Sterne Kessler Welcomes Sarahi Estrella as Chief Human Resources Officer

Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2026) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is pleased to announce that Sarahi Estrella has joined the firm as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Estrella has more than 30 years of progressive experience as a human resources leader in professional services organizations, including 15 years in the legal industry. She specializes in employee relations and organizational development as well as talent management and engagement.

As CHRO, Estrella will oversee and manage the human resources, recruiting, professional development, and compensation and benefits functions. She will work closely with firm leadership on strategic initiatives focused on employee engagement and wellbeing, including the firm’s in-house Wellness Center. In this role, Estrella will continue to align Sterne Kessler’s people-first approach with its strategic goals.

“I’m honored to join a thriving firm with a distinguished reputation for outstanding work and an authentic, collaborative culture.” Estrella said. “Sterne Kessler is committed to fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to do their best work. I look forward to working with firm leadership to continue to support employee growth, engagement, and wellbeing.”

Estrella joins the firm from Finnegan where she served as Director of Human Resources. She has significant experience developing human resource strategies aligned to business objectives, with prior experience in the legal, hospitality, and consulting sectors.

Robert Burger, Sterne Kessler’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, stated that “The CHRO role is an important leadership position at Sterne Kessler. Finding the right person, who truly values people as our most important asset, was no small task. Sarahi embodies this philosophy perfectly. She brings a rare blend of intellectual property legal sector experience across HR, recruiting, and talent development that aligns seamlessly with our culture. We are thrilled to welcome her to the firm and confident she will be instrumental in guiding Sterne Kessler forward.”

Estrella earned an M.A. in Human Resources Management from Marymount University, and a B.S. in Communications from Michigan State University. She is a Society of Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and earned a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Based in Washington, D.C. and renowned for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, enhancement, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, technical specialists, specialized trademark paralegals, and law clerks include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law, tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating.