Washington, D.C. – Wilkinson Stekloff associate Xiao Wang secured another significant pro bono appellate win in the Eleventh Circuit, representing Joshua Dickinson, an individual who was violently assaulted while detained in an Alabama jail following an argument with a family member. The Eleventh Circuit concluded that Mr. Dickinson could continue his lawsuit to vindicate his civil rights. Xiao, along with supervising partner Jeremy Barber, argued on appeal that the district court had correctly allowed Mr. Dickinson’s suit to proceed. Wilkinson Stekloff’s briefing highlighted the unjust and unsafe conditions of the Mobile County Metro Jail, including the information and multiple warnings the County Sheriff and Jail Warden had received prior to the unfortunate event. The Eleventh Circuit agreed that the Sheriff and Warden were not entitled to qualified immunity, deciding to interpret narrowly a prior opinion that had applied an expansive reading to qualified immunity. “The jail failed to address multiple …
Wilkinson Stekloff Wins Groundbreaking Sentencing Appeal
November 11, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Wilkinson Stekloff associate Xiao Wang secured a significant pro bono win in the Sixth Circuit, convincing the court to vacate Manndrell Evann Lee’s 60-month sentence as substantively unreasonable. Xiao had been appointed to represent Mr. Lee as a member of the Sixth Circuit’s Criminal Justice Act panel. Xiao and partner James Rosenthal argued on appeal that the district court had failed to give sufficient reasons for Mr. Lee’s above-guidelines prison term. The Sixth Circuit agreed and reversed the district court’s decision in a published opinion which established that there must be a “meaningful relationship between the offense of conviction and the defendant’s alleged likelihood of reoffending.” The court further held that there was no such meaningful relationship as to Mr. Lee and vacated his 60-month sentence. The case is now set for resentencing in December 2020. “We are thrilled with the court’s opinion,” said Wilkinson Stekloff associate …
Wilkinson Stekloff Featured in Law360 Pro Bono Spotlight for Federal Class Action Settlement
November 9, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Wilkinson Stekloff was featured in Law360’s pro bono spotlight for its lead role in securing a landmark deal in a federal class action lawsuit over health care for people incarcerated in Missouri. The settlement, which was finalized by the judge on October 29, mandates the state of Missouri and Corizon LLC to spend approximately $50 million over eight years to provide life-saving hepatitis C drugs to people incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The deal also includes training for prison medical staff, an updated testing regime, and regular patient monitoring. Wilkinson Stekloff associate Betsy Henthorne told Law360 that an August 2019 preliminary injunction hearing in the case had been encouraging and was a big step towards the ultimate settlement: “Coming out of the preliminary injunction hearing we felt good about both what we showed the defendants we could do in the courtroom and what they would …
Wilkinson Stekloff’s Pro Bono Program Highly Commended at the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards
October 13, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chambers and Partners selected Wilkinson Stekloff as Highly Commended in the Pro Bono Program of the Year Category at its annual Diversity and Inclusion Awards: North America 2020. This is the second year in a row that Chambers and Partners has recognized Wilkinson Stekloff’s acclaimed pro bono program. In July 2020, Chambers shortlisted Wilkinson Stekloff as an outstanding firm for diversity and inclusion and as one of its private practice pro bono programs of the year. Chambers then specifically recognized Wilkinson Stekloff as operating one of the two best pro bono programs out of all law firms in the entire country, large and small. “Since the beginning, we have been committed to pro bono and to ensuring that everyone has an opportunity at achieving fair and equal justice,” said Partner Tamarra Matthews Johnson. “We are honored to be recognized by Chambers and Partners for our outstanding pro …
Wilkinson Stekloff Named Top Litigation Boutique by Vault for Third Consecutive Year
September 24, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vault named Wilkinson Stekloff the sixth best Litigation Boutique Law Firm for the third consecutive year in its “2021 Best Law Firm by Practice Area” rankings. Among all midsize firms in the country, Wilkinson Stekloff ranked as the third best firm for compensation and selectivity and fifth best firm for diversity and pro bono work. Wilkinson Stekloff is the top ranked DC-based firm by Vault in the compensation and selectivity categories. “We are honored to be selected again as one of Vault’s top Litigation Boutique Firms, and particularly proud of our rankings on diversity and pro bono,” said Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Brian Stekloff. “Those have been among our central priorities since our founding and we are always pushing to improve.” Vault previously recognized Wilkinson Stekloff’s excellence in several other categories including selecting Wilkinson Stekloff for its “Top 150 Under 150” list, which recognizes “outstanding law firms with fewer attorneys, but no less expertise, than the global megafirms that often dominate …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Alex Walsh And James Rosenthal Named National Law Journal Winning Litigators
September 1, 2020
WASHINGTON –Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Alex Walsh and James Rosenthal were named 2020 National Law Journal Winning Litigators. The attorneys named to this year’s list are described by the National Law Journal as “conquerors of the courtroom” who have tackled “some of the most widely watched cases of the year.” Alex and James were recognized for their roles in obtaining a complete defense verdict for Bayer in a class action alleging misrepresentations related to One-A-Day multivitamins. James led the legal strategy and Alex led the trial team. The National Law Journal also reported Alex and James’ trial tips, found here and below. Tell us about your biggest win from January 2019 through June 2020 and how you achieved the result for your client. Alex Walsh and James Rosenthal won a complete defense victory in a certified consumer class action alleging Bayer misrepresented the benefits of One-A-Day multivitamins. Rosenthal led a …
Missouri Department of Corrections Required to Provide Lifesaving Hepatitis C Treatment to Thousands Behind Bars
August 21, 2020
Wilkinson Stekloff, ACLU of Missouri, and Macarthur Justice Center reach landmark settlement requiring Hepatitis C treatment and education Washington, D.C. – Today, Wilkinson Stekloff LLP announced a landmark settlement, ensuring that people incarcerated in Missouri’s prisons will receive life-saving Hepatitis C treatment and education. Wilkinson Stekloff brought its trial expertise to the case after class certification was affirmed by the Eighth Circuit, joining the ACLU of Missouri and the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center to litigate the case in district court for the plaintiffs and achieve a successful resolution. In June 2019, Wilkinson Stekloff and its co-counsel filed a motion for preliminary injunction, seeking to require the Missouri Department of Corrections and its private medical services contractor, Corizon LLC, to begin treating class members immediately. The Wilkinson Stekloff team recruited a roster of credentialed experts from around the country to offer evidence in support of Plaintiffs’ motion. At a …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Kieran Gostin Named National Law Journal D.C. Rising Star
August 5, 2020
WASHINGTON – Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Kieran Gostin was named a 2020 National Law Journal D.C. Rising Star. One of 40 honorees, Kieran was recognized for his role on a trial team that won a defense victory for Bayer in a $600 million certified consumer class action lawsuit and his role in the Farar case, where he successfully cross-examined Plaintiffs’ Florida class representative, one of the four witnesses that testified at trial. The award honors attorneys ranging from a variety of practice areas—from appellate to First Amendment to international trade—representing high-profile clients and securing victories. In a Q&A with the National Law Journal, Kieran outlined his biggest accomplishments, most valuable lesson learned, mentorship, and the key to his success. His responses can be found here and below. Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice. A defense verdict in a consumer class action about multivitamin advertising. Our client knew it was …
Wilkinson Stekloff Shortlisted for Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2020
July 27, 2020
Firm Recognized for Pro Bono Program and for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion WASHINGTON — Chambers and Partners recognized Wilkinson Stekloff as an outstanding firm for diversity and inclusion and as one of its private practice pro bono programs of the year. This is the second year in a row that Chambers and Partners has recognized Wilkinson Stekloff’s acclaimed pro bono program. Now a 39-lawyer, majority-women-owned powerhouse, Wilkinson Stekloff was founded on a commitment to developing the next generation of trial lawyers with a comprehensive focus on diversity and inclusion. Nearly 60 percent of the firm’s lawyers — including both name partners and five of its eleven partners overall — are women. Founding Partner Alexandra Walsh applauded Chambers’ decision, stating, “Since our founding, we have worked hard to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive working environment. Every one of the our trial teams has featured a woman or attorney of …
Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Moira Penza Named Law360 Rising Star for Trials
July 17, 2020
Washington – Wilkinson Stekloff Partner Moira Penza was named one of Law360’s 2020 Rising Stars. The award recognizes Moira as a lawyer “under 40 whose accomplishments transcend” her age and describes how she “knocked it out of the park last summer when she prosecuted the leader of a shadowy New York self-help group [Nxivm] for sex trafficking in a six-week trial, then went to private practice and was hired to lead Allergan into an antitrust battle.” In an interview with Law360, Moira discussed her role as lead prosecutor in the Nixvm case and the challenges she faced during trial. “Managing that role in a case that I was so invested in, having brought it from start to finish and having come to care for the women who had been victimized, [was] really like being thrown in the deep end. So when I survived and it could not have gone better …