Joni S. Jacobsen

Joni S. Jacobsen, co-chair of the U.S. Securities Litigation/Enforcement practice, defends publicly traded companies and their directors and officers when they become entangled in securities class action litigation, derivative litigation, SEC investigations and corporate governance disputes. Ranked in The Legal 500 (U.S.), Ms. Jacobsen was named Among the Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business in 2017, and has been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list every year since 2013, one of a select number of female attorneys recognized in the Securities Litigation section. She is currently a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School, her alma mater, where she teaches a seminar in Strategic Considerations in Securities Litigation.

Ms. Jacobsen has litigated in federal and state courts throughout the country. She consistently succeeds in having the vast majority of her cases dismissed outright on motions to dismiss, thereby reducing the distraction and burden on her clients and resulting in significant savings for clients and insurance carriers alike. In the minority of cases that survive through motion practice, she takes a strategic approach in opposing motions for class certification or bringing motions for summary judgment in order to achieve the best possible resolution for her clients. Ms. Jacobsen's experience makes her particularly adept at helping clients navigate an onslaught of simultaneous litigation from various fronts, including securities actions, derivative actions, government investigations and shareholder demand letters seeking books and records. Ms. Jacobsen also regularly advises companies and the boards of directors regarding corporate governance matters, including compliance related issues.

Prior to joining Dechert, Ms. Jacobsen was a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice of an international law firm.