ATLANTA (June 5) – Kilpatrick announced today that Partners Gwendolyn Payton, Aarti Shah, and Renae Wainwright have been named by corporate counsel to the 2024 BTI Client Service All-Stars. Only 296 attorneys representing 148 law firms were included in this prestigious list.

Now in its 23rd year of publication, the BTI Client Service All-Stars is the gold standard used by corporate counsel and law firms alike to identify the attorneys delivering the absolute best levels of client service—better than all others. BTI relies on more than 300 in-depth, independent interviews with top legal decision makers at large organizations with $700 million or more in revenue.

• Gwendolyn Payton is Co-Team Leader of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Ms. Payton focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, class actions, trade secret litigation, health care, and antitrust and trade litigation. She has active trial practice in state and federal courts, and regularly argues appeals in state and federal courts. Clients said, “Ms. Payton is an insightful attorney who builds strong relationships with her clients."

   

• Aarti Shah focuses her practice on patent litigation and has extensive experience as trial counsel before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). She has participated in over 50 ITC investigations and 15 hearings. Ms. Shah assists companies in all industries, particularly high tech and life sciences, to protect their innovations. Leveraging her insider’s view gained during her time spent as a senior investigative attorney at the ITC, she helps her clients develop and implement effective ITC strategies. Ms. Shah particularly enjoys simplifying technology for judges and juries, devising creative and pragmatic strategies, and working closely with in-house counsel. She has a particular interest in helping companies fight counterfeits and knockoffs. Clients said, “Aarti is inventive, can pivot when needed, rolls with changes, communicates very well, and is mindful of deadlines."

   

• Renae Wainwright specializes in working with clients to develop and implement strategies for protecting, maintaining, licensing and enforcing patent rights around the world. She counsels clients on mitigating risk associated with third party IP rights while helping clients build their own meaningful, global patent portfolios that align with business goals. Ms. Wainwright practices in a variety of technical industries including aluminum and metallurgy, consumer products, fastening and architectural products, aerospace, merchandising displays, pool care, machines for heat treating thread, and medical devices. She also has substantial experience protecting ornamental and distinctive product designs. Clients said, “Renae is always communicative, responsive, and ensures we receive quality work."

BTI Client Service All-Stars are sensible, realistic, appropriate, and immediately helpful. They know their way around the rules, people, and issues and always find ways to get things done—and how to avoid what needs to be avoided. BTI Client Service All-Stars are knowledgeable about what is going on in the industry and other companies and share insight into the current state-of-the-art management strategy and law. They naturally break down problems into their component parts and work through them. BTI Client Service All-Stars are seemingly always there to answer questions no matter how urgent or casual they may be. And they can move quickly and switch gears as circumstances demand.

BTI Consulting Group is a provider of strategic research to the legal community. Its research is based on interviews with corporate counsel about their outside law firms’ client focus, understanding of their business and delivery of efficient, value-added service, and results.

###