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 color in a meaningful stand-up role. With respect to both our attorneys and staff, we are committed to elevating women, people of color, and members of our LGBTQ community. We are pleased that Chambers has recognized our efforts even as we acknowledge that there is more that every firm can do to improve and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.”
Pro bono service is a similarly integral part of Wilkinson Stekloff’s DNA, and with each passing year, the firm’s commitment and successes continue to grow. Wilkinson Stekloff has handled almost 50 separate pro bono matters since its founding in 2016, with the vast majority of the firm’s associates devoting significant time to those matters and the firm’s brightest young talent winning trials in leadership roles. Most recently, the firm helped secure the early release from prison of their pro bono client Steven Pantoja, after he had been incarcerated for almost 30 years.
“As a firm, we hold our pro bono work and commitment to social justice as high priorities. Pro bono representation gives Wilkinson Stekloff the ability to help bring fair and equal justice to clients, while also providing opportunities for our outstanding young attorneys to grow into first-chair trial attorneys in their own right,” said Partner Jeremy Barber, who coordinates Wilkinson Stekloff’s pro bono program.
These recognitions from Chambers follow on the organization’s decision to move Wilkinson Stekloff up to Band 2 for General Litigation in its 2020 rankings, and recognize the firm for success in Product Liability & Mass Torts. Founding Partner Beth A. Wilkinson was named a national Star Trial Lawyer, Founding Partner Alexandra Walsh received Band 1 honors in the General Litigation category of the District of Columbia and Band 5 honors in Product Liability & Mass Torts, and Founding Partner Brian L. Stekloff was named an up-and-coming attorney in Product Liability & Mass Torts.
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.
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