Nimalka Wickramasekera, 35, Partner
Kirkland & Ellis
Fast facts: In the past two years, this scientist-turned trial star has been co-lead counsel in three major patent cases. As second chair, Wickramasekera won a $101.2 million jury verdict for Warsaw Orthopedic Inc. in a patent dispute involving spinal implant technology. She also acted as co-lead counsel to a spinal surgeon in a product liability matter within his patent portfolio, and to the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital in a multimillion-dollar dispute with DePuy over patent licensing.
