Firm builds on two-decade history of female leadership with appointment of Wang, COO Jennifer Porto, and CFO Karla Farina
Stokes Lawrence announced today that Theresa Wang has been named the firm’s managing shareholder. Wang, who will maintain her active practice as a widely honored intellectual property litigator, succeeds Kelly Twiss Noonan, who served as managing shareholder for more than two decades. Wang will be supported in the role by two other women recently named to the C-Suite: Karla Farina as chief financial officer, and Jennifer Porto as the firm’s first chief operating officer.
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Theresa Wang, Managing Partner at Stokes Lawrence (Photo: Business Wire)
Farina and Porto were brought on late last year in connection with the planned leadership transition. The all-female C-Suite will oversee a firm that has been certified as a majority women-owned firm since 2020.
“I’m honored to lead a firm that lives by rare values—including a genuine commitment to transparency, talent development, and independence—all of which are driving our present robust growth,” said Wang. “I am incredibly grateful to Kelly for over 20 years of bold leadership and incredible success. This leadership transition reflects the thoughtful, long-term planning that Stokes Lawrence applies to the careers of our people as well as our client relationships, positioning everyone involved for success.”
Wang joined Stokes Lawrence as a junior associate and has practiced at the firm for 16 years, protecting the IP portfolios of software developers and other clients across the country and the world. She is nationally recognized as a leader in her field by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, World Trademark Review 1000, and Washington Super Lawyers, among other authorities. Not yet 20 years into her legal career, she is emblematic of a firm at which more than half of its engagements are led by attorneys less than 50 years old.
“I could not be more confident in Theresa’s ability to build on the strong foundation at Stokes Lawrence and use her fresh perspective to drive further growth at the firm,” said Kelly Twiss Noonan, who retired from the firm in December. “With the investment in a well-qualified C-Suite to support Theresa in her management responsibilities, the firm is poised for continued success. I cannot wait to watch it.”
During Noonan’s tenure as managing shareholder, the firm became qualified as majority women-owned with women constituting over 60% of its equity shareholders. The firm doubled its revenue and grew from 29 to 56 lawyers. It was also recognized as one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s Top 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies and one of the top 5 firms of its size in Law360 Pulse’s Ceiling Smashers list for its gender diversity efforts.
About Stokes Lawrence
With offices in Seattle and Yakima, Washington, Stokes Lawrence represents businesses ranging from small, closely held entities to larger corporations and the families and individuals who run those companies. With a team of experienced attorneys dedicated to client advocacy, Stokes Lawrence combines in-depth legal knowledge with a personalized approach, ensuring that each client’s unique needs are met with professionalism and care. Stokes Lawrence is a majority women-owned firm and is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women Business Enterprise National Council. Learn more at stokeslaw.com.
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Contacts
McKenna Hixon, mhixon@baretzbrunelle.com, 847-946-9403