Wilkinson Stekloff

Ralia Polechronis is a Partner at Wilkinson Stekloff and serves as the co-chair of the firm’s DEI Committee. She is a trusted advisor and experienced litigator who counsels Fortune 100 companies on complex, high-stakes civil matters in all phases of litigation. Ralia has defended clients in products liability, breach of contract, fraud, and trademark infringement cases, in addition to high-profile investigations by federal antitrust regulators.  In recognition of her professional accomplishments, Ralia has been named a Crain’s New York Business Notable Woman in Law in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and is recognized as one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America.”

Most recently, Ralia represented a major chemical manufacturer in the Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation in the District of South Carolina. The litigation, involving alleged PFAS groundwater contamination from the use of AFFF, is considered the most significant PFAS litigation in the country. Ralia was set to serve as a member of the trial team for the manufacturer in the first bellwether trial in the AFFF MDL, which was halted on the eve of trial when the remaining parties announced a settlement to end all water-provider claims brought against the manufacturer.

Previously, Ralia served as a member of the trial team for Altria Group, Inc. in an administrative proceeding before the FTC related to its $12.6 billion minority investment in JUUL. The team won a full dismissal of claims against Altria.

Ralia also maintains an active pro bono practice in the areas of education and reproductive rights. She represents children with disabilities and advocates for their right to a free and appropriate public education. In addition, following the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, Ralia led the firm’s team in a federal district court case successfully preliminarily enjoining a 2021 law granting “personhood” rights to fetuses, embryos, and fertilized eggs from being used to prohibit abortion care in Arizona.

Before joining the firm, Ralia was the Executive Director and General Counsel of the nonprofit Partnership for Educational Justice (PEJ), where she led the organization’s national impact litigation strategy. Prior to her work at PEJ, she practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP for eight years where she worked on a wide range of commercial matters.

In 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Ralia to serve on the College Council of the State University of New York in Farmingdale, a position she continues to hold. Ralia clerked for Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye on the New York State Court of Appeals.