Overview
(August 10, 2023, Washington, DC) – Steptoe of counsel, Onika Williams has been named a 2023 Law360 Rising Star in Transportation. The list recognizes attorneys under 40 whose legal accomplishments transcend their age. A team of Law360 editors selected the 2023 Rising Stars winners after reviewing more than 1,350 submissions.
Onika earned her spot on the list due to her work with a team representing BNSF Railway in the regulatory approval process for the merger of Canadian Pacific Railway Co. and Kansas City Southern. She told Law360: "That matter was just in general challenging. It is the first major merger between two large-class railroads in the past 20 years. Merger cases are always very large, but in this context, because it's the first time that it occurred in the last 20 years, it is a very big undertaking." Onika was responsible for co-leading the management of the discovery process throughout the proceeding and witness preparation for the public hearing. She also managed associate-level team members and assisted in drafting major filings in the proceeding.
In addition to speaking about her work at Steptoe, Onika delved in to what motivates her as an attorney. She is a first-generation college and law school graduate, what is important to her, is learning as much as she can so that she can help others the way people helped her. Onika said: “I've had the great fortune of being able to learn from not only my colleagues within the government, but now at Steptoe. Here at Steptoe, the partners, the firm leadership, even my other colleagues … we're very invested in each other and help each other out. My transportation team is extremely supportive and have been instrumental in helping me grow as an attorney."
Onika advises clients on compliance and enforcement issues before a variety of federal regulatory agencies as well as disputes before the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
Read Onika's complete profile at Law360.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
