Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that Jacqueline M. Arango, a partner with the firm for more than 10 years and once a formidable federal prosecutor, has been named Chair of the Miami office's Litigation Practice.

Arango, whose white collar defense practice focuses on public corruption and national security, is currently co-chair of Akerman's White Collar Crime & Government Investigations Practice, and will remain in that role as well.  The Miami office boasts 125 total attorneys.

"Jackie is a seasoned, creative litigator who has long practiced at the highest levels for her clients," said Lawrence Rochefort, firmwide Chair of the Litigation Practice group. "She is a leader in Miami, and at the firm generally, and we are proud to have her in this key role for the practice and the firm."

"It's an honor to be named to the leadership ranks of Akerman," Arango said. "The Miami litigators, across their many specialties, are renowned in Florida and beyond for their winning records in court, their legal acumen, and their devotion to their clients.  I am excited to take the helm."

Arango leads a team including other former federal prosecutors, senior enforcement lawyers at the SEC, and government lawyers representing corporations, financial institutions, boards of directors, and individuals in government investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, grand jury probes, internal investigations, and trials. Having handled more than 50 jury trials, Arango defends and resolves government investigations arising under criminal and civil statutes, including the False Claims Act (FCA), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Her practice includes internal corporate investigations, government regulatory matters, and compliance counseling. She also advises clients on commercial litigation matters, anti-money laundering regulations, contractual disputes, securities and other class action defense, civil fraud claims, and insolvency matters.

Arango counsels clients on international trade and economic sanctions matters, and she has handled numerous international weapons and sensitive technology trafficking cases concerning the Arms Export Control Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). She has also served as an advisor to a United Nations subcommittee that sought to enhance international cooperation in reducing small arms and light weapons proliferation.

Arango served for 16 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office, including serving as Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption and National Security Section, where she oversaw public corruption and civil rights cases, including the investigation and prosecution of federal, state, and local officials for bribery, conflict of interest, embezzlement, extortion, and other related offenses. She also oversaw the investigation and prosecution of international and domestic terrorism cases. Prior to this work, Jacqueline served in the Narcotics Section, where, as Deputy Chief, she supervised 15 narcotics prosecutors and oversaw drug trafficking and money laundering investigations.

Among her most significant past cases, Arango:

• Represented Realauction.com in a two-week jury trial defending against allegations that online auction software used by local governments infringed a patent resulting in a favorable jury verdict;
• Represented a cooperating Wall Street trader witness in a high-profile insider trading case alleging he was paid was paid a bonus of more than $2 million for illegal tips, which helped earn the hedge fund more than $3.8 million;
• Represented an investment and loan company in the defense of a $44 million Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and civil conspiracy lawsuit alleging a far-reaching conspiracy to entrap borrowers into predatory business loans, resulting in a complete dismissal of all charges with prejudice.

She is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, Cuban American Bar Association,  Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Women's White Collar Defense Association, and a Director of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association.

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.

Akerman’s team of litigators is ranked Tier One in the United States in Commercial Litigation and Appellate Practice by U.S. News – Best Lawyers and as a leader in International Arbitration across Latin America by Chambers Global. With more than 350 litigators across the firm, many with first-chair trial experience, Akerman fields one of the largest and most sophisticated trial teams across the Americas.