The San Diego-based law firm Wilson Turner Kosmo, one the largest certified women-owned firms in California, has elevated two leading business litigators to partner. Effective Jan. 1, Rita M. Leong and Elizabeth Chiba Rein stepped into their leadership roles.
“Rita and Elizabeth are rising leaders in law who are not only shaping the future of Wilson Turner Kosmo, but also that of the law,” said WTK managing partner Carolina Bravo-Karimi. “Their zealous representation of our clients and commitment to propelling the next generation of diverse attorneys forward is an inspiration to us all. In everything they do, they elevate the firm and the profession.”
Rita M. Leong
A partner in the firm’s Class Action and Employment practice groups, Leong has extensive experience representing clients on the plaintiff and defense side of employment and class-action lawsuits in state and federal courts and arbitration. Today, Leong helps employers of all sizes, and across industries, navigate California’s intricate labor and employment laws. In her practice, she skillfully represents employers involved in complex workplace disputes involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims as well as wage-and-hour and class-action lawsuits.
Prior to WTK, Leong represented employees in all areas of employment and class-action lawsuits and gained valuable insight into plaintiffs’ litigation strategy, which she now leverages to her clients’ benefit. Leong is known for swiftly resolving complex employment disputes through favorable settlements and safeguarding her clients’ business assets by avoiding the costs of drawn-out litigation.
Leong was recently named a finalist in the San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year awards. She is committed to elevating the legal profession by creating opportunities for women and minority attorneys to grow their careers in the law. She achieves this through her active membership in the Lawyers Club of San Diego, Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego and San Diego County Bar Association.
She earned her law degree at California Western School of Law and bachelor’s degree in English and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Elizabeth Chiba Rein
Rein, a leader in the firm’s Product Liability and Warranty practice groups, vigorously defends automotive manufacturers and Fortune 500 companies in warranty, product liability, consumer lending and personal injury matters in state and federal court. She’s responsible for all aspects of pre-trial litigation and advises clients on national risk management and defense strategies.
Rein has a reputation for obtaining favorable settlements for her clients by thoroughly analyzing the merits of cases at the early stages of litigation, effectively managing her time and aggressively advocating in informal settlement negotiations, mediations and court. Since joining WTK in 2016, she has obtained quick and cost-efficient results for her clients in hundreds of matters. Before WTK, Rein served as a judicial extern for two U.S. District Court judges.
Rein’s excellence in, and dedication to, the law has earned her much recognition including being included in The Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list from 2021-2023 and being named a winner in the San Diego Business Journal’s 2021 Leaders in Law awards. She is committed to diversifying the legal professions through her leadership in the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms and as a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and Lawyers Club of San Diego.
She earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
About Wilson Turner Kosmo
Wilson Turner Kosmo serves as California trial counsel for local and national companies and public institutions. The firm’s 52 lawyers provide litigation expertise in the areas of business litigation, class actions, employment law, product liability and warranty. Established in 1991, Wilson Turner Kosmo’s attorneys are frequently honored for their commitment to the legal profession and the San Diego community. The firm is one of the largest women‐owned law firms in California and is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms and The Supplier Clearinghouse for the Utility Supplier Diversity Program of the California Public Utilities Commission. For more information, visit www.wilsonturnerkosmo.com.