Joan A. Akalaonu counsels clients through all steps of complex commercial litigation. She also advises clients through government and internal investigation matters. Before joining Faegre Baker Daniels, 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 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 she represented a child victim in a federal criminal restitution case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Joan enjoys volunteering, both locally and internationally. She loves to read and is a theater enthusiast. Joan also served as a catechist teacher for Confirmation candidates at her former parish.
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)
Bar Admissions : Illinois
Court Admissions : U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Cost
Rate : $$$