The National Law Journal has honored McManis Faulkner Partner Marwa Elzankaly as one of the top minority attorneys in the country in its “Minority 40 Under 40” list for 2011. The annual report recognizes minority attorneys whose outstanding careers are helping to create opportunities for others in the legal profession.
“To receive such an honor in the legal community is a great accomplishment for Marwa. She is a smart, strong advocate who has taken on some of our toughest cases and succeeded based on her creativity and attention to detail. The fact that she has achieved so much at such a young age is a testament to Marwa, her knowledge and her dedication to her clients,” said William Faulkner, name partner of McManis Faulkner
Elzankaly focuses her practice on business litigation, including antitrust, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, breach of contract, unfair completion, malicious prosecution and employment issues. She also handles complex cases involving a wide range of civil litigation issues, including constitutional rights.
Born in Egypt and fluent in Arabic, Elzankaly has successfully tried a number of high-profile civil rights disputes before a global audience. She helped a Stanford University graduate student of Indonesian descent overturn an unmerited “no-fly” list designation and, in an argument broadcast on C-SPAN, ultimately reshaped federal judges’ jurisdiction over the makeup of the no-fly list.
An active participant in the legal community, Elzankaly currently serves on the Standing Committee on Professional Conduct for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Elzankaly is also a member of the Law United Cabinet for United Way. She acts as an attorney advisor with Muslim Advocates, a national organization of Muslim lawyers. In addition, Elzankaly has participated on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Networks Group and served as President of the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers, during which time she received the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Services Award. She has also served as a lecturer on various legal subjects for the University of California, Berkeley and the California State Bar.
Elzankaly received her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law (1999) and her B.S. from the University of California, Riverside (1996).
McManis Faulkner, a San Jose, California-based trial firm, provides a full range of services, representing both corporations and individuals through trial and appeal. The firm handles a wide range of litigation, including business, civil rights, class actions, criminal, employment, family, general civil, intellectual property, personal injury, probate, and professional negligence. With experienced, well-trained trial lawyers and staff, McManis Faulkner prides itself on its diversity – beyond ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, women comprise a majority of the firm’s management and staff.