About Johnjerica Hodge

With a focus on appellate litigation and representing clients in the health care industry, Johnjerica Hodge helps her clients navigate difficult issues as they arise, whether in litigation or otherwise. 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. In addition to teaching one of the first law school courses focusing on the role of racial equity audits in the ESG movement, she is co-authoring a book on ESG slated for publication by mid-2023.

Business strategies for resolving investigations

Johnjerica represents clients in internal and governmental investigations, corporate compliance and appellate litigation across industries. She focuses much 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, and counsels clients on various environmental law, administrative law and constitutional law issues.

A core component of her practice is Johnjerica's 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.

Johnjerica serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law and is currently teaching "ESG: Racial Equity Audits." 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.

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Practice Focus

  • Appellate and Supreme Court litigation
  • Racial equity, civil rights and human rights audits
  • ESG and DEI compliance reviews and benchmarking
  • Health care investigations and enforcement
  • White collar and internal investigations
  • Compliance
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Representative Experience

  • Performed FCPA analysis for international shipping company.
  • Represented independent directors in the Gulfport Energy Corporation and Mallinckrodt plc bankruptcy cases.
  • Counsel to official committee of unsecured creditors in High Ridge Brands chapter 11 cases in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Represent health care provider subject to government investigation for alleged violations of False Claims Act.
  • Represent health care provider in internal investigation of potential FCA liability arising from billing and coding issues.
  • Represent company in state and federal environmental litigation.
  • Counsel software company on compliance issues related to mergers and acquisitions.
  • Counsel company on FCPA risks from subcontractor’s operations in Latin America.
  • Represent multinational company relating to internal investigation in Vietnam.
  • Represent multinational retailer in constitutional challenge to administrative agency.
  • Counsel multinational company on FCA risks from potential business partnership.
  • Member of independent compliance monitor team for multinational pharmaceutical company convicted of violating the FCPA.
  • Represent health care provider in internal investigation of potential liability under state law arising from billing and coding issues.
  • Represented health care provider in obtaining dismissal in FCA lawsuit arising from allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse.
  • Represented health care provider in obtaining favorable settlement in FCA lawsuit arising from alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
  • Represent national sporting goods store in breach-of-contract lawsuit against a software company.
  • Represent multinational oil and gas company in breach-of-contract arbitration against contractor.
  • Represent general contractor in construction defect litigation.
  • Represent oil and gas exploration and production company in SEC enforcement action.
  • Co-author opposition brief for appeal defending a multi-week jury trial.
  • Represented health care providers in obtaining successful resolution of litigation concerning corporate raiding and tortious interference claims.
  • Counsel to official committee of unsecured creditors in High Ridge Brands chapter 11 cases in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • University of Alabama School of Law, JD, Order of the Coif, summa cum laude
  • University of Alabama, BA, summa cum laude
  • The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Certificate in ESG Risks and Opportunities, Certificate in ESG and Social Activism
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Ones to Watch
    Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021–2022
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars
    Washington, DC, 2022
Award Methodologies