Meet Our Attorney Recruiting Team

An Inside Look
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Our dedicated, in-house attorney recruitment team is here to support you before, during, and after the hiring process. From lateral partners to law students, we know the firm, we know you have questions, and we’re here to help.

Cherie Beffa

Chief Attorney Recruiting Officer

A dark haired woman poses in a black blouse.

Cherie leads Wilson Sonsini’s attorney recruiting team and plays a crucial role in developing and executing strategic recruitment initiatives for all lateral non-partner and law student hiring at the firm.

She is a seasoned attorney recruitment professional with more than 25 years’ experience in the legal industry. She is a former NALP president and speaks frequently at law schools and legal conferences.


Allegra Aquino

Attorney Recruiter

Allegra has over a decade of law firm experience and previously held the roles of Office Supervisor and Office Manager in Wilson Sonsini’s Boston office. Allegra is on the board of the Massachusetts Legal Recruitment Agency. She enjoys trail walks with her husband, two kids, and chocolate Labrador retriever.

Ask Me About

  • Diversity Recruiting Initiatives
  • Our Boston Office

Nikhita Bora

Attorney Recruiting Coordinator

Nikhita oversees Wilson Sonsini’s law school recruiting efforts for the New York office. With 3 years of legal recruiting experience, she manages the NY office’s summer associates’ program, fall associates’ program, processes law student candidates during OCI season, and coordinates our firm networking events at local universities.

Ask Me About

  • Our New York Office

Alexandra Byerly

Attorney Recruiting Assistant

Alexandra is an attorney recruiting assistant in the Austin office where she helps with law student hiring at the firm. She has experience working in the legal industry as well as in sales and event planning. In her free time, she loves to hang with her cat, Winston.

Ask Me About

  • Law School Recruiting
  • Our Austin Office

John Cohn

Attorney Recruiting Coordinator

With experience from the worlds of elite athletics, nonprofits, and social enterprises, John brings his unique perspective and skillset to our equally unique office in Wilmington.  When not working, he likes to spend time cooking up a storm and enjoying time outside with his family.

Ask Me About

  • Our Wilmington Office

Terri Foland

Senior Manager of Lateral Partner Recruiting

It is wonderful to have confidence that partners make a great choice in joining our firm and that they get to know us accurately during the recruiting process. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my Golden Retriever (Sam), cooking for family and friends, reading, and collecting beach glass.

Ask Me About

  • Partner Recruiting and Integration

Hedvy Gregg Paschos

Attorney Recruiting Specialist

I’ve been working my way through a few departments at Wilson since 2013 and have happily called San Francisco my home since 2015. I love getting on a plane, but I’ve recently enjoyed traveling by car and going on road trips around the U.S. with my husband.

Ask Me About

  • Our San Francisco Office
  • Law School Hiring

Ashley Soleto Hancock

Attorney Recruiting Coordinator

Ashley coordinates Wilson Sonsini’s law school recruiting efforts for Salt Lake City.  She’s been working in recruiting for 10 years in different industries like academia and Oil & Gas before settling into the legal field. Outside of work, you’ll find Ashley wrangling her corgis or at a Taylor Swift concert.

Ask Me About

  • Our Salt Lake City Office

Donna Hill

Senior Manager, IP Recruiting

Donna is a highly experienced legal professional who was an IP litigation attorney for 10 years followed by over a decade of IP focused recruiting at Wilson Sonsini. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she studied Parkinson’s disease, so has a particular affinity for scientist-turned-lawyer candidates.

Ask Me About

  • Lateral Attorney Recruiting for IP and Privacy Practice Groups

John McDonagh

Attorney Recruiting Coordinator

John works out of the Seattle office coordinating law school recruiting and the summer program. Before joining Wilson Sonsini, he worked in the Seattle start up community for 5 years and is excited to bring that knowledge and experience to the team. Outside of work, he enjoys watching copious amounts of movies and spending time with friends.

Ask Me About

  • Law School Recruiting
  • Our Seattle Office

Andrew Mokey

Attorney Recruiting Manager

Andrew is the Attorney Recruiting Manager in the Washington, D.C. office and oversees all aspects of the office’s law school recruiting activities and Summer Program. Andrew has over a decade of experience in legal recruiting, training and development and spends the majority of his free time chasing after his dogs.

Ask Me About

  • Law School Recruiting
  • Our Washington, D.C., Office

Madina Omar

Program Manager, IP Recruiting

Madina focuses on lateral, non-partner recruiting for all IP practice groups at Wilson Sonsini. She has more than 4 years’ experience in recruiting and is involved in BALRA. She enjoys putting together floral arrangements during her spare time!

Ask Me About

  • IP Lateral Hiring
  • Our San Francisco Office

Amanda Perry

Lateral Partner Recruiting Specialist

Amanda has a JD from UC Davis and BA from NYU. After graduating from law school, Amanda’s family friend turned her on to a career in legal recruiting and today, she’s confident that she’s found her calling. She loves being a part of Wilson Sonsini’s recruiting team!

Ask Me About

  • Lateral Partner Recruiting

Cyndi Petersen

Attorney Recruiter

Cyndi focuses on lateral, non-partner recruiting for all non-IP practice groups at the firm. She has several years of experience in recruiting and human resources. She is a Bay Area sports fan and also holds a professional accredited stage name in the art of Japanese classical dance. 

Ask Me About

  • Non-IP Lateral Hiring

Elizabeth Pond

Senior Manager, Firmwide Law School Recruiting

Elizabeth leads the firm’s summer program and fall associate integration efforts. She loves working with law students and has more than 17 years of legal recruiting experience. Elizabeth is passionate about helping others and has served on many committees throughout her career.

Ask Me About

  • Summer Program
  • Fall Associate Integration

Robin Schallert

Senior Manager, Firmwide Law School Recruiting

Robin leads the firm’s recruiting events and entry-level hiring. She enjoys helping students find the perfect place for them and has more than 10 years of legal recruiting experience. Outside of work, Robin enjoys spending time with family and friends, snowboarding, and hiking.

Ask Me About

  • OCI
  • Entry-level Associate Hiring
  • On-campus Recruiting Events

Susan Mayer Schonfeld

Senior Director of Lateral Partner Recruiting and Integration

I’m passionate about bringing the best talent in legal to the best law firm in the world and helping new partners feel at home when they arrive. I also love live music, great books, trashy television and space exploration.

Ask Me About

  • Partner Recruiting and Integration

Nina Suomi

Attorney Recruiting Coordinator

As part of the Attorney Recruiting team, I coordinate our law school recruiting efforts and summer program planning for the San Diego office. I have several years of legal recruiting experience, and I’m excited to bring that industry knowledge to my role. I’m a native San Diegan and UCSD alum – go Tritons!

In my free time, you can find me enjoying the beach. I’m also passionate about crafting, cooking, and cheering on my favorite Formula 1 and hockey teams.

Ask Me About

  • Our San Diego Office

Alma Vasquez

Attorney Recruiter

Alma Vasquez is the Attorney Recruiter for the Downtown Los Angeles and Century City offices and oversees the law student recruiting for both offices. She has over twelve years of experience in attorney and law student recruiting. On the weekends, she likes to spend time with her daughter exploring beaches and having dinner with family on Sundays.

Ask Me About

  • Our Los Angeles Office

Stephany Yao

Manager, Attorney Recruiting and Bar Compliance

Stephany leads Wilson Sonsini’s law school recruiting efforts in Palo Alto and also oversees bar compliance matters firmwide. Prior to legal recruiting, Stephany worked in production management in the entertainment industry. She is a proud Cal alum (Go Bears!) and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.

Ask Me About

  • Our Palo Alto Office
  • Law School Hiring
  • China Hiring
  • Bar Compliance