Jones Day's Joan McKown honored by the National Law Journal with 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award

Joan McKown, of counsel in the Firm's Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice, has been honored by the National Law Journal with a "Lifetime Achievement Award," which recognizes lawyers for their "career-long accomplishments and impact on the national legal community."

Resident in the Washington Office, Ms. McKown counsels corporations, regulated entities, and senior officers in defending against SEC enforcement actions. Ms. McKown was recognized as a prominent figure in the pro bono legal community and for her knowledgeable and often successful work as one of the leading Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defense counsels in the country.

"On behalf of Jones Day, we are so very proud that Joan was selected for this honor," said Henry Klehm, Practice Leader for Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement. "From providing outstanding service for our clients and extending to her notable pro bono service to the community, every aspect of her career demonstrates the highest level of professionalism."

Early in her career, Ms. McKown moved quickly from staff attorney to Chief Counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the SEC, where she oversaw the review of more than 1,000 enforcement recommendations to the Commission each year and played a critical role in the development of SEC Enforcement Policy. She also directed the creation of the first Division of Enforcement Manual, which set the guidance for SEC enforcement attorneys nationwide and provided a useful and publicly available tool for the defense bar. She received the Chairman's Award for Excellence, the SEC's highest honor for staff.

Ms. McKown was also recognized for her contributions to the broader legal community. From June 2021 to June 2023, she served as the President of the Board of Trustees of Legal Aid in the District of Columbia, and she currently serves on the executive committee of Legal Aid as the Immediate Past President. She also previously served as the Chair of the DC Bar Corporate, Securities, Finance Community, and as the former President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the SEC Historical Society.