They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40—Meet Our 2025 Honorees

In our fifth annual edition of “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40,” the stakes are as high as ever. The young lawyers in our 2025 class excel at client work at their law firms and companies, take on weighty leadership roles, and still make time for mentorship and pro bono work.

During our evaluation process, we reviewed their records of success for clients, analyzed their approaches to client work, and unpacked their leadership roles and pro bono service. We also asked them what they’ve learned from legal mentors, what they’re most proud of, and how they define success, among other questions.

“Success is an incremental process. I aim to leave my desk every day feeling like I put in a good day’s work, whether that’s moving a deal forward, learning something new, or teaching somebody else,” said Kelsey Breck Baumberger of Milbank.

Bradley Justus of Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider offered this: “I define success as achieving meaningful results for my clients while supporting and elevating those around me. Winning major cases and securing victories in high-stakes litigation are important, but true success extends beyond the courtroom.”

Elsewhere, our 2025 honorees discussed what they were most proud of— mentioning wins for clients in complex deals and litigation, advising corporate and government leaders navigating crises, and other milestones along their leadership paths.

Winnie Ling of Blend Labs, Inc. said she’s “most proud of embracing a growth mindset and empowering others to do the same. My career has been defined by a commitment to learning, evolving, and expanding beyond traditional legal roles to become a dynamic business leader.”

They also spoke about the best life and legal practice lessons they learned from their mentors.

WilmerHale’s Ericka Aiken, who clerked for the late Judge Damon Keith of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, said he told her, “‘Justice won’t always come easy, but if you can only help just one person, it’s worth the fight.’ Those words have stuck with me and still guide my moral and legal compasses to this day.”

Read more about the 2025 class in their Q&As. Then, take a look at “The 2025 40 Under 40 Honorees—By the Numbers,” our fun data dive on the most represented law schools and practice areas—along with a selection of other facts, such as the songs honorees are jamming to this summer.

Then it’s back to business in a new feature, “Former 40 Under 40 Honorees Share Tips with Next-Gen Attorneys.” Here, former honorees offer insight on how next-gen lawyers might take smart approaches to industry change, tech, and life-work balance.

For our 2025 honorees, the future of the legal profession begins now. Learn more about them in our interactive report. You can also read more about current and former honorees here.

Art direction by David Evans, graphic design by Jenna Cohen and Jonathan Hurtarte, and web development by Atthar Mirza.