Joanna R. Travalini

Biography

JOANNA TRAVALINI focuses on regulatory investigations and enforcement, internal investigations, securities litigation, and accountants and professional liability. She represents financial institutions, accounting firms, public companies, and their executives and employees in regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, including investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and state regulatory agencies. Joanna also has represented clients in litigation adverse to these agencies. She is knowledgeable about SEC regulations, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and PCAOB rules and auditing standards.

Joanna was named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Securities Litigation in 2021 and 2022 and recognized in Best Lawyers: Women in the Law 2021. She was listed in Crain’s Chicago Business 2021 and 2022 under Notable Rising Stars in Law. She was named an Illinois Rising Star in 2017, 2018, and 2019 by Super Lawyers.

Joanna draws from her licensure as a certified public accountant and years of experience in public accounting in representing her clients. Prior to joining Sidley, Joanna was a partner of the securities litigation group at a major international law firm. Earlier in her career, she was a project manager at Deloitte, where she analyzed quality assurance reviews and assessed regulatory and risk issues for member firms. Previously, she was an audit senior in Deloitte’s audit and enterprise risk services practice, where she conducted audits and attestations for clients in the financial services and manufacturing industries and performed client risk assessments under Sarbanes-Oxley.

In 2001, Joanna received a B.A., magna cum laude, in Communications and French from Boston College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received an MBA in 2009 from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a J.D. in 2009 from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was executive editor of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business.

Experience

Representative Matters

Regulatory Investigations and Enforcement Proceedings

A UK-based insurance broker in DOJ investigation related to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
A public accounting firm in SEC investigation related to its audits of a large cryptocurrency exchange.
An international public accounting firm in PCAOB enforcement action related to the firm’s audits of a China-based educational service provider and the company’s improper revenue recognition.
A drug rehabilitation center and its CEO in SEC enforcement action alleging 10(b) and Section 5 violations.
An international public accounting firm in SEC and PCAOB enforcement actions related to the firm’s audits of a publicly traded energy company and the company’s suspected improper revenue recognition.
The former Business Unit CEO of a publicly traded Fortune 50 company in SEC investigation involving accounting practices.
A financial institution in SEC enforcement action and inquiries by the Department of the Treasury related to allegations of corporate fraud and financial mismanagement.
The former CFO of a publicly traded company in SEC and DOJ investigations related to the company’s alleged financial improprieties.
The former partner of a Big 4 accounting firm in SEC enforcement action related to allegations concerning auditor independence.
A technology company in an internal investigation and inquiries by the SEC and DOJ related to allegations of fraudulent conduct by company employees.

Securities and Commercial Litigation

An international public accounting firm in a securities class action and state litigation relating to its audits of a financial advisor that entered into receivership.
An international public accounting firm in multi-district litigation relating to its audits of the world’s largest commodity futures merchant.
An international financial institution accused of negligence and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with a large pyramid scheme.
An international financial institution in litigation tied to the subprime mortgage crisis.
A consumer-goods company in an arbitration, successfully obtaining an arbitration award in a deferred tax and contract interpretation dispute.

Internal Investigations

A public consumer goods company in an internal investigation related to whistleblower allegations concerning corporate internal controls and accounting practices.
A pharmaceutical corporation in an internal investigation related to the accounting for sales rebate accruals.
The audit committee of a distribution company in an internal investigation related to allegations of corporate fraud.

Diligence and Deal Counseling

Arthur J. Gallagher in its US$13.45 billion acquisition of AssuredPartners from GTCR (pending).

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

Community Involvement

Membership & Activities

Joanna is a member of the American Bar Association’s Professional Liability Litigation Committee.

Credentials

Admissions & Certifications

U.S. District Court, N.D. of Illinois - General
U.S. District Court, E.D. of Michigan
Illinois

Education

ノースウェスタン大学法科大学院 , 法務博士, 2009
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, MBA, 2009
Boston College, B.A., 2001

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