Johanes Maliza

Overview

Johanes’ practice includes commercial litigation, white-collar defense and internal corporate investigations. To each body of law, he brings deep experience in trials and briefing, at all phases from pre-litigation counsel through appeal. With a 15-year record of success in state and federal courts across the country, he is a first-chair trial lawyer for clients facing high-stakes litigation.

In commercial litigation, Johanes has experience in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts – from pre-pleading counsel to discovery, motions practice, post-trial briefing and appeals. As a first-chair attorney, he has led trial teams, argued and won dispositive motions and successfully brought appeals on behalf of private and institutional clients. 

Johanes is a member of the Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois, as well as the federal courts in the Central District of Illinois and the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. When necessary, Johanes has briefed and argued dozens of appeals in the United States Courts of Appeal. He is a member of the bar of the Third, Sixth, and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. 

Johanes advises C-Suite Executives and Boards of Directors of public and privately held companies regarding compliance programs, litigation strategy and responses to unexpected corporate challenges.  When necessary, he conducts internal investigations in response to whistleblower complaints, civil investigative demands, subpoenas and law enforcement inquiries.

In criminal law, has extensive experience in all dealings with law enforcement. He helps clients navigate and negotiate grand jury subpoenas or civil investigations from the U.S. Department of Justice and state attorneys general. Where negotiation breaks down, he has sat first-chair in trials and appeals across the country. In addition to institutional representation, he represents individuals charged with fraud, money laundering, healthcare-related crimes and all other manner of Class A felonies. 

Johanes is recognized as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Northern District of Ohio. Membership on the CJA panel, which requires approval by judges and court staff, is only afforded to practitioners with significant experience representing people charged with serious criminal offenses in federal court and who demonstrate a commitment to indigent defense.

Johanes is an adjunct law professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law and a guest instructor at the University of Chicago, including courses on bribery and federal criminal law. He is also a Commissioner on the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, appointed by the Governor of Illinois. His pro bono work includes post-conviction petitioning, immigration and refugee representation, and homeowner rights cases.

Prior to law school, Johanes was a professional soccer player for three years in Major League Soccer (San Jose Earthquakes) and the United Soccer Leagues (Puerto Rico Islanders), after playing collegiately at Stanford. He is fluent in Spanish and French, and has represented clients on four continents.