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 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 …
Chambers Recognizes Wilkinson Stekloff’s Beth Wilkinson For “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession”
June 19, 2019
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson was recognized by Chambers and Partners with the “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession” award for exceptional achievements in litigation. Chambers wrote that “there is no shortage of acclaim for [Beth’s] exceptional handling of industry-defining disputes for international giants such as Bayer and Facebook, which sees her described by one peer as ‘the go-to person for any trial you’d have.’” Peer litigators described Beth as “one of the finest trial lawyers in the country today” and “truly extraordinary,” with Chambers noting that “she stands out for consistently achieving excellence in all settings.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Chambers,” said Wilkinson. “This award is possible only because of standout work by the entire Wilkinson Stekloff team, who consistently deliver impressive results for all of our clients.” Since founding Wilkinson Stekloff four years ago, Wilkinson has notched a string …
Wilkinson Stekloff’s Beth Wilkinson Featured in Law360 Article on “What It’s Like to be the Only Woman in the Room”
June 3, 2019
WASHINGTON — Law360 featured Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson in a piece spotlighting “five women who are succeeding in largely male-dominated areas” of trial law. In her interview with Law360, Wilkinson recounted how she has “had to fight for respect from male opponents and supposed allies alike.” In one anecdote, Wilkinson described her first civil trial in private practice, where, as the only woman playing a lead role, she was belittled and demeaned by both opposing counsel and her own co-counsel. “Instead of letting the male attorneys throw her off focus,” according to the article, “she used the experience as motivation to win her case — which she did.” When Wilkinson later ran into that same opposing counsel, she recalled that “his approach has changed in that I think he takes me more seriously. Beating him twice is probably the best revenge for that,” Wilkinson said. Beth Wilkinson has …
Wilkinson Stekloff Celebrates Banner Year of High Stakes Trial Wins By Next Generation Of Trial Lawyers
January 7, 2019
WASHINGTON – Wilkinson Stekloff is racing into its fourth year after notching a series of high-profile victories, led by a large and diverse group of partners. In 2018, all of Wilkinson Stekloff’s partners participated in trials and case-dispositive hearings, and several other attorneys achieved significant on-their-feet experience, including through pro bono cases. The firm earned repeated recognition for the depth and successes of its bench and added a new crop of talented litigators to its roster. Wilkinson Stekloff won three trials in 2018, each of which was first-chaired by a different partner: On April 27, 2018, Wilkinson Stekloff, led by Brian Stekloff, Jeremy Barber, and Lori McGill, won a unanimous defense verdict for Bayer and Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Russell v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the second state-court Xarelto bellwether trial in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. On May 21, 2018, Wilkinson Stekloff, led by Kosta Stojilkovic …
Appeals Court Upholds Major Antitrust Win for Wilkinson Stekloff Client Georgia Pacific
December 11, 2018
WASHINGTON,D.C. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit unanimously upheld a major trial court win for Wilkinson Stekloff client Georgia Pacific, affirming the dismissal of a high stakes antitrust class action lawsuit involving over $10 billion in claimed damages. Georgia Pacific hired Wilkinson Stekloff to handle all aspects of summary judgment briefing and trial after the trial court certified Plaintiffs’ proposed class. The Wilkinson Stekloff team, led by Beth Wilkinson, Alexandra Walsh, Brant Bishop, and Rakesh Kilaru, developed an evidentiary record focused on the absence of any evidence against Georgia Pacific, and filed independent briefs challenging Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses and seeking summary judgment. In June 2017, the court issued a Daubert opinion that imposed key limits on the testimony Plaintiffs’ witnesses could offer at trial, adopting several of Wilkinson Stekloff’s arguments. On August 3, 2017, Wilkinson Stekloff won summary judgment for Georgia Pacific. The court’s decision came …
Wilkinson Stekloff Adds Four New Associates
December 10, 2018
WASHINGTON — Wilkinson Stekloff today announced the addition of three new associates in its Washington office and one new associate in its Los Angeles office. Xiao Wang, D’Juan Jones, Jaclyn Delligatti, and Meghan Cleary join Wilkinson Stekloff’s team of expert litigators as the firm nears its third year. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Xiao, D’Juan, Jaclyn, and Meghan into the Wilkinson Stekloff family,” said Beth Wilkinson, Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner. “Our firm’s strength comes from the diversity of our team and the hands-on, inside-the-courtroom experience that all of our attorneys receive. We are confident that this group of stellar associates will become future litigation superstars.” Xiao Wang joins Wilkinson Stekloff from Williams &Connolly LLP, where he worked on insider trading, immigration, and media and entertainment matters. Before joining Williams & Connolly, he clerked for Judge Lucy H. Koh of the United States District Court for the Northern District …
Benchmark Names Beth Wilkinson an “Elite” Top 100 Trial Lawyer
October 5, 2018
Washington, D.C. — Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by Benchmark Litigation 2018. The award recognizes “elite trial strategists” for their successes in the courtroom. “At this point, it goes without saying that Beth’s recognitions are well-deserved. She is continuously recognized as a top trial lawyer precisely because of the high-profile victories she delivers for her clients and her role as a trailblazer in and outside of the courtroom,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Founding Partner Alexandra Walsh. “She is a role model for our firm’s younger associates, a force to be reckoned with when in front of a jury, and a paragon of success in the legal community at large.” Since founding Wilkinson Stekloff less than three years ago, Beth has notched a string of standout trial victories, been honored and recognized for her and Wilkinson Stekloff’s various successes, and built the firm …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Secure Complete Dismissal of Securities Fraud Class Action
September 5, 2018
WASHINGTON – The Wilkinson Stekloff Team, led by Founding Partners Brant Bishop and Beth Wilkinson and partner Kosta Stojilkovic, won complete dismissal of a securities fraud class action case in the Eastern District of Virginia for client MAXIMUS Inc. In August 2017, MAXIMUS was sued under sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on allegations that the company, along with several members of its executive team, had made false or misleading statements on earnings calls and in SEC filings concerning MAXIMUS’s performance on a major contract with the British government. Led by Brant Bishop, Wilkinson Stekloff moved to dismiss the amended complaint with prejudice, arguing that plaintiffs failed to plead facts giving rise to an inference that MAXIMUS acted with scienter, or an intent to defraud. Wilkinson Stekloff also argued that plaintiff failed to plead materiality as to certain alleged misstatements or omissions, and also …
Three Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Named “Top Women in Litigation” by Benchmark
July 19, 2018
WASHINGTON – Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Beth Wilkinson, Alexandra Walsh, and Lori Alvino McGill were ranked among Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation,” all of whom “share the distinction of being recognized as top players in their respective fields.” Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson was also named among the “Top 10 Female Litigators” in the country. Benchmark’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” rankings recognize women who “have earned their place amongst the leading female litigators by participating in some of the most impactful litigation matters in recent history as well as by earning the hard-won respect of their peers and clients.” “Benchmark’s recognition of Beth, Alex, and Lori as leaders in our field is a great honor, reflecting the firm’s strong female leadership in a male-dominated industry,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Managing Partner Brant Bishop. “We’re proud to call Beth, Alex, and Lori our partners, and feel strongly that our firm’s diversity …