Joanna C. Hendon

• Defended at trial an investment adviser charged with market manipulation in prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. United States v. Edward Durante, et al. (S.D.N.Y.).
• Defended at trial a consultant at an expert network firm charged with insider trading in prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. United States v. Winifred Jiau (S.D.N.Y.).
• Prevented the filing of charges against the former Dell Inc. investor relations employee accused of insider trading in prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. United States v. Todd Newman, et. al. (S.D.N.Y.).
• Prevented the filing of an enforcement action by FINRA against a New York and London-based broker-dealer firm accused of fraudulent mark-ups and mark-downs in the purchase and sale of mortgage-backed securities.
• Prevented the filing of an enforcement action by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission against a senior swaps broker accused of market manipulation.
• Obtained declination for senior executive in criminal antitrust investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Defended the chief risk officer of a New York-based financial institution in investigations by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission arising from the 2023 failures of regional banks associated with digital asset deposits.
• Defended the former chief security officer of a telecommunications company in data-breach investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Defended senior university employees in investigations into sex trafficking by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. United States v. Robert Hadden (S.D.N.Y), United States v. Darius Paduch (S.D.N.Y).
• Defended Pershing Square Capital research analyst accused of tipping in an insider trading investigation by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. In the Matter of Filip Szymik (S.E.C.), In the Matter of Jordan Peixoto (S.E.C.).
• Defended Cheniere Energy, Inc. vice-president accused of tipping in an insider trading investigation by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. S.E.C. v. Francis J. Steenberge, et al. (D. Conn.).

Joanna C. Hendon is a co-leader of Alston & Bird’s White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations Team. She is known for her tenacious advocacy, her courtroom skills, and for delivering sophisticated, strategic counsel to clients under investigation and in litigation. Joanna is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA for White Collar Crime and Government Investigations and has been shortlisted for its prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” award in New York. Her clients have described her in Chambers as “off the charts brilliant” and “outstanding.” Recognized as a thought leader, Joanna regularly teaches and speaks on corporate enforcement and insider trading.

Joanna represents companies and individuals at trial and in arbitration, civil litigation, and matters before the DOJ, SEC, Federal Reserve, NY Department of Financial Services, CFTC, FINRA, NYAG, and Manhattan District Attorney. Joanna has conducted numerous sensitive internal investigations and regularly advises corporate and individual clients on sensitive, high-profile matters.

Early in her career, Joanna was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where she served in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and handled many jury trials. While there, Joanna received the John Marshall Award, the DOJ’s highest honor given to a lawyer for excellence at trial. Joanna served as a clerk for the Hon. Frank M. Coffin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Bar Admissions

• New York

Education

• Yale University (J.D., 1991)
• University of British Columbia (B.A., 1987)

Memberships