Beth Wilkinson > Wilkinson Stekloff > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile
Wilkinson Stekloff Offices

2001 M Street
NW 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
20036
United States
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Beth Wilkinson

Career
Beth has served as lead counsel in over 50 jury trials, including numerous bet-the-company, multibillion-dollar cases. She has developed an unrivaled record of victories in federal and state courts throughout the country. Her career has taken Beth from the Army to a leading role in the prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombers to nationally recognized work as a litigation partner at two of the nation’s most prominent law firms, and to founding Wilkinson Stekloff.
Most recently, Beth led the trial team that secured judgment as a matter of law for the NFL and its 32 member teams in a class action lawsuit challenging the distribution of the Sunday Ticket subscription package and the NFL’s media agreements more generally. Beth delivered opening and closing statements and conducted direct examinations of several key NFL witnesses, including Commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones. Beth also cross-examined one of the plaintiffs’ key expert witnesses, laying the groundwork for the post-trial Daubert ruling excluding the testimony as unreliable and resulting in a complete victory for the NFL.
Beth also recently served as lead trial counsel for Microsoft in the FTC’s challenge to Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision—the second-largest merger trial in American history and the biggest involving a technology company. She defeated the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the transaction after a five-day trial that began less than two weeks after the FTC filed its federal court complaint, directing all aspects of litigation strategy from the time the acquisition was announced in January 2022 to position the case for a federal court victory on an unprecedented timetable. The American Lawyer named Beth “Litigator of the Week” and described the firm as “the legal equivalent of an elite special ops unit” for leading the successful defense.
Beth is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of American Law Institute (ALI), and a Legal 500 “Leading Trial Lawyer.” In 2022, Legal 500 inducted Beth into its Hall of Fame, and in 2024, Chambers and Partners honored her with its national “Outstanding Individual” award. She has been named The American Lawyer “Litigator of the Year,” a Law360 “Trial Ace” and “Trial MVP,” a National Law Journal “Winning Litigator” and “General Litigation Trailblazer,” a Hollywood Reporter “Power Lawyer,” and one of Washingtonian’s “Most Powerful Women in Washington.”
In addition, Chambers and Partners has repeatedly named Beth a national “Star Trial Lawyer” and recently honored her for her “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession.” Chambers described Beth as “the best trial lawyer there is,” a “superstar,” and a “lion at the bar,” noting her “supreme advocacy” and “unparalleled experience acting as lead trial counsel.” Beth has also been chosen for Benchmark Litigation’s elite group of the 10 leading women litigators who stand out from its iconic “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list, as well as the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers,” and has been recognized by Benchmark as a “Litigation Star.” She has also appeared on Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America” and “500 Leading Litigators in America” lists, and the Daily Journal’s “National Leading Litigators” list.
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort
Active in high stakes multi-district litigation in products liability, Washington DC-based boutique firm Wilkinson Stekloff has been active in a broad range of litigation, from bellwether trials to high profile toxic tort cases including those involving PFAS. Led by both Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff, Wilkinson is well regarded for her service acting as lead counsel in numerous bet the company matters, having been involved in numerous victories in both the federal and state courts, while Stekloff is experienced as a trial lawyer, having served as national counsel for several clients in multi-district litigation and other consolidated litigations including Monsanto in its roundup litigation. Situated in New York, Keri Arnold is noted for her expertise in defending companies in product liability and environmental matters.
United States > Industry focus > Sport
Wilkinson Stekloff, a practice which is described as ‘trial-ready’ by one client, notably acts for the NFL and its teams in high stakes and high value litigation, adding to its strong track record in antitrust class-action lawsuits and defamation cases. Also notable is the group’s representation of the NCAA in long-running antitrust class-action litigation, led by Cali Arat and Rakesh Kilaru. Experienced litigator Beth Wilkinson. who has previously represented the NFL in concussion-related litigation and Brian Stekloff head up the team. All lawyers mentioned are based in in Washington DC.
United States > Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
(Leading trial lawyers)Wilkinson Stekloff‘s Beth Wilkinson is sought out by clients for their most consequential courtroom battles, with considerable experience in antitrust hearings, including representing the NFL in its successful attempt to overturn a jury verdict that held its “Sunday Ticket” packages violated the Sherman Act. She also represents 3M Corporation in defending a personal injury MDL arising out of its use of PFAS in foam fire retardants, and is retained by Bayer in litigation arising out of the carcinogenic properties of its herbicide product Roundup. Wilkinson is based in Washington DC.
United States > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
(Firms to watch)Wilkinson Stekloff is a go-to trial litigation boutique for antitrust litigation and disputes in the sports sector. Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff jointly lead the team from Washington DC.
United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
Wilkinson Stekloff has earned widespread acclaim for its role in Microsoft’s high-profile acquisition, contributing to a landmark trial victory against the FTC. The team has also been actively involved in litigation and investigative hearings related to prominent pharmaceutical deals. Co-founders Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff lead the practice, with Wilkinson having spearheaded numerous jury trials and bet-the-company cases. Rakesh Kilaru brings extensive experience with appellate courts nationwide. Kosta Stoljikovic is central to the firm’s ongoing investigations conducted by federal antitrust regulators. All attorneys are based in the firm’s Washington DC, office.
United States > Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
Praised by clients as being ‘simply one of the best trial boutiques in the country’, Wilkinson Stekloff is a powerhouse in high-stakes product liability and multidistrict litigation, delivering trial wins and strategic counsel for clients facing complex, high-profile disputes. The practice has in-depth expertise in bellwether trials, pretrial victories, and crafting trial narratives aimed at minimizing financial and reputational risks for clients. Notable clients include 3M, whom the firm is defending on a nationally significant PFAS litigation, involving allegations of groundwater contamination brought by states, municipalities, and individuals claiming personal and property damage. Co-founder of the firm Beth Wilkinson has led a wide range of jury trials, securing landmark victories for the NFL, Microsoft, Bayer, and more. Brian Stekloff, also co-founder, is a first-chair trial lawyer with a multitude of verdicts, known for defense wins in challenging jurisdictions, including victories for Monsanto, Bayer, and Medtronic. Both Stekloff and Wilkinson are based in New York.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading trial lawyers United States > Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Leading trial lawyers United States > Dispute resolution
- Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) United States > Dispute resolution
- Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort United States > Dispute resolution
- Sport United States > Industry focus
- Civil litigation/class actions: defense United States > Antitrust
- Firms to watch United States > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort
- Industry focus > Sport
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes