Practice Profile: Abena Mainoo plays a lead role in the firm's representation of companies in high-stakes cross-border investigations and complex civil litigation. Clients in a broad range of industries trust Ms. Mainoo to handle challenging assignments, including matters involving allegations of fraud, sanctions violations and foreign corrupt payments. She also conducts internal investigations and advises on corporate compliance programs.

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work: Ms. Mainoo is currently leading a team of Cleary lawyers, in partnership with immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York and the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic at Cardozo Law, representing a group of over 30 individual plaintiffs in a civil RICO case in the Southern District of New York.

Ms. Mainoo serves as a director of the Federal Bar Foundation—a charitable foundation dedicated to facilitating the administration of justice and understanding of the law. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Council's Public Service Committee, which seeks to increase access to counsel and assist the courts and agencies of the Second Circuit in their work of administering justice to all litigants.

She's a co-chair of Cleary's Summer Associate Program, a member of Cleary's Recruiting Committee, and is deeply involved in the firm's mentoring programs, including those focused on diverse lawyers and women.

Prior Experience: 

Ms. Mainoo has recently served as a lead lawyer in several high-profile matters, including Bosch in matters arising from the Volkswagen emissions investigation, Transform in commercial litigation against the Sears estate, and Citigroup in a regulatory investigation. 

Education:

J.D., Harvard Law School

B.A., Swarthmore College 

What advice would you give to young lawyers?

Dig in and engage with the legal questions and facts, including where you're dealing with challenging or new issues, and contribute your ideas and thoughts.