Johnjerica Hodge
Johnjerica Hodge helps her clients navigate difficult issues as they arise, whether in litigation or otherwise, and establish the policies and procedures needed to reduce the wide range of risk companies confront. Johnjerica is an emerging leader in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) space, where she provides counsel to companies across industries on evaluating and incorporating ESG values into their internal and external operations and helps them address the myriad of white collar and compliance needs related to the ESG sector. In addition to teaching one of the first law school courses focusing on the role of racial equity audits in the ESG movement, she holds several ESG certifications from institutions such as The Wharton School and University of California, Berkeley and is co-authoring a book on ESG.
Johnjerica represents clients in internal and governmental investigations, corporate compliance and appellate litigation across industries. She focuses part of her practice on helping health care providers respond to investigations and related matters under the False Claims Act involving allegations of fraudulent billing and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. She also provides counsel on billing and coding issues under state laws.
Johnjerica was a member of the independent compliance monitor team appointed in connection with a significant deferred prosecution agreement by a pharmaceutical company under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and she devotes a portion of her practice to corporate compliance and business ethics issues. She also has substantial experience in motion practice in state and federal courts.
A core component of Johnjerica’s practice is her deep experience in ESG and matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Leveraging her investigatory skills, she works with companies and institutions from a broad range of industries in identifying areas of vulnerability and opportunity within the organization and its policies and procedures. She also assists companies facing ESG-related litigation risks and counsels companies on various ESG-related issues.
An adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, Johnjerica teaches "ESG: Racial Equity Audits." In 2023, she will teach a similar course at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. Prior to joining Katten, Johnjerica served as a law clerk for the Honorable Carl E. Stewart of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She served as a member of the Alabama Law Review during law school.
9a. ALL – ESG, Its Role in the Firm, and the Role of Compliance (Intermediate)