Lawdragon has honored nine Wilkinson Stekloff partners in its inaugural 500 Leading Litigators in America guide dedicated to those attorneys who excel representing principally corporations and other organizations in litigating claims. Honorees were selected from a record number of submissions and independent research focused on recent cases and defense verdicts or settlements, as well as attorneys whose sustained excellence in trials is nothing short of remarkable. The Wilkinson Stekloff partners recognized include: Beth Wilkinson Brian Stekloff Jeremy Barber Kieran Gostin Rakesh Kilaru Moira Penza Ralia Polechronis James Rosenthal Kosta Stojilkovic
Benchmark Litigation Selects Wilkinson Stekloff as Top 20 Trial Law Firm, and Honors Six Partners
October 12, 2022
Wilkinson Stekloff has been named a Top 20 Trial Law Firm in the highly anticipated 2023 Benchmark Litigation guide. Along with this prestigious recognition, the firm is also ranked as Tier 1 for General Commercial Litigation and recognized as a Top Boutique and Highly Recommended firm. Benchmark Litigation is considered the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers. The rankings are determined through six months of research, which includes extensive interviews with clients. In addition to top-tier firm rankings, Wilkinson Stekloff founding partner Beth Wilkinson was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer. This elite group consists of partners who have been 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 second …
Three Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Recognized in the National Law Journal Legal Awards 2022
September 9, 2022
The National Law Journal has recognized three Wilkinson Stekloff partners in its 2022 Legal Awards. The prestigious annual series highlights the top litigation and appellate work of law firms and attorneys from the previous year. Wilkinson Stekloff had more individuals distinguished than any other firm. Partners Cali Cope-Kasten and Rakesh Kilaru were both named Rising Stars, while Founding Partner Brian Stekloff is a finalist in the “Winning Litigators” category. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on October 20. Cali made partner in early 2022, fresh off acting as trial counsel to help secure the first win for Monsanto in the Roundup mass tort litigation. She has played a critical role in six jury trials, three of which were federal multi-district litigation bellwether cases, and two bench trials. She has argued numerous motions in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate level and is serving as trial counsel for Monsanto in …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Named to Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List
July 27, 2022
Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Kieran Gostin, Rakesh Kilaru, and Moira Penza were named to the 2022 Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List, the guide to the nation’s most notable up-and-coming litigation attorneys. This is the second consecutive year that all three partners have been recognized by Benchmark, with Kieran making a third appearance and Rakesh securing a spot each year since 2018. Kieran has made his career representing the government and private clients in high-profile matters. Recently, he has represented clients in several major class actions, including obtaining a complete defense verdict in a rare trial of a major consumer class action. Over the past five years, he has also gone to trial in five product-liability trials, securing defense judgments in each case. Rakesh specializes in delivering favorable results to clients at every stage of litigation, tackling everything from arguing dispositive motions to crossing expert witnesses at trial to arguing precedent-setting appeals. He …
Five Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Included in 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
March 9, 2022
Lawdragon has named five Wilkinson Stekloff partners to its 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. The 500 honorees were selected through submissions, journalistic research, and input from editorial advisors. The annual distinction covers the best of the best in all practice areas. The Wilkinson Stekloff 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers are Beth Wilkinson, Brian Stekloff, Rakesh Kilaru, James Rosenthal, and Kosta Stojilkovic.
Rakesh Kilaru Appears on CNN’s The Lead to Discuss the Vetting Process of Potential Supreme Court Nominees
February 2, 2022
Partner Rakesh Kilaru appeared on CNN’s The Lead to discuss how White House lawyers are likely approaching the vetting process underway for President Biden’s potential Supreme Court nominees. “A president always wants to be ready for a Supreme Court nomination, and so I’m sure lawyers in the White House have taken a close look at a lot of potential candidates,” Rakesh said. “What I imagine is happening now is a lot of fast-moving action to try to figure out who the right person is from a political and from a legal perspective. In particular, by making sure there are no red flags in the background.” Prior to joining Wilkinson Stekloff, Rakesh clerked for Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and served as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel in the Office of White House Counsel. During his time at the White House, Rakesh played a lead role in the selection process for President …
2021 Year In Review
January 26, 2022
WASHINGTON — In 2021, despite ongoing pandemic-related delays and challenges, the Wilkinson Stekloff team continued to litigate with the intensity and success that has cemented our reputation as the leading trial boutique in the country. In a year where trials remained scarce, WS tried two high-profile cases in 2021: WS served as lead trial counsel for Altria Group, Inc. in an adversarial administrative proceeding before the FTC. The FTC alleged that Altria and JLI violated antitrust laws through Altria’s purchase of a minority interest in JLI. At trial, Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson handled opening statements and examined multiple high-profile witnesses, including Altria’s current and former CEO, Altria’s general counsel, and both sides’ economic experts. WS Partner Moira Penza examined Altria’s scientists, and WS Partner James Rosenthal played a central role in strategy and legal briefing. After a single day of deliberation in October 2021, a jury delivered the first-ever verdict for Monsanto in litigation over whether the herbicide Roundup causes …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Kieran Gostin, Rakesh Kilaru, and Moira Penza named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 40 & Under Hot List
July 21, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Benchmark Litigation has honored three Wilkinson Stekloff partners on its exclusive “40 & Under Hot List” of the most notable up-and-coming litigators in the U.S. Kieran Gostin, Rakesh Kilaru, and Moira Penza were noted as being among the best and brightest young law firm partners in the country, based on Benchmark research taking into account their work on noteworthy recent cases and input from clients and peers. Benchmark is hailed as the Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys. “We are proud to see our partners recognized for their hard work and dedication to achieving great results for our clients,” said Founding Partner Beth Wilkinson. “As a firm, we’re committed to developing the next generation of trial lawyers. Kieran, Rakesh, and Moira exemplify that emerging leadership and are outstanding role models within the firm.” Kieran has been included on the list for the second year in …
Bloomberg Law Recognizes Partners Moira Penza and Rakesh Kilaru in They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40
July 15, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a nationwide competition, Bloomberg Law honored Wilkinson Stekloff partners Moira Penza and Rakesh Kilaru in its inaugural edition of They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40, recognizing them as “stellar young lawyers” who “represent the best of the future of the legal profession.” In choosing whom to honor, Bloomberg Law spent months reviewing nominees’ records of success for their clients, as well as leadership contributions to their firms and communities, their thoughts on what they’re most proud of as attorneys, lessons learned as first-year attorneys, how they define success, their most influential mentors, and feedback from clients. Moira and Rakesh stood out as top-notch litigators, “innovators and pro bono advocates.” The group of honorees was also recognized for their diversity and inclusion efforts, investing “time into making the legal profession a better reflection of our world.” Moira Penza was recognized for her trial work at Wilkinson …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Rakesh Kilaru Named Law360 Rising Star for Sports and Betting
June 21, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Rakesh Kilaru was named one of Law360’s 2021 Rising Stars–a lawyer under the age of 40 whose legal accomplishments “transcend his age.” Rakesh was selected out of more than 1,400 attorneys across the United States and is one of five recognized for exemplary work in the sports and betting industries. This latest award builds off Wilkinson Stekloff’s recent recognition as one of Law360’s Sports and Betting Groups of the year in 2020. In an interview with Law360, Kilaru discussed his involvement in every one of the firm’s sports litigation matters so far, representing the NCAA and the NFL. Rakesh noted the importance of focusing at all times on how “to sway the judge or jury,” while also keeping “in the back of your head how that will play on appeal.” Speaking about the skills he tries to bring to his clients, Rakesh added, “I’m …