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Meet the Team
Erika Burk
Partner, Litigation
Erika Burk is a partner at Sterlington's litigation practice with nearly 20 years of legal experience. Erika has managed a variety of litigations relating to commercial and financial arrangements including employment agreements and restrictive covenants, financial instruments, and investment strategies.
Prior to joining the firm, she was with Simpson Thatcher for nearly 14 years. She represented clients in commercial contract disputes and was a team member in a successful three-month jury trial involving a $900 million insurance coverage claim and international arbitration which resulted in a favorable verdict in a $1 billion contract dispute.
Erika holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where she was editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Law Review, Moot Court Honor Society Member, and Richardson Merit Scholar. She also has a Master of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University and a B.A. in History from Middlebury College.
Prior to joining the firm, she was with Simpson Thatcher for nearly 14 years. She represented clients in commercial contract disputes and was a team member in a successful three-month jury trial involving a $900 million insurance coverage claim and international arbitration which resulted in a favorable verdict in a $1 billion contract dispute.
Erika holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where she was editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Law Review, Moot Court Honor Society Member, and Richardson Merit Scholar. She also has a Master of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University and a B.A. in History from Middlebury College.
Others in this Department
Jonathan Sherman
Partner and Vice Chair, Strategic Litigation
Nationally recognized commercial litigator and First Amendment advocate. Formerly with Boies Schiller Flexner for 24 years. Lead counsel in high-profile securities fraud, defamation, and intellectual property cases. Named one of the 500 Leading Lawyers and Litigators in America by Lawdragon.
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Courtney Rockett
Partner, Litigation
Seasoned litigator in commercial, partnership, private aviation, and IP disputes. A partner at Boies Schiller for 18 years, also trained at Cahill and was a partner at Mintz. Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers and listed on Crain’s New York Business: Notable Women in Law.
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Paul Jebely
Partner and Vice Chair, International
Top global private aviation attorney for UHNW individuals. “Private Aviation & Yachts Lawyer of the Year”, “Private Wealth Lawyer of the Year” and longstanding Band 1 ranking (HNW – Private Aircraft) in Chambers. Lead counsel on $23 billion in aircraft transactions. Founder and Chair of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation.
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Robert W. Ray
Partner, Litigation
Prominent seasoned ex-federal prosecutor, and corporate and white-collar defense litigator. Successor to Ken Starr as head of US Office of Independent Counsel including for the Whitewater investigation. Represented clients in more than 30 federal jury trials. Spoken before Congress on constitutional questions. Clerked on US Court of Appeals for 2nd Circuit. Frequent commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and other major networks.
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Callum McNeil
Managing Partner, British Virgin Islands
Insolvency and litigation partner in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), focusing on crypto, commercial litigation, and insolvency matters in the BVI, often with cross-border elements. Former partner at Walkers.
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Mari Bonthuis
Partner, Litigation
Litigation partner focused on commercial and employment matters. 10 years’ experience at Covington. NYU Law Dean’s Scholar and Robert McKay Scholar.
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Todd McClelland
Partner, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, AI and Litigation
Partner in Sterlington’s Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, AI and Litigation practices, focusing on cybersecurity, data privacy and technology law. Formerly Head of Global Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group at McDermott, Will & Emery. Recognized by The Legal 500 US and The Best Lawyers in America for Privacy and Data Security and named “Lawyer of the Year” in IT Outsourcing Law.
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Brian Slater
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual Property
IP and Life Sciences Partner and Co-Head of IP practice. Former Chair of Life Sciences at Kramer Levin and served on the management committee of IP boutique, Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). Lead trial lawyer in high-stakes IP disputes, including Hatch-Waxman patent litigations. Recognized in: IAM Patent 1000’s The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania (Thouron Scholar).
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Jennifer Czeisler
Partner and Co-Head, Complex Litigation
Partner and Co-Head of complex litigation practice. Former partner with Milberg. Focused on complex and class litigation in the areas of consumer products and services, data privacy and cyber security, anti-trust, consumer products and services, and advertising. J.D. cum laude from the University of Miami. Master of Social Work. BA cum laude from Hofstra University.
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Gregory Sephton
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual Property
IP and Life Sciences Partner and Co-Head of Sterlington’s IP practice. Extensive experience in high-stakes patent litigation for pharmaceutical and biotech innovators. Former partner at Kramer Levin and at Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). J.D. from Suffolk University and Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University.
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Edward W. Ciolko
Partner and Co-Head, Complex Litigation
Partner and Co-Head of complex litigation group. Focuses on ERISA, privacy/cyber-security, lending, student lending, anti-trust, RESPA, consumer fraud, and FLSA. Former Attorney Advisor at the FTC and former partner at Lynch Carpenter and Kessler Topaz where he led practice groups at each. J.D. from Georgetown. MBA from Yale School of Management. B.A. from Wesleyan University.
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Don Klawiter
Partner, Antitrust
Partner with 45-year career in antitrust law. Former partner at Morgan Lewis, Mayer Brown, and Sheppard Mullin. Former antitrust prosecutor with the U.S. Dept. of Justice and Chief of the Dallas Office. Former Chair of ABA Section of Antitrust Law. JD, BA and MA from University of Pennsylvania.
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Richard Reice
Partner, Employment and Litigation
Employment litigation partner, focused on civil litigation and labor and employment law. Seasoned litigator, mediator and arbitrator, he is a thought leader in algorithm bias and employment discrimination, and gender discrimination. Former partner at Greenberg Traurig, Seyfarth Shaw and former head of HR at Frontier Telephone. Recognized as a New York Metro Super Lawyer.
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Geoffrey Raicht
Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel in Sterlington’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice. Former partner at Sidley, McDermott, Proskauer, and Haynes and Boone. Recognized by The Legal 500 as a leading lawyer. Earned JD from CUNY Law School, and MPA and BA from NYU.
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Ann Jernow
Of Counsel, Litigation
Off Counsel in litigation practice. Previously worked as an associate at Quinn Emanuel and as a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. JD from NYU School of Law (Staff Editor – Environmental Law Journal). AB from Duke University.
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Arturo Peña
Associate
Associate focused on commercial and corporate litigation. Former associate at Gibson Dunn and Nelson Mullins. JD from UCLA School of Law (Order of the Coif honor society, senior editor for UCLA Law Review, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs). BS summa cum laude in Legal Studies from St. John’s University (highest cumulative index in the Legal Studies Program).
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Eric Small
Associate
Associate focusing on commercial litigation matters. Formerly worked at mid-sized law firms in their commercial litigation practices. BA in Econ from The Honors College, Stony Brook University (magna cum laude with Dean’s List honors). JD from St. John’s University School of Law (Executive Notes and Comments Editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review).
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Christopher Weber
Associate
Associate in Litigation practice focusing on patent litigation including under Hatch-Waxman. Former associate at Finnegan and at Green Griffith. J.D. from Washington University School of Law and Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
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Jamie Guyan
Associate
Associate in BVI focused on commercial litigation, insolvency and asset recovery. Former associate at Carey Olsen. LL.B. (with first class honors) from Robert Gordon University.
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Nemanja Krstic
Associate
Associate focusing on complex patent litigation under Hatch-Waxman. Former associate at two Chicago litigation boutiques. B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Benedictine University and J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
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Francisco Cabrera
Associate
Associate in Sterlington's litigation practice with a focus on complex litigation as well as a background in trademark and copyright law. Previously at Foley Hoag. JD (magna cum laude) from University of Puerto Rico and a MA (summa cum laude) from the University of Bristol.
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Hope VanEtten
Paralegal
Paralegal with +20 years of experience. Previously at Balch & Bingham and Maron Marvel.
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Jonathan Sherman
Partner and Vice Chair, Strategic LitigationNationally recognized commercial litigator and First Amendment advocate. Formerly with Boies Schiller Flexner for 24 years. Lead counsel in high-profile securities fraud, defamation, and intellectual property cases. Named one of the 500 Leading Lawyers and Litigators in America by Lawdragon.
Courtney Rockett
Partner, LitigationSeasoned litigator in commercial, partnership, private aviation, and IP disputes. A partner at Boies Schiller for 18 years, also trained at Cahill and was a partner at Mintz. Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers and listed on Crain’s New York Business: Notable Women in Law.
Paul Jebely
Partner and Vice Chair, InternationalTop global private aviation attorney for UHNW individuals. “Private Aviation & Yachts Lawyer of the Year”, “Private Wealth Lawyer of the Year” and longstanding Band 1 ranking (HNW – Private Aircraft) in Chambers. Lead counsel on $23 billion in aircraft transactions. Founder and Chair of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation.
Robert W. Ray
Partner, LitigationProminent seasoned ex-federal prosecutor, and corporate and white-collar defense litigator. Successor to Ken Starr as head of US Office of Independent Counsel including for the Whitewater investigation. Represented clients in more than 30 federal jury trials. Spoken before Congress on constitutional questions. Clerked on US Court of Appeals for 2nd Circuit. Frequent commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and other major networks.
Callum McNeil
Managing Partner, British Virgin IslandsInsolvency and litigation partner in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), focusing on crypto, commercial litigation, and insolvency matters in the BVI, often with cross-border elements. Former partner at Walkers.
Mari Bonthuis
Partner, LitigationLitigation partner focused on commercial and employment matters. 10 years’ experience at Covington. NYU Law Dean’s Scholar and Robert McKay Scholar.
Todd McClelland
Partner, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, AI and LitigationPartner in Sterlington’s Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, AI and Litigation practices, focusing on cybersecurity, data privacy and technology law. Formerly Head of Global Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group at McDermott, Will & Emery. Recognized by The Legal 500 US and The Best Lawyers in America for Privacy and Data Security and named “Lawyer of the Year” in IT Outsourcing Law.
Brian Slater
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual PropertyIP and Life Sciences Partner and Co-Head of IP practice. Former Chair of Life Sciences at Kramer Levin and served on the management committee of IP boutique, Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). Lead trial lawyer in high-stakes IP disputes, including Hatch-Waxman patent litigations. Recognized in: IAM Patent 1000’s The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania (Thouron Scholar).
Jennifer Czeisler
Partner and Co-Head, Complex LitigationPartner and Co-Head of complex litigation practice. Former partner with Milberg. Focused on complex and class litigation in the areas of consumer products and services, data privacy and cyber security, anti-trust, consumer products and services, and advertising. J.D. cum laude from the University of Miami. Master of Social Work. BA cum laude from Hofstra University.
Gregory Sephton
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual PropertyIP and Life Sciences Partner and Co-Head of Sterlington’s IP practice. Extensive experience in high-stakes patent litigation for pharmaceutical and biotech innovators. Former partner at Kramer Levin and at Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). J.D. from Suffolk University and Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University.
Edward W. Ciolko
Partner and Co-Head, Complex LitigationPartner and Co-Head of complex litigation group. Focuses on ERISA, privacy/cyber-security, lending, student lending, anti-trust, RESPA, consumer fraud, and FLSA. Former Attorney Advisor at the FTC and former partner at Lynch Carpenter and Kessler Topaz where he led practice groups at each. J.D. from Georgetown. MBA from Yale School of Management. B.A. from Wesleyan University.
Don Klawiter
Partner, AntitrustPartner with 45-year career in antitrust law. Former partner at Morgan Lewis, Mayer Brown, and Sheppard Mullin. Former antitrust prosecutor with the U.S. Dept. of Justice and Chief of the Dallas Office. Former Chair of ABA Section of Antitrust Law. JD, BA and MA from University of Pennsylvania.
Richard Reice
Partner, Employment and LitigationEmployment litigation partner, focused on civil litigation and labor and employment law. Seasoned litigator, mediator and arbitrator, he is a thought leader in algorithm bias and employment discrimination, and gender discrimination. Former partner at Greenberg Traurig, Seyfarth Shaw and former head of HR at Frontier Telephone. Recognized as a New York Metro Super Lawyer.
Geoffrey Raicht
Senior CounselSenior Counsel in Sterlington’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice. Former partner at Sidley, McDermott, Proskauer, and Haynes and Boone. Recognized by The Legal 500 as a leading lawyer. Earned JD from CUNY Law School, and MPA and BA from NYU.
Ann Jernow
Of Counsel, LitigationOff Counsel in litigation practice. Previously worked as an associate at Quinn Emanuel and as a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. JD from NYU School of Law (Staff Editor – Environmental Law Journal). AB from Duke University.
Arturo Peña
AssociateAssociate focused on commercial and corporate litigation. Former associate at Gibson Dunn and Nelson Mullins. JD from UCLA School of Law (Order of the Coif honor society, senior editor for UCLA Law Review, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs). BS summa cum laude in Legal Studies from St. John’s University (highest cumulative index in the Legal Studies Program).
Eric Small
AssociateAssociate focusing on commercial litigation matters. Formerly worked at mid-sized law firms in their commercial litigation practices. BA in Econ from The Honors College, Stony Brook University (magna cum laude with Dean’s List honors). JD from St. John’s University School of Law (Executive Notes and Comments Editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review).
Christopher Weber
AssociateAssociate in Litigation practice focusing on patent litigation including under Hatch-Waxman. Former associate at Finnegan and at Green Griffith. J.D. from Washington University School of Law and Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Jamie Guyan
AssociateAssociate in BVI focused on commercial litigation, insolvency and asset recovery. Former associate at Carey Olsen. LL.B. (with first class honors) from Robert Gordon University.
Nemanja Krstic
AssociateAssociate focusing on complex patent litigation under Hatch-Waxman. Former associate at two Chicago litigation boutiques. B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Benedictine University and J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Francisco Cabrera
AssociateAssociate in Sterlington's litigation practice with a focus on complex litigation as well as a background in trademark and copyright law. Previously at Foley Hoag. JD (magna cum laude) from University of Puerto Rico and a MA (summa cum laude) from the University of Bristol.
Hope VanEtten
ParalegalParalegal with +20 years of experience. Previously at Balch & Bingham and Maron Marvel.