Justin E.Herdman

Partner

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7113

Justin Herdman, a former United States Attorney, is a trial lawyer who represents businesses and individuals involved in high-stakes government investigations, criminal litigation, and civil actions. Justin's practice is focused on obtaining favorable results in matters arising from alleged violations of state and federal laws, including fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the False Claims Act (FCA). He has successfully tried numerous cases in state and federal courts throughout his two decades in public service and private practice.

Prior to rejoining Jones Day in 2021, Justin served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Ohio. Justin was nationally recognized for his effort in developing strategic responses to controlled substances, terrorism, and violent crime. While U.S. Attorney, Justin served as vice chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee (AGAC), where he provided national-level guidance on the management and operations of the Justice Department. Justin was also named co-chair of the Attorney General's Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force and was chair of AGAC's Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee.

Justin also maintains an active pro bono practice. In 2022, his trial work with the Ohio Innocence Project led to the acquittal of a wrongfully convicted man who had spent 15 years in state prison.

Justin previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting national security offenses, including terrorism, money laundering, and export control violations. He is a former assistant district attorney in New York City and currently serves as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Experience

  • White Collar Criminal Defense & Trial Work
  • Industrial and construction equipment distributor resolves multi-year grand jury investigationJones Day represented a publicly traded distributor of industrial and construction equipment in the favorable resolution of a multi-year grand jury investigation into minority-owned business fraud by the New York County District Attorney.
  • Multi-state law firm resolves grand jury investigationJones Day represented a multi-state law firm and several firm attorneys in grand jury investigation conducted by the Ohio Attorney General.

  • Internal Investigations
  • Audit Committee of public U.S. company investigates related party transactions involving company's Chairman and founderJones Day assisted the audit committee of a publicly traded U.S. manufacturer in an investigation of potential impropriety involving the company's Chairman and founder, including undisclosed transactions between the company and vendors in China controlled by the Chairman's immediate family members.

  • Regulatory Enforcement Advocacy and Defense
  • Publicly traded manufacturing company obtains complete declination by SEC after multi-year investigationJones Day represented a Nasdaq listed manufacturing company in the automobile industry in an investigation by the SEC's Enforcement Division Staff.
  • Global automotive parts company successfully defends potential adverse administrative action by federal governmentJones Day represented a leading automotive parts manufacturer in defending against possible potential adverse administrative action by the Department of Defense.

  • Civil Litigation and Trial Work
  • Cleveland successfully prepares for Republican National Convention, including resolving ACLU lawsuitJones Day was engaged to represent the City of Cleveland in preparation for the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland from July 18-21, 2016.

  • Due Diligence & Transactional Assistance
  • Cintas completes $1.2 billion Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented Cintas Corporation, a leading provider of uniform rental and facility services and first aid and safety services, in connection with the registered offering by Cintas Corporation No. 2, its wholly-owned subsidiary, of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 3.450% Senior Notes due 2025 and $800 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2032.
  • Chart Industries acquires Hudson Products for $410 millionJones Day advised Chart Industries, Inc. in its $410 million acquisition of Hudson Products Corporation.
  • Owens Corning acquires Pittsburgh Corning for approximately $560 millionJones Day advised Owens Corning in its approximately $560 million acquisition of Pittsburgh Corning, the world’s leading producer of cellular glass insulation systems for commercial and industrial markets.
  • NEP Group acquires Broadcast Solutions GroupJones Day advised NEP Group Inc. in its acquisition of Broadcast Solutions Group.
  • KeyBank provides $625 million credit facility to NN, Inc.Jones Day represented KeyBank National Association in connection with its $525 million term credit facility and $100 million revolving credit facility provided to NN, Inc., a diversified industrial company and global manufacturer of metal bearing, plastic, rubber, and precision metal components.
  • RTI International Metals sold to Alcoa for $1.5 billionJones Day advised RTI International Metals, Inc., a global supplier of titanium and specialty metal products and services for the commercial aerospace, defense, energy, and medical device markets, in its $1.5 billion stock-for-stock acquisition by Alcoa Inc.
  • A. Schulman completes $375 million offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented A. Schulman, Inc., an international supplier of high performance plastic formulations, resins, and services which provides innovation solutions to customers in a range of end markets, in connection with its issuance of $375 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 in a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering.
  • Additional Speaking Engagements

    • February 17, 2015
      Paris Terror Attacks: The Aftermath, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
    • December 12, 2014
      Investigating, Prosecuting and Defending White Collar Criminal Cases, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Biennial Institute on White Collar Crime
    • December 2, 2014
      Government Investigations / SEC Enforcement Trends; Attorney-Client Privilege Issues in Internal Investigations; and False Claims Act Enforcement, Jones Day CLE Academy 2014
    • October 22, 2014
      Probes and Bribes: Practitioners’ Perspectives on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
    • December 3, 2013
      International Investigations in the Age of the Whistleblower: Views from Around the World, Jones Day CLE Academy 2013
    • December 3, 2013
      A Civil Action: The Civil Implications of a Criminal Investigation, Jones Day CLE Academy 2013
    • November 20, 2013
      Presentation on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts Akron Scanlon-Bell Inn of Court
    • November 20, 2013
      RR Donnelley SEC Hot Topics Institute

    Speaking Engagements Prior to Jones Day

    May 15, 2020
    Predatory Housing Practices as a Result of COVID-19, Toledo Fair Housing Center and Legal Aid of Western Ohio

    March 4, 2020
    "Enforcement Action — Reducing the Supply," Department of Justice's National Opioid Summit, Washington, D.C

    February 25, 2020
    "Federal Law Enforcement Priorities and Challenges in the Northern District of Ohio," Harvard Law School Association of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio

    February 18, 2020
    "Protecting Your Client and Saving Lives: What Every Practitioner Needs to Know About Domestic Violence Charges and Firearms," Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio

    December 8, 2019
    "The Opioid Epidemic — Where Are We Now?: The Individual Legally," Case Western Reserve University, Siegal Lifelong Learning Program, Beachwood, Ohio

    December 3, 2019
    "Threat Team Oahu," Department of Justice's Symposium on Cutting Edge Tactics for Threat Assessment, Mitigation, Disruption, and Early Engagement, Washington, D.C.

    November 20, 2019
    "Elder Justice Conference — Remarks,” Cleveland State University, Marshall School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio

    October 17, 2019
    "Federal prosecutions of firearms offenses by domestic abusers," United States Attorney's Conference on Domestic Violence: New Approaches, Remaining Challenges, Cleveland, Ohio

    October 11, 2019
    "Fighting Back: A Legal Framework to Defeating the Opioid Crisis — Public Policy Panel," University of Toledo School of Law, Toledo, Ohio

    August 7, 2019
    "Panel: The Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force," DOJ Opioid Coordinators' Conference, Columbia, South Carolina