Jessica Giglia Lisak
Special Counsel
Jessica Lisak’s practice is focused on federal class action litigation and investigations. She regularly represents public companies and their officers and directors in federal securities litigation and enforcement matters, including securities fraud class actions, derivative litigation, and SEC, DOJ, and other governmental regulatory investigations, and in complex commercial litigation.
Ms. Lisak also maintains a robust pro bono practice and manages WilmerHale's legal clinics in partnership with The Lawyers Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization providing pro bono legal services to homeless and low-income individuals. Ms. Lisak has helped clients apply for and be granted asylum, seal criminal records, resolve outstanding warrants, obtain public benefits, and appeal the denial of such benefits.
Professional Commitments
Ms. Lisak is a member of WilmerHale’s Ethics Committee and the Pro Bono and Public Service Committee.
Ms. Lisak serves as president of the Lawyers Clearinghouse’s Board of Directors. In recent years, she has also chaired the Development Committee and served on the Legal Clinic and Leadership Committees.
Ms. Lisak has also been an adjunct professor at Boston College Law School, where she has taught Negotiations.
Past Experience
Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Lisak interned at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and the US Attorney's Office in Boston.
Experience
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Defended large internet-based company in class action lawsuits filed in the Federal District Courts for the Districts of Connecticut and Southern District of California concerning allegations of fraud, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and violations of various state privacy laws.
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Defended pharmaceutical company and its former officers and directors in a class action in the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts concerning alleged violations of federal securities laws.
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Defended large financial services company in litigation and related investigations brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, and other state and federal agencies for claims related to breach of contract and fiduciary duty and federal securities laws.
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Defended financial services company in investigation brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice for claims related to fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
Recognition
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for commercial litigation (2024).
- Named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list in 2023 in the area of commercial litigation.
- Ms. Lisak was named a “Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star” for securities litigation in 2017–2020.
- In 2019, Ms. Lisak received WilmerHale’s Reginald Heber Smith Award for her contributions to community service.
- Ms. Lisak was selected by the Boston Bar Association as a member of the 2017-2018 Public Interest Leadership Program, a 14-month program that addresses specific public service and community challenges.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, Boston University School of Law, 2010
cum laude Public Interest Law Journal, First-Year Writing Fellows Program, Fellow -
MA, Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2005
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BA, Boston College, 2002
magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa, Advanced Study Grant Recipient
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Admissions
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Massachusetts
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Credentials
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Education
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JD, Boston University School of Law, 2010
cum laude Public Interest Law Journal, First-Year Writing Fellows Program, Fellow -
MA, Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2005
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BA, Boston College, 2002
magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa, Advanced Study Grant Recipient
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Admissions
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Massachusetts
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