Orrick’s Mel Bostwick Named an NLJ D.C. Rising Star

Congratulations to Mel Bostwick on her recognition as a National Law Journal D.C. Rising Star, an annual list honoring Washington, D.C.'s top legal talent under the age of 40. In a Q&A with the NLJ, Mel discussed her successful en banc argument in Procopio v. Wilke, a case where she scored a landmark win for 90,000 veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. “Getting to argue before the full Federal Circuit was such an amazing opportunity, and to be able to persuade the court to rule emphatically in favor of so many deserving (and appreciative) disabled veterans was immensely rewarding,” she said. When asked about the key to her success, Mel explained that being an effective appellate advocate requires you to think about your audience. She added that by “understanding what a judge needs to know to rule in your client’s favor, and making arguments in a way that gives them the right tools, you’ll make all the difference.”