The Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal has honored Marwa Elzankaly, a partner at leading Northern California trial law firm, McManis Faulkner, as one of the most influential women in the Silicon Valley in the publication’s fifth annual “Women of Influence” awards program.
“This recognition affirms what we at McManis Faulkner have long known, that Marwa is a top trial lawyer and a community leader. She is a driving force behind the innovation and change transforming our communities and our businesses,” said James McManis, head of McManis Faulkner.
Women of Influence honorees are nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel of previous Women of Influence recipients. Selection is based on success within their industries and contributions to their communities.
In her practice, Elzankaly represents individuals and corporate clients in general civil and commercial disputes, such as antitrust, trademark, copyright, breach of contract, trade secrets, unfair competition, malicious prosecution and employment issues.
Elzankaly, who is of Egyptian descent and speaks Arabic fluently, gained a critical victory in overturning an unmerited “No-Fly List” designation for a Stanford post-doctoral fellow from Indonesia. Elzankaly’s argument, broadcast on C-SPAN, ultimately resulted in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ agreement to allow federal trial judges to adjudicate the makeup of the No-Fly List. For her work in this case, Elzankaly was named a California Lawyer of the Year.
An active fixture in the legal community, Elzankaly is a member of the Standing Committee on Professional Conduct for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. She also serves on the Law United Cabinet for United Way and acts as an attorney advisor with Muslim Advocates, a national organization of Muslim lawyers. In addition, Elzankaly has participated on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Networks Group and served as president of the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers, during which time she received the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Services Award. She has also served as a lecturer on various legal subjects for the University of California, Berkeley and the California State Bar.
Elzankaly received her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law (1999) and her B.S. from the University of California, Riverside (1996).