Leita Walker Named to Benchmark Litigation Top 250 Women in Litigation List

Ballard Spahr First Amendment litigator Leita Walker has been named to the 2026 edition of Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation List.

Leita is recognized in the Top 250 Women – Midwest category. For 20 years, she has defended speech in libel litigation, helped news organizations obtain access to governmental and judicial records, and aided journalists and whistleblowers in navigating high-profile and politically polarizing situations, including demonstrations and other events that sometimes turn violent. Leita is a sought-after commentator on cameras in courtrooms and public access to court proceedings. She also made the Top 250 Women in Litigation List in 2023 and was recognized in the Media and Entertainment Law category of Benchmark Litigation’s 2025 and 2026 annual guides. Since 2022, she has been recognized annually by Chambers USA in the First Amendment Litigation category.

Leita is a member of Ballard Spahr’s nationally regarded Media and Entertainment Law Group, which earned the National Law Firm of the Year: Media Law designation from Best Law Firms in 2026 and is regularly cited for excellence in publications like Chambers USA and The Legal 500.

Benchmark Litigation compiles this list after researching individual litigators’ professional activities, reviewing client feedback surveys, and conducting one-on-one interviews. For further information on the methodology for the Top 250 Women in Litigation List, please see Benchmark Litigation’s website.

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