Joni S. Jacobsen

Joni S. Jacobsen, Global Co-chair of the Securities and Complex Litigation practice group, 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 Chambers and The Legal 500 (U.S.), Ms. Jacobsen was named Among the Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business. Since 2017, she has been 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. She also is a prolific author on securities litigation and corporate governance issues and frequently lectures on such topics.

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. She has also represented numerous special litigation committees conducting extensive investigations and subsequently litigating the committees’ decisions in court.

Ms. Jacobsen originally formulated the concept of a Women in Securities Litigation Network, personally reached out to women at various firms, and formed an advisory committee. She has since driven the formation and success of the WSL organization. The WSL is a national network designed to increase collaboration among women who practice in this space, as well as promote the use of female experts and mediators. The WSL has now grown to several hundred members nationwide, has a dedicated website at wsl-network.com, and holds quarterly events featuring female judges, experts, mediators and other prominent keynote speakers.

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