William H. Milliken Named to Bloomberg Law’s They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40

William H. Milliken, director in Sterne Kessler’s Trial & Appellate and Electronic Practice Groups and co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice, has been named to Bloomberg Law’s 2026 “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” list, an honor spotlighting the next generation of legal leaders. The list was determined by Bloomberg Law editors review of “records of success, recommendation letters, and the impact of their leadership on colleagues, clients and communities.”

In his profile, Milliken reflected on recent wins, how he defines success, the work he is most proud of, and more.

Milliken discussed recent wins on behalf of clients, including Teva Pharmaceuticals, “I played a leading role representing Teva in Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Vanda accused Teva of infringing patents on methods of administering tasimelteon to treat non-24, a debilitating sleep disorder. We successfully invalidated all the patents, enabling Teva to launch its generic tasimelteon product and bring a low-cost alternative to patients.” He continued, “I also successfully navigated, mid-examination, a two-hour evidentiary hearing over a key prior-art reference, which included live testimony and real-time FDA website navigation. In short, I built a record that proved decisive on appeal.”

When asked how he defines success, Milliken said, “I think in this job, success must be measured first and foremost by the quality of your process. Litigation is unpredictable, and only so many things are under your control. Wins and losses are not a perfect (or even necessarily good) barometer of success. Instead, the question should be: Have I done everything that is within my control to maximize my chances of prevailing?”

He also spoke about the work he is most proud of as a lawyer, representing veterans pro bono, “These matters have been among the most meaningful and consequential of my career. Many of the veterans I have represented were navigating complex benefits issues while facing significant personal and financial hardship. The Veterans Affairs system can be daunting even for sophisticated claimants; for those struggling with health challenges or limited resources, it can feel insurmountable. My role has been not only to advocate effectively within that system but to ensure that each client feels heard, respected, and taken seriously.”

Read Will’s full profile.