International law firm Withers has welcomed veteran tech litigator Jessica Nall as partner and leader of the firm’s Executive Crisis Management and Defense practice in San Francisco. Jess joins Withers from Baker McKenzie, where she led the government enforcement defense and investigations practice on the US West Coast.
For more than two decades, Jess has represented tech founders and executives at the forefront of AI, cryptocurrency and cybersecurity on matters including government investigations and enforcement actions, litigation and reputational crises. During that time, she has been the preeminent advisor to chief information security officers in the highest profile US federal investigations to date and has successfully navigated high-profile founders and executives through a number of watershed cases for the technology sector. Jess also represents individuals and companies on corporate internal investigations involving technology and other complex issues.
“Jess's practice aligns seamlessly with our own,” said Peter Wood, CEO of Withers' Dispute Resolution division. “Our tech founder and senior executive clients lead major international businesses and increasingly find themselves dealing with litigation and investigations as technology pervades more of our lives and economies. With Jess working alongside our established litigation, employment and reputation management teams, we have the skills to meet any crisis.”
Jess has significant experience leading cross-functional teams across multiple global time zones and adds depth to Withers litigation, white collar and investigations teams in New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. She has defended clients across the Asia Pacific region since the first DOJ Antitrust cartel investigations in 2003.
“Withers has assembled an impressive team with the skills and capabilities required to vigorously defend senior executives and founders in the tech sector in the US and across jurisdictions,” Jess said. “I’m excited to join my new colleagues at the top of the field in advising on our clients' most sensitive and consequential reputational and legal issues."
Kimberly Pallen, managing director of Withers' San Francisco office, adds: “Jess is a great complement to our US litigation and arbitration team, particularly for our California offering. She is also a perfect cultural fit – Jess is a high performing partner, excited to help continue building the Withers’ brand in the wake of recent trial and litigation successes.”
Jess is completing a master's degree in AI Law and Regulation from UC Berkeley and holds an AI Strategy Certification from MIT's Sloan School of Executive Management, as well as a law degree from Harvard Law School. Jess is highly ranked by Chambers and Partners for her executive representations in government enforcement defense matters.