Jennifer Kennedy Park’s practice focuses on white-collar defense, enforcement actions, crisis management, and high-stakes civil litigation.

She has guided global corporations and individuals through some of the most consequential matters of the past decade, including the Volkswagen diesel emissions matter, the benchmark rates cases, the financial crises, bank failures, the crypto collapse, environmental disasters, and matters arising from the #MeToo movement. As one client put it, “Jen is someone you should always have at the front of your Rolodex. When there is a crisis, I want her by my side to provide excellent and commercial legal advice.”

Jen is a driving force behind Cleary’s crisis management practice, which draws on the breadth of the partnership’s government and investigative experience to counsel clients through the most destabilizing financial, reputational, regulatory, and criminal challenges. She is the author of the firm’s Global Crisis Management Handbook, now in its seventh year of publication and widely regarded as an essential resource for companies navigating high-stakes crises. More recently, Jen launched Cleary’s False Claims Act (FCA) Task Force. Her experience encompasses parallel civil and regulatory proceedings, internal investigations, and complex class action litigation, where she has built a deep track record defending corporations against large-scale, high-stakes claims.

Jen counts many of the world’s leading technology companies among her clients, alongside prominent global institutions. She has an extensive record of representing clients in California federal and state courts, particularly in the Northern District of California, and brings nearly unparalleled global regulatory experience to her practice. That experience includes representing clients before the DOJ, SEC, and various state attorneys general, as well as the European Commission, UK FCA, SFO, and other authorities around the world. Her credibility and judgment have led to her being called upon by the federal government and New York State to lead two of the most high-profile independent investigations in recent years, the investigation into then-Governor Andrew Cuomo and the investigation into the FDIC following The Wall Street Journal exposé on a “toxic culture.” Both culminated in landmark public reports, widely hailed as blueprints for how independent investigations should be conducted.

Jen joined the firm in 2003 and became a partner in 2012.

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Notable Experience

  • Bosch in connection with investigations and civil litigation in the United States relating to the Volkswagen emissions matter, including undertaking a full-scale compliance remediation program.

  • Amazon in a consumer protection AG investigation and related class action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging price gouging related to every product sold since the beginning of COVID-19.

  • Sequoia Capital Operations LLC in government investigations and the multidistrict action involving multiple suits against parties that invested in, endorsed, or provided professional services to the cryptocurrency exchange FTX prior to its bankruptcy in November 2022. 

  • Special committee of the FDIC board of directors in an independent third-party review of the agency’s workplace culture, including allegations of sexual harassment, all forms of discrimination, a hostile work environment, and interpersonal misconduct at the FDIC.

  • Appointed by the New York Attorney General to conduct an independent investigation into alleged harassment by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo.

  • BHP Billiton, Vale, and Samarco to conduct the external investigation into the cause of the breach of the Fundão tailings dam, one of the largest environmental disasters in history.

  • Polychain Capital in a putative securities class action in California state court alleging an unregistered securities offering of ICP tokens which was dismissed.

  • Co-founder and CEO of a blockchain development company in a criminal investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California into potential investor fraud and market manipulation in the crypto currency market.

  • The current CEO of Wells Fargo Bank in various California court proceedings relating to Wells Fargo’s compliance with various regulatory consent orders.

  • Representing a global technology leader in investigations by various state attorneys general regarding potential False Claims Act and antitrust violations stemming from an acquisition.

  • Representing one of the largest technology companies in a False Claims Act investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the N.D. Cal. and Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

  • Represent a multinational technology company in California AG investigation into use of personal information for price differentiation.

  • Indian operation of venture capital company in internal investigation arising from whistleblower allegations of misconduct relating to potential extortion, self-dealing, and financial misconduct by the company’s General Counsel.

  • The board of directors of a financial institution in connection with its response to an OCC consent order and the remediation program related thereto.

  • HSBC in criminal and regulatory investigations and parallel civil litigations regarding allegations of manipulation and collusion in the setting of benchmark reference rates, including LIBOR and FX.

  • McLane in parallel civil and administrative proceedings relating to tax treatment of tobacco products, including a constitutional challenge to the Cook County cigarette tax.

  • Vale in a SEC investigation into securities disclosures related to the company’s dam safety in the wake of the 2019 Brumadinho dam collapse and a successful settlement against the SEC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York where the SEC dismissed all scienter-based fraud claims. Multiple public and private companies in developing policies, procedures and training related to discrimination and harassment, including advising several Fortune 50 companies in investigations relating to allegations of sexual harassment against board members.

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SELECTED ACTIVITIES

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Board President, George Mark Children’s House’s Board of Directors

Adjunct Professor of Law, Stanford Law School 

Member, YWCA Academy of Women Leaders

Woman of Influence Honoree, Silicon Valley Business Journal

Woman of Power and Influence Honoree, National Organization for Women

Executive Committee Member, Bar Association of San Francisco Criminal Justice Section

 

 

Publications

“DOJ to Fast-Track Benefits Fraud Enforcement,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, June 2, 2026 

“State Attorneys General Increase Investigations in Response to Perceived Federal Gaps,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, May 26, 2026 

“$549.5 Million FCA Settlement Resolves Customs Fraud and Duty Evasion Allegations Involving Chinese Aluminum Extrusions,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, May 15, 2026

“New SEC Enforcement Director David Woodcock Outlines Enforcement Priorities, Including Focus on Financial Reporting and Private Funds,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, May 14, 2026

“DOJ Announces New West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, May 4, 2026 

“California Issues Executive Order on Procurement, Imposing New AI-Related Certification and Compliance Requirements on State Contractors,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, April 10, 2026   

“Preparing for Compliance with New Executive Order’s DEI-Related Contract Clause for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, April 7, 2026 

“Cybersecurity in the Age of Cyber Warfare: Governance Reminders for Public Company Boards,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 23, 2026 

“SDNY Announces Revised Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program for Financial Crimes,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 2, 2026

“Courts Grapple with Privilege Implications of AI,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, February 27, 2026

“California Diversity Reporting Law for Venture Capital Funds to Start on March 1, 2026,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, February 24, 2026

“Ninth Circuit Issues Key Ruling on Pre-Certification Class Communications,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, February 10, 2026

“DOJ Announces Record-Breaking $6.8 Billion in False Claims Act Recoveries for Fiscal Year 2025,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, January 26, 2026

“Considerations in Advising Boards of Directors on DEI-Related Risks,” Cleary Gottlieb Selected Issues for Boards of Directors in 2026, January 15, 2026

“A Tale of Two Investigations: The Value of Voluntary Disclosure,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, August 13, 2025 

“State and Federal Court Decisions Address Recurring Issues in Consumer Arbitration,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, July 29, 2025 

“U.S. Supreme Court Rules On Fifth Amendment Due Process Analysis For Personal Jurisdiction When Authorized By Federal Statute,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, July 8, 2025 

“Cleary California: How an East Coast firm bet it could import its culture to the Bay Area,” Daily Journal, June 16, 2025 

“DOJ Issues Revised FCPA Guidelines: A Strategic Focus on U.S. National Interests and High-Impact Enforcement,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, June 11, 2025

“Supreme Court Rejects Heightened Test for “Reverse Discrimination” Claims Under Title VII,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, June 11, 2025 

“DOJ Criminal Division Announces White Collar Enforcement Plan and Revisions to Three Key Policies,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, May 15, 2025 

““Ending Regulation by Prosecution”: The DOJ’s Revised Outlook on Digital Assets,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, April 9, 2025 

“DEI Developments: Executive Order Litigation and the Administration’s Latest Announcements,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, March 24, 2025 

“Second Circuit Clarifies Spoliation Law in Hoffer v. Tellone,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, February 18, 2025 

“Executive Orders & Memoranda Targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, February 10, 2025 

“Whistleblowing in Focus: Recent Developments, Emerging Issues, and Considerations for Companies. Part Three: Looking Ahead,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, January 23, 2025 

“Whistleblowing in Focus: Recent Developments, Emerging Issues, and Considerations for Companies. Part Two: Global Developments,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, January 16, 2025 

“DOJ Announces Revisions to Compliance Guidance Focused on AI, Whistleblower Reporting, and Other Areas,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, September 26, 2024 

“U.S. Court: Grants for Black Woman-Owned Businesses Likely Violate § 1981,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, June 14, 2024 

“Evolving Trends in DEI Litigation Post-SFFA,” Corporate Disputes, March 7, 2024 

“How Boards Should Be Thinking about the Supreme Court’s SFFA Affirmative Action Decision,” Cleary Gottlieb Selected Issues for Boards of Directors in 2024, January 17, 2024

“Implications for Boards of Directors of the Supreme Court’s SFFA Affirmative Action Decision,” Board Leadership, November 23, 2023 

“SEC Proposes Rules Limiting the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Registered Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, August 1, 2023

“U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Due Process Challenge to Statute Requiring Out-of-State Corporations to Submit to General Personal Jurisdiction,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memo, July 5, 2023

“Best Practices for Crisis Management Preparation,” Westlaw Today, June 13, 2023

“Five Key Steps for Initial Crisis Management,” Bloomberg Law, May 26, 2023

“Ephemeral Messaging Platforms: Practical Benefits and Regulatory Dangers,” Managing and Resolving Commercial Disputes 2023, May 4, 2023

“Department of Justice Announces Revisions to Criminal Division Policies,” Cleary Enforcement Watch blog, March 20, 2023

“4 Practical Tips for Complying With Monaco Memo,” Corporate Compliance Insights, January 25, 2023

“Recent Developments Shed Light on the Justice Departments Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, March 14, 2022

“Whistleblower Regulations in the U.K. and the U.S.,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, July 14, 2021

“GAO Recommends CFPB Evaluate Trump Era Fair Lending Reorganization,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch blog post, April 26, 2021 

“The CFPB’s Much-Anticipated Enforcement Shift Has Begun,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch blog post, April 26, 2021 

“False Claims Act Developments in PPP Civil Investigations,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, March 22, 2021 

“A Biden CFPB and the PayPal Decision,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, February 22, 2021 

“U.K. Supreme Court Limits the Extraterritorial Powers of the Serious Fraud Office,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, February 11, 2021

“Crisis Management in Unprecedented Times,” co-author, Selected Issues for Boards of Directors in 2021, January 11, 2021 

“CFTC Division of Enforcement Releases Guidance on Evaluating Compliance Programs,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, September 15, 2020; republished by New York University School of Law Compliance & Enforcement Blog, September 17, 2020 

“Navigating COVID-19: Supply Chain Considerations,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, July 15, 2020 

“DOJ Updates Guidance Regarding Corporate Compliance Programs,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, June 9, 2020

“Risky Business: Waivers & Assumption of the Risk of COVID-19 Exposure,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, May 28, 2020

“The CARES Act and Mitigating False Claims Act Risk,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, April 13, 2020; republished by Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report, July 2020

“The Keys to Emergency Succession: Planning For Boards and Senior Management During a Health Pandemic,” co-author, Cleary M&A and Corporate Governance Watch Blog, April 9, 2020

“Understanding Evolving U.S. Government Expectations for Compliance Programmes,” co-author, Financier Worldwide’s Risk & Compliance e-Magazine, April-June 2020

“Navigating COVID-19: Best Practices for Managing Compliance Risk,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, March 26, 2020

“COVID-19 and the Compliance Risks Related to Sales and Marketing Practices,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch Blog, March 17, 2020; republished by NYU’s Compliance and Enforcement Blog, March 17, 2020

“Key Considerations for Companies in Deciding Whether to Institute Anti-Fraternization Policies,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, May 9, 2019; republished by Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, January 26, 2020

“DOJ Issues Guidance on Cooperation In False Claims Act Investigations,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, May 9, 2019; republished by the New York University School of Law Compliance & Enforcement Blog and by The Corporate Governance Advisor.

“New Scrutiny for NDAs in Sexual Harassment Matters,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch Blog,  April 29, 2019; republished by Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, May 16, 2019 and by Law360, June 24, 2019.

“CFTC Issues First Whistleblower Award Originating From Both a Related Action and a Company Outsider,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch Blog, March 11, 2019; republished by Law360; republished by Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, March 26, 2019; republished by Law360, April 2, 2019.

“California District Court Holds That FIRREA’s 10-Year Statute of Limitations Reaches Risks Caused to Financial Institutions by Their Own Employees,” co-author, Cleary Enforcement Watch Blog, July 27, 2018; republished by The CLS Blue Sky Blog, July 31, 2018.

“Confronting Sexual Harassment in Today’s Workplace: 8 Questions Companies Should Be Asking Themselves,” co-author, Cleary M&A and Corporate Governance Watch Blog, February 6, 2018.

“CFTC’s Demanding New Cooperation Guidelines For Companies And Individuals,” co-author, Journal of Investment Compliance, October 2017.

“CFTC Approves Amendments to Whistleblower Rules Including Significant Enhancements of its Anti-Retaliation Protections,” co-author, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, May 25, 2017. 

“The Next Frontiers for International White Collar Enforcement and Tips on Preparing for Them,” International White Collar Enforcement, 2014 ed.: Top Attorneys on Preventative Measures, Regulatory Compliance and Litigation, February 7, 2014.

“The Second Circuit Holds the Short-Swing Profit Rule Inapplicable to Insider’s Purchase and Sale of Different Types of Stock in the Same Company,” Insights, February 1, 2013 (co-author).

“What’s Discussed Here Stays Here,” New York Law Journal, December 10, 2012 (co-author).

“Use of Predictive Coding in Regulatory Enforcement Proceedings,” U.S. Law Week, August 7, 2012 (co-author).

“The Impact of EU Data Protection Laws on U.S. Government Enforcement Investigations,” Intellectual Property Counselor and International HR Journal, January/February 1, 2009 (co-author).

Events