Women in Law 2025

2025

JOAN AKALAONU PARTNER Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

J oan A. Akalaonu is a partner at the law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where she provides counsel to 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. Joan is also part of the legal team at her firm representing African American farmers and ranchers who have experienced recent discrimination from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) when applying for loans. Joan has been recognized and included on Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list for her work in Commercial Litigation from 2021-2026, and for her work in Criminal Defense: White Collar from 2023-2026. Joan also has a thriving pro bono practice including immigration cases, military veteran benefits, and more. 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. Joan attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law and graduated magna cum laude. She attended Yale University for undergrad where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. Joan is currently the President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (“BWLA”). Her BWLA bar theme is “Enduring Legacy,” in recognition of the lasting power BWLA has built as an organization and the legacy of excellence Black women have built together in the legal profession. Both a reflection and a call to action, the bar theme “Enduring Legacy” is a reminder of the strength, brilliance, and resilience that define BWLA, and a charge to continue building upon this powerful legacy. Joan also serves as the co-chair of her firm’s Diversity Collective group.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025