Joan Akalaonu counsels clients through all steps of complex commercial litigation in both federal and state court. She also advises and represents clients through government enforcement actions, internal investigations and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance matters.
Past Experience
Before joining Faegre Drinker, Joan was an associate at Skadden, Arps Slate, Meagher & Flom, where she represented and advised clients in various commercial litigation matters, investigations and enforcement actions brought by government agencies, and internal investigations involving complaints and allegations of employee misconduct.
During law school, Joan externed with Judge Sanjay Tailor, associate judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division. She also externed at the Loyola Civitas Child Law Clinic, where she served as a child representative for family law cases in domestic relations court and represented a child victim in a federal criminal restitution case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Prior to law school, Joan, who has a Master’s in Social Work, worked for several years as a children’s social worker in Chicago and London, safeguarding young children and their families within their homes, through legal care proceedings and through foster care/adoption. Her time as a social worker in London also provided her with ample legal experience, including assisting attorneys throughout cases in legal proceedings, drafting position papers and providing testimony.
Personal Interests
Joan enjoys volunteering, both locally and internationally, and is committed to social justice initiatives. She regularly participates in 5k walks/runs with her mother to support various social causes. Joan is also an avid reader and theater enthusiast. During law school, she served as a catechist teacher for Catholic Confirmation candidates.
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Education
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
J.D. magna cum laude, Dean's List, Loyola Law Review Journal (junior editor), Children's Legal Rights Journal (senior editor) (2015)
University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S.W. in Mental Health, with honors (2009)
Yale University
B.A. in Psychology, with distinction, cum laude (2004)
