Joann Wakana concentrates her practice on complex litigation matters with an emphasis on class action defense. She has handled large-scale consumer class actions and multidistrict litigation brought under California’s unfair competition and consumer protection laws, product liability claims, and federal securities and derivative litigation. She has extensive experience litigating complex disputes, including telecommunications, health care, consumer, and financial services class actions and product liability matters in both state and federal courts. Joann also counsel’s clients on government investigations and antitrust issues.
In 2011, Joann was a seconded attorney with the law firm of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in Japan. During her secondment, she assisted Japanese companies on litigation matters in the United States and provided strategic advice on legal issues surrounding global commerce and investment. Joann also defended a multinational company in connection with investigations by the Japan Fair Trade Commission, the European Commission, and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Joann is a member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative and Global Services and Strategies Committee. She was recently named a “Rising Star” by Southern California Super Lawyers. She received her J.D. from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles in 2004, and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2000.
- Serves as counsel to corporate clients facing class actions brought under California’s unfair competition and consumer protection laws, including the UCL, FAL and CLRA.
- Serves as counsel in class actions involving an industry-leading satellite television provider.
- Serves as counsel in a large-scale automotive products liability and consumer class action MDL and state court consolidated proceedings involving over 200 nationwide class actions.
- Serves as counsel in class actions involving a leading wireless carrier.
- Obtained a pleading-stage dismissal of all claims in a putative nationwide class action alleging fraud and unfair business practices against a major manufacturer and retailer of nutritional supplements.
- Obtained a pleading-stage dismissal of all claims in a putative nationwide class action alleging product defect and false advertising claims against an industry-leading satellite television provider.
- Obtained summary judgment of a putative nationwide class action involving false advertising, unconscionability and breach of implied covenant claims against an industry-leading satellite television provider.
- Member, California Bar Association
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member, National Association of Women Lawyers
- Member, Japan Business Association
- Board Member, Asian Business League