WASHINGTON – Wilkinson, Walsh + Eskovitz today announced that former Obama Administration official Rakesh Kilaru has joined the firm’s rapidly growing litigation practice. Rakesh served as a Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel in the Office of White House Counsel, where he provided legal advice to President Obama and senior administration officials focusing on healthcare, education, labor and employment, housing, and the Supreme Court. He also helped to develop and implement the government’s litigation strategy in cases arising under the Affordable Care Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

“It’s an honor to be joining Wilkinson, Walsh + Eskovitz,” said Mr. Kilaru. “The firm has quickly become known for employing innovative and intelligent strategies to win high-profile, high-stakes trials, and I’m thrilled to work with such an impressive group of litigators.”

Before joining the White House, Rakesh clerked for Justice Elena Kagan of the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Previously, Rakesh worked as an associate in the appellate and white collar practice groups at O’Melveny & Myers, LLP. He earned his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he was a member of the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic and a Notes Editor on the Stanford Law Review.

“We are very excited to have another accomplished lawyer like Rakesh join our team,” said founding partner Brant Bishop. “Wilkinson, Walsh + Eskovitz is investing in young, talented lawyers at the top of our field, and we are committed to building a strong, dynamic team that will deliver the best results for our clients.”

With over 30 lawyers, Wilkinson Walsh has attracted a diverse and energetic collection of the brightest legal talent in the country, boasting a lineup that includes five former federal prosecutors, two former federal public defenders, five former Supreme Court clerks, and numerous former federal appellate and district court clerks. In just its first year, the firm defended Fortune 500 companies in two high-stakes trials. Demonstrating the firm’s commitment to public service and training the next generation of trial lawyers, Wilkinson Walsh associates have also successfully handled two pro bono trials, including a contested domestic violence trial and an asylum matter for a sixteen-year-old client fleeing persecution in Honduras. Benchmark Litigation recently recognized Wilkinson Walsh as “Boutique Firm of the Year.”