Tamarra Matthews Johnson Rejoins Wilkinson Stekloff as Partner

Wilkinson Stekloff is pleased to welcome back Tamarra Matthews Johnson as partner following her nearly two years serving as Counselor to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland.

A renowned litigator who has served as lead and co-lead trial counsel in dozens of criminal and civil cases, including multiple cases for Bayer Corporation, Tamarra now brings unparalleled Department of Justice experience to her work.

“It was an honor and a privilege to serve as Counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland, and now I am pleased to rejoin the amazing team of attorneys and professionals at Wilkinson Stekloff,” Tamarra said. “I look forward to working with my talented colleagues to offer exceptional service to clients across an array of industries.”

An accomplished first-chair trial lawyer who has succeeded in challenging jurisdictions, Tamarra will resume her litigation and strategic counseling practice at the firm. In her most recent role, Tamarra served as the Attorney General’s primary counselor on matters involving the Justice Department’s criminal enforcement work, advising and working closely with senior leadership and a variety of components on some of the most sensitive policy issues facing the Department. Tamarra also acted as the Office of the Attorney General’s liaison for the Criminal Division, state and local law enforcement, the Justice Department’s law enforcement components, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

From 2017 to 2021, Tamarra was a partner at Wilkinson Stekloff, serving corporate clients across industries ranging from pharma to energy, and manufacturing to sports. She is known for superior work at the trial and appellate levels on complex civil and criminal cases, and will now focus her practice on high-stakes trials and providing key strategic advice to clients.

“Tamarra is an outstanding trial attorney, and we couldn’t be happier to have her rejoin the firm,” said Beth Wilkinson, founding partner. “Already a tremendous strategist and advisor, she now will bring an even deeper regulatory perspective to her work on behalf of the market-leading clients we serve.  She is also a gifted mentor, leader, and colleague who will make our firm an even better place to work.”

Prior to 2017, Tamarra served for more than a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney, litigating hundreds of white-collar criminal matters. She tried multiple public corruption and fraud cases to juries, and served as lead prosecutor and trial counsel in complex fraud cases that resulted in large monetary recoveries and the longest prison sentences handed down for white collar crime in the District’s history.

Tamarra held the position of Deputy Chief in the Criminal Division with primary responsibility for supervising major fraud and corruption matters, and before that served as the National Security/Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council Coordinator, charging the first material support case in that District.

During her tenure as a federal prosecutor, Tamarra received a Justice Department Director’s Award for Superior Performance, and the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Honor Award for Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.

Wilkinson Stekloff is the leading trial litigation boutique in the country, demonstrating a depth of talent and dexterity of skill unmatched by firms of any size. Since the firm’s founding in 2016, its partners, counsel, and associates have tried cases all over the country in federal, state, and regulatory courts.