Jill Keller Hengen is a leader in managing internal, global, and government-facing investigations across a broad spectrum of matters, with substantial experience in the life sciences and health care sectors. She has worked successfully to strengthen and build out corporate compliance programs regarding anticorruption, privacy, trade, ESG (environment, social, governance), and workplace culture.
Jill's portfolio of work includes extensive experience in government affairs, congressional investigations, crisis management, and proactive compliance reviews, as well as investigations involving anticorruption, accounting fraud, national security, environmental compliance, and problematic conduct by public company officers. Jill's government relations experience positions her to take a multifaceted approach to investigations that involve the legal and policy arenas. She advises clients on the political and reputational issues facing them while under investigation and develops and implements strategies taking the attendant political and media attention into account.
For example, Jill has represented a Fortune Global 500/FTSE 100 (Financial Times Stock Exchange) life sciences company in a multiyear Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation in the Middle East and Asia; a global charity in an investigation arising from allegations of diversion of humanitarian funds to designated terrorist organization in the Middle East; and the Audit Committee of a public life sciences company regarding allegations of accounting fraud, whistleblower retaliation, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and False Claims Act (FCA).
Jill is an active member of the Atlanta legal community and has been a leader in a number of charitable, political, and diversity initiatives throughout her career, including those dedicated to increasing the number of women elected to public office.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Investigations and White Collar Defense
Investigation on behalf of the Audit Committee of a public life sciences company into allegations of accounting fraud, whistleblower retaliation, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the False Claims Act (FCA).
Internal investigation for a Fortune Global 500/FTSE 100 life sciences company into potential off-label promotion issues and development and implementation of improved compliance practices.
Internal investigation for a Fortune Global 500 life sciences company into potential Sunshine Act violations and review and remediation of related compliance practices.
Congressional investigation of a global health care supply distributor related to the Trump Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Project Airbridge supply effort.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) civil investigation of a Fortune Global 500 company concerning vaccine cold storage protocols.
Represented a top five global automotive engine manufacturer in multiyear investigation before the DOJ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding safety and environmental issues.
Internal investigation on behalf of the independent directors of a public company into allegations of inappropriate conduct by the CEO.
Internal investigation on behalf of a public company board into conduct of the CEO regarding support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and COVID-19 safety protocols.
Counseled a Fortune Global 500/FTSE 100 life sciences company in a multiyear internal anti-bribery and anticorruption investigation and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation in the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Counseled a Fortune Global 500/FTSE 100 life sciences company in a sanctions and export controls investigation.
Internal investigation and controls review on behalf of a multibillion dollar global charity arising from allegations of diversion of humanitarian funds to a designated terrorist organization in the Middle East.
Counseled a South African technology company in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DOJ investigations into potential violations of the FCPA and federal securities laws in connection with a government social services tender and related public disclosures.
Counseled a CEO of publicly traded company under investigation by the SEC and DOJ for insider trading.
Obtained commutation of a client's prison sentence under the Obama Administration Clemency Initiative.
Represented a for-profit educational institution in congressional and related investigations.
Government Affairs
Represented a public life sciences company in a multiyear advocacy effort before Congress and the executive branch to amend a provision of the patent law that prevented client from obtaining patent term restoration under the Hatch-Waxman Act.
Represented a global alcoholic beverage company in successful relocation of its rum production operations from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Represented a sovereign Gulf nation before the U.S. State Department, Treasury, and Congress to support Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of its proposed ownership stake in a U.S. stock exchange.
Represented a sovereign Gulf nation in obtaining Statement of Interest from the U.S. Secretary of State in a class action lawsuit affecting U.S. foreign policy.
Represented a telecommunications company before Congress regarding the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Congressional advocacy effort on behalf of a pro bono client to secure passage of the bipartisan Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in the 117th Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Government advocacy effort in support of programs that provide mentors to foster children, including passage of legislation in the 110th and 111th Congresses providing loan forgiveness to community college students in exchange for mentorship of at-risk children and securing federal appropriations for certain mentoring programs.
- Georgetown University (J.D. 2013); Cornell University (B.A. in History and Government with distinction 2004)
- Georgia, Maryland, and District of Columbia