Bio

Jo Perini-Abbott represents clients in criminal, civil, and regulatory matters and investigations with a focus on financial crimes, trade secrets, and the enforceability of noncompete agreements. She also handles appointed criminal cases in federal court ranging from drug and gun crimes to money laundering.

In 2023, Jo joined Lewis & Clark Law School as the Director of the Lewis & Clark Advocacy Center and Professor of Practice where she teaches trial advocacy, evidence, and pretrial litigation skills. Before that, she taught Evidence at Lewis & Clark Law School as an adjunct professor.

Before joining Angeli & Calfo, Jo was an associate at Perkins Coie LLP in Portland where she represented companies in trade secret, employment, and securities litigation. Jo started her career as an Associate Federal Defender in Wisconsin where she represented individuals at all stages of their criminal cases in federal court.

Representative Matters

  • Represented surgeon in criminal and civil investigation regarding Medicare billing to avoid any findings of civil or criminal liability.
  • Obtained complete relief for a young adult on the autism spectrum convicted of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree following the discovery of Brady violations in the underlying case.
  • Represented a manufacturing company accused of stealing a competitor’s trade secrets; avoided a sweeping preliminary injunction and resolved the case to allow the client to continue manufacturing its products.
  • Represented technology sales executive in move between major cloud computing providers to defeat a preliminary injunction that would have prevented him from working in his new role.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Co-Presenter with David Angeli, Environmental Crimes – What to do in the First 30 Days, Oregon State Bar Environmental and Natural Resources Section (October 2019)
  • Moderator, Internal Investigations, Tips from In-House Counsel for Outside Counsel, Women in White Collar Criminal Defense Oregon and Idaho Chapter (October 2019)
  • Co-Presenter with Jim Gidley, Direct Examination, Tips from Trial, Perkins Coie (2014)

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2009
  • Washington & Lee University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2004

Judicial Clerkships

  • Hon. Joel M. Flaum, U.S. Circuit Court for the Seventh Circuit

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Oregon
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Associations

  • Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners, 2017-2023
  • Chair, Oregon Licensure Pathways Development Committee, 2022-present
  • Women’s White Collar Defense Association, 2019-present

Community Involvement

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Evidence, Lewis & Clark Law School, Spring 2022