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Jessica S. Heim
Jessica S. Heim
Partner — Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense
E: jheim@velaw.com T: +1.415.979.6920
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense

Jessica S. Heim

Jessica S. Heim
San Francisco
T: +1.415.979.6920
F: +1.415.651.8786

555 Mission Street
Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105

E: jheim@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolWhat I love about my work is being able to mount the strongest and most compelling legal case possible, which always involves unraveling complex legal issues, investigating intricate factual circumstances and interfacing with regulators. At the same time, I am responsible for calmly counseling and supporting my clients through an incredibly stressful time.end quote symbol
Jessica S. Heim

In house general counsel, boards of directors and audit committees look to Jessica to effectively address their most complex and high-stakes legal issues—from internal and government investigations, criminal price-fixing, violations of securities laws, whistle blower complaints and compliance design challenges to theft of trade secrets and data privacy and cybersecurity matters.

Jessica leverages her varied experience to work closely with both U.S. and foreign clients and advocate effectively on their behalf. Her diverse representations range from parties in the Bernard Madoff case, one of the largest investment scandals of the century, to the Audit Committee of Juniper Networks, a global technology company. For the Audit Committee, she conducted an independent investigation of FCPA issues in Russia, China, Hong Kong, India and other countries and represented them in parallel Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations. Jessica’s ability to work with a wide range of government entities is an enormous benefit to clients when they need experienced advocacy. She has worked with most, including state Attorneys General, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Commerce Department, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

A strong and carefully tailored compliance program can aid companies greatly in interactions with regulators. This is one reason why Jessica’s work in compliance is also of great value to the firm’s clients. She has helped create creative and bespoke compliance programs that work with an organization’s distinct culture and challenges, and the set of processes that guide their work.

As competition and the use of new technology grow amidst disparate rules in jurisdictions around the world, there is a greater possibility of mishandling digital information, triggering trade secrets, privacy and cybersecurity issues. Jessica has represented companies concerning everything from HIPAA obligations and protection of source codes to alleged theft of trade secrets. She has been designated a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. In addition, she regularly makes presentations on the topic to clients, corporate directors and trade associations.

Jessica was one of the founding lawyers of the firm’s San Francisco office when it was launched in 2012. Today, she serves as the office’s Hiring Partner, as well as the office’s lead partner for the firm’s women’s initiative and its pro bono program.

Experience Highlights

  • Represents the Audit Committee of a public oil and gas services company in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations concerning alleged FCPA violations in West Africa and the Middle East and counseling company regarding compliance program 

  • Represents the Audit Committee of a public multinational technology company involved in an investigation before the SEC and DOJ to conduct an independent investigation into the company’s compliance with the FCPA in Russia, China, Hong Kong, India and other countries and counseling company regarding compliance program; following numerous presentations to regulators on Audit Committee’s behalf, DOJ closed its investigation with no action taken against company

  • Representing Audit Committee of a public food distribution company in connection with SEC investigation

  • Represents oil and gas services company in connection with Commerce and OFAC investigations into alleged economic and trade sanctions violations; following voluntary disclosures and presentations to regulators on company’s behalf, both agencies closed their investigations with no action taken against client 

  • Represents an executive of a food company in federal criminal price-fixing investigation by the Antitrust Division of DOJ 

  • Represents a former employee of a pharmaceutical company in connection with a major investigation of potential FCA violations by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office 

  • Represents senior-level banking executive in investigations by the SEC, DOJ, OCC and California AG in connection with alleged securities and consumer fraud 

  • Represents an executive of a major pharmaceutical company in a criminal investigation by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with a federal price fixing investigation

  • Represented a major Japanese company in connection with DOJ investigation based on allegations of cartel activity in the manufacture of major consumer parts

  • Represented a broker-dealer and two of its officers in lawsuits commenced by the SEC and SIPC Trustee as well as investigations by the DOJ and several state Attorneys General

  • Counseling Audit Committee of a public food distribution company regarding the development and implementation of a compliance program following an internal investigation of allegations of securities law violations

  • Conducted compliance program review and assessment, including root cause analysis and assessment of the culture of compliance to provide counseling to public multinational software corporation

  • Engaged by the Audit Committee of a public oil and gas services company to provide counseling regarding development and implementation of compliance program

  • Conducted investigation for the Audit Committee of a public multinational technology company involving FCPA issues in Russia, China, Hong Kong, and India and provided counseling regarding compliance program

  • Conducted internal investigation of FCPA compliance for a public multinational technology company regarding sales practices in the Middle East

  • Conducted internal investigation concerning allegations of securities violations by high-level executive and consulted with the Audit Committee and Board of Directors regarding results of investigation; represented Audit Committee in connection with follow on SEC investigation

  • Represented a major Chinese corporation in connection with a DOJ investigation into the alleged theft of trade secrets for a manufacturing process

  • Successfully represented a Silicon Valley company in dispute over theft and misuse of IP

  • Represented a Silicon Valley company in contractual dispute with a major drug wholesaler concerning alleged HIPAA obligations over data

  • Provided counsel for public oil and gas services company for board of directors training on cybersecurity

Credentials

  • University of California-Hastings, J.D. magna cum laude, 2006 (Fraternities: Thurston Society, Order of the Coif; Co-Editor in Chief, Hastings International and Comparative Law Review, 2005–2006)
  • Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A. cum laude, 1998
  • Selected to the Northern California Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers® (Thomson Reuters), 2016 and 2017
  • Legal 500 U.S., Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2019–2021
  • Member: International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • Member: ABA White Collar Subcommittee for the Northern California Chapter
  • Member: Women Corporate Directors (WCD) – Northern California Chapter
  • Mentor: Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Success in Law School Mentoring Program, 2014–Present
  • Member: California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
  • Member: Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
  • Member: American Bar Association
  • Member: Women’s White Collar Defense Association and Branding Subcommittee
  • Member: Barnard Alumni Association
  • Member: University of California-Hastings Alumni Association
  • Member: UC Hastings WorkLife Law COVID Consortium
  • New York
  • California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Northern, Central and Eastern Districts of California
  • U.S. Bankruptcy, Eastern District of California
  • French (fluent)
  • “Privacy Matters in the Virtual Workspace,” National Association of Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter Program, January 19, 2021 (panelist)
  • “The Fraud Injunction Statute: DOJ’s Tool for Fighting COVID-19 Fraud,” myLawCLE Program, November 5, 2020 (panelist)
  • “The Perils, Pitfalls, and Positives of Privacy,” WomenCorporateDirectors San Francisco Chapter Event, August 13, 2020 (panelist)
  • “Navigating Cross-Border Activity with New Compliance Laws,” The Benchmark Litigation 5th Annual Women in Litigation Forum, June 20, 2019 (panelist)
  • “How to Stay Out of Federal Prison, and Other Helpful Tips: Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing,” National Association of Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter Program, May 16, 2018 (panelist)
  • “How to Leverage Technology and Avoid its Pitfalls to Conduct an Effective Internal Investigation,” 10th West Coast Conference on FCPA Enforcement and Compliance, September 26, 2017 (panelist)
  • “Government Investigations and Compliance,” Benchmark Women in Litigation Forum – West, June 20, 2017 (panelist)
  • “The UK’s Serious Fraud Office Successfully Chips Away Privilege Protections in the Investigations Context,” V&E FCPA & Global Anti-Corruption Update E-communication, May 24, 2017 (co-author)
  • “The DOJ and SEC’s New Tough Love Program for Corporations and Executives,” V&E Client Presentation, June 3, 2016 (co-presenter)
  • Co-Speaker, Stanford Law School, L.L.M. Corporate Governance and Practice Seminar (February 2015)
  • “Preparing for and Conducting Witness Interviews,” CLEs (January, February & March 2015)
  • FCPA and Anti-Corruption trainings for the Middle East and APAC regions of U.S. companies
  • “Shareholder Suits: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” Corporate Board Member, January/February 2009 (co-author with Walter Stuart)
  • “France: Banning Legal Pluralism by Passing a Law,” Hastings International and Comparative Law Review, Winter 2006
  • “Get Outta Here! Unhappy Shareholders Are Trying to Eject Entire Boards,” Corporate Board Member, Feature Story, Spring 2001
  • “The Coming Proxy Wars,” Corporate Board Member, March/April 2002
  • “D&O Premiums: Up, Up & Away,” Corporate Board Member, May/June 2002
  • “Bill Ford Appointed a Chief Governance Officer. Should You?,” Corporate Board Member, Jan/Feb 2003

News & Insights

Event
Practising Law Institute's Panel “The New Normal: What Privacy Rules Apply in a Virtual World?"
October 20, 2021
Insight
Time for a Check-Up: Updates in Data Breach Notification and Reporting
The V&E Report
October 14, 2021
Insight
Demonstrating Compliance with Data Privacy Legislation

Published in Latin Lawyer’s The Guide to Corporate Compliance, July 2021

The V&E Report
August 17, 2021
Insight
Cryptocurrency Regulation – SEC Wants to Bring Order to the “Wild West”
The V&E Report
August 12, 2021