Year, and D.C. Firm of the Year. In 2023 alone, the firm served as lead trial counsel in four major litigations for clients including Microsoft, Altria, 3M, and Monsanto. The firm is currently recognized as a Top Boutique and Top 20 Trial Law Firm in Benchmark’s 2024 Litigation Guide, as well as Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation and Highly Recommended for Dispute Litigation. Following a year in which she and her teams delivered victories in several high-stakes, high-profile matters, including as lead trial counsel for Microsoft in the second-largest merger trial in American history, Beth Wilkinson has been shortlisted for Trial Lawyer of the Year and Antitrust Litigator of the Year. Beth …

Beth Wilkinson Named a 2024 “Leading Commercial Litigator” by the Daily Journal

Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson has been recognized among the Daily Journal’s “Leading Commercial Litigators” for 2024. This honor spotlights the best attorneys working within the broad scope of high-stakes commercial litigation across the country. 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. Most recently, Beth was lead trial counsel for Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision — the second-largest merger trial in American history and the biggest involving a technology company.  Beth’s team directed all aspects of litigation strategy from the time the acquisition was announced in January 2022. She and her team positioned the case for a federal court victory on an unprecedented timetable, defeating the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the transaction after a five-day trial …

Beth Wilkinson Inducted Into Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame

In recognition of her impactful career of service to the legal profession, Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson has been inducted into Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame. Revered by clients, colleagues, and competitors alike, Hall of Fame inductees are leaders at their firms whose contributions have shaped the law and legal profession in significant ways. 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. In the last three years, she has brought a fresh and pragmatic approach to high-stakes antitrust matters brought by the government. Most recently, Beth was lead trial counsel for Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision — the second-largest merger in American history and the biggest involving a technology company. She defeated the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the transaction after a …

Five Associates Join Wilkinson Stekloff

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

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 …

Benchmark Litigation Names Wilkinson Stekloff a Top 20 Trial Law Firm, Honors Eight Partners

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 …

10 Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Recognized in 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

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

Bloomberg and Law360 Feature Wilkinson Stekloff’s Game-Changing Approach to High-Stakes Litigation

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 …