Wilkinson Stekloff Partners Kieran Gostin, Rakesh Kilaru, and Moira Penza named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 40 & Under Hot List

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 a row. He was recently part of the Wilkinson Stekloff team that successfully dismissed a $600 million consumer class action lawsuit brought against Bayer by customers of the company’s One A Day multivitamins. Prior to joining the firm, he served for several years as trial attorney for the Federal Programs Branch at the Department of Justice.

Rakesh was recognized for his prominent litigation practice, which includes a wide range of antitrust, sports, product liability, commercial, class action, and appellate matters. He currently plays a lead strategic role in five major cases, including both class actions and mass tort litigations. He has been included on the “Hot List” every year since 2018.

A new addition to the list, Moira possesses an impressive record in complex civil and criminal litigation. Moira recently led the presentation of science witnesses for Altria in a bench trial arising out of Altria’s minority investment in Juul Labs, Inc. Prior to joining the firm, she gained recognition for her time as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where she led the prosecution and conviction of Keith Raniere, leader of the Nxivm cult.

Founded in February 2016, Wilkinson Stekloff has grown to nearly 40 lawyers and has quickly established itself as the leading trial boutique firm in the country. The firm has tried over a dozen cases to verdict across the country, winning the vast majority, and has won several other pre-trial victories in bet-the-company cases.