The 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation

We’re thrilled to introduce The 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation.

In a year in which lawyers and law firms seem to be stuck in a spin cycle of stress and crisis, these lawyers provide a forecast of the fascinating future of global law practice.

They’re also mesmerizing, multi-talented, dedicated, focused – and the best argument there is for the vitality of the law no matter what your particular take on it. It’s a pathway to resolve disputes, build bridges, fund global enterprises and make dreams happen.

Reagan Charleston Thomas of New Orleans’ Aylstock Witkin may look familiar, especially to viewers of Bravo’s first seasons of Southern Charm New Orleans. She grew up wanting to be a lawyer and enrolled in Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2015. Along the way, she was cast in Southern Charm, which she appeared in for two seasons while finishing her legal training, graduating in 2018. She was an Executive Law Clerk for the Louisiana Solicitor General from 2017 to 2018. She joined Aylstock Witkin to practice Personal Injury & Product Liability law in 2022. She is also a jewelry designer, having established the glorious and unique Reagan Charleston design not long after earning her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University.

Ben Betner joined the U.S. Army in 2004 and worked in Military Intelligence. He deployed several times with the Special Operation Command in Afghanistan and Iraq. After serving for 10 years, he enrolled at The University of Texas School of Law, from which he graduated in 2017 and joined Gibson Dunn as a litigator in its Houston office. He works on Litigation and Class Actions, often for energy companies. Among his signature achievements, he was one of the trial counsel on the $667M verdict won by Energy Transfer & Dakota Access against Greenpeace, a defamation and trespass case that set on its head the battle over environmental protest and litigation. He also volunteers representing veterans before Military Review Boards on discharge upgrades and disability-related claims.

Priyanka Timblo of Holwell Shuster & Goldberg in New York has made every moment count on her journey from a childhood with time spent in Goa, India, through college in Miami, teaching at Breakthrough Collaborative in Austin, law school at McGill University Faculty of Law in Canada and now a partnership where she is bringing in huge wins. In 2024, she and her team traveled to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on Walmart over its cancellation of a massive contract with her client, London Luxury, a home goods purveyor. They won $101M, one of the largest verdicts ever awarded in the state.

This is our third edition of the LDX guide and, well, just Wow. You’ve overwhelmed us with incredible nominations from across the world of lawyers making their mark to show the world just what they’re bringing to the dance. These lawyers typically have been out of law school for less than 15 years; we don’t draw hard lines on age or the like because we know life happens. At the same time, we offer more than two dozen guides featuring the legal world’s established changemakers. This is our opportunity to turn to the future.

We chose these lawyers through our essential process that combines robust (and easy) submissions, journalistic research and vetting with peers. Reading about so many professionals who’re betting their future on the law is particularly rewarding. Enjoy.