WilmerHale announced today several new leadership appointments that add a diverse group of lawyers representing the next generation and deep experience to the ranks of firm leadership.
Joel Green, a partner in the firm’s Securities, Litigation, and Regulatory Departments and Co-Chair of the firm’s Congressional Investigations Practice, has been appointed firmwide Deputy Managing Partner. Public companies, financial institutions, technology firms, and individuals routinely turn to Joel for strategic advice in a broad range of regulatory and congressional investigations, enforcement defense, litigation and crisis management. Joel has successfully represented many individuals and organizations in parallel criminal and civil investigations and proceedings, typically involving the SEC, DOJ and state regulators. As Deputy Managing Partner, Joel will assist Managing Partner Anjan Sahni in executing the firm’s overall strategic vision.
David Bowker, chair of WilmerHale’s International Litigation Practice, has been appointed Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Washington DC office. For more than two decades, David has represented US and foreign companies, multi-nationals, individuals, international organizations and nonprofit organizations before international arbitration tribunals, state and federal trial courts, federal courts of appeal, and the US Supreme Court. He has handled a wide range of commercial litigation and arbitration matters and specializes in high-stakes disputes against foreign states and sovereign-owned enterprises. He recently served as a Vice President of the American Society of International Law and is a member of the American Law Institute, where he currently serves as an adviser on the Fourth Restatement, Foreign Relations Law of the United States. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Berkeley Law, where he teaches Disputes with Sovereigns.
Lorraine Echavarria, a Vice Chair of the firm’s Securities and Financial Services Department, has been named Partner-in-Charge of WilmerHale’s Los Angeles office. A 15-year veteran of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Lori represents public companies, corporate officers, financial institutions, hedge funds and other financial market participants facing government investigations and enforcement actions. Lori has successfully resolved numerous high-stakes securities and regulatory matters on behalf of individuals, companies, and investment firms across a wide swath of industries. In 2021, Lori was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Woman of Influence and as one of the region’s foremost leaders in their 40s within the legal and professional services field.
Felicia Ellsworth, a Vice Chair of the firm’s Litigation/Controversy Department, has been appointed Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Boston office. A first-chair trial lawyer and experienced appellate advocate, Felicia is widely recognized for combining her significant trial experience with her recognized appellate skill to represent clients in complex disputes at all stages of litigation. Felicia has argued in numerous appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She is a member of the American Law Institute, and is routinely recognized as a leading trial and appellate and litigator in industry publications, including The American Lawyer, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and Law360.
Sonal Mehta, a Vice Chair of the firm’s Litigation/Controversy Department, has been appointed Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Palo Alto office. Sonal is a trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience representing many of the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies in high-stakes technology and patent disputes across a wide range of industries. Sonal is considered one of the top lawyers in her field, regularly noted by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and others as an elite “superstar” who is extremely well regarded for her skill in handling a range of litigation matters. In 2021 and 2022, Sonal was named one of the Top 10 Women in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation.
“This is a group of exceptional lawyers who exemplify the depth of talent and leadership at WilmerHale,” said Anjan Sahni. “I am thrilled to collaborate with this next generation of leaders to advance our firm’s strategic vision and continue our legacy of excellence.”