Bethany Biesenthal is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Chambers-rated litigator, and a former federal prosecutor. She has served as a lead trial lawyer in more than 20 trials and has argued more than a dozen federal circuit appeals. Bethany has successfully led litigation teams in high-stakes matters, including litigation brought by attorneys general and defending against allegations of corporate misconduct. Bethany is routinely called upon to try difficult cases and recently secured a complete acquittal for a client accused of racketeering and fraud.
As a prosecutor, Bethany led hundreds of investigations involving financial fraud, national security, health care fraud, securities fraud, and public corruption. As a result, clients now routinely seek Bethany's assistance in handling corporate and government investigations, including those involving allegations of government fraud and compliance audits led by government agencies.
Bethany currently serves as general counsel to the City of Chicago Police Board, where she counsels the Board in navigating a court-appointed monitor. Bethany also serves as Jones Day's lead for global human trafficking-related litigation and routinely counsels clients on corporate supply chain diligence and the impact of emerging technologies, including generative AI, and risks relating to trafficking and human rights abuses.
Bethany has received numerous honors for her government service, was named one of the Top 50 Exceptional Women Lawyers in Chicago by Chicago Lawyer, and was named a Law360 2023 MVP, which recognizes the top five lawyers nationally by practice area.
Bethany serves on the Seventh Circuit Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, is active in numerous women's initiatives, and teaches trial practice at the request of district court judges.
Experience
Additional Publications
Publications Prior to Jones Day
Removing pre-CAFA Cases Under the Act, For the Defense (July 2006)
Positive changes for female attorneys in Illinois, The Catalyst (Sept. 2003)
Additional Speaking Engagements
- May 8, 2024
Transparency International Presentation (Antitrust and Anticorruption) - September 9, 2021
Legal Privilege in Cross-Border Investigations - August 3, 2021
Spoofing and Disruptive Trading in the Derivatives Market - August 2, 2021
The Knoble: Supply Chain 101 - June 10, 2019
The Judicial Seminar on Human Trafficking, Forced Labor, and Child Exploitation in Thailand - June 6, 2019
Jones Day MCLE University Chicago 2019 - May 7, 2019
Working Together to End Human Trafficking -- Jones Day and Rotary - February 6, 2019
Hot Trends in DOJ and SEC Enforcement and Litigation Conference - January 22, 2019
Hyatt Women -- A Conversation in Support of Human Trafficking Awareness Month - September 26, 2018
The 2018 Corporate Risk, Ethics and Compliance Forum At the Crossroads of Risk Management, Data Privacy, and Emerging Technology - June 7, 2018
We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Managing Risks for International Companies, Jones Day University
Speaking Engagements Prior to Jones Day
January 2018
Chicago Bar Association, Fireside Chat about Human Trafficking in Chicago
August 2017
Crimes Against Children Conference, A Case Study on Sex Trafficking
Dallas, Texas
August 2017
Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Annual Conference, Working with Survivors of Trauma as they Engage with the Criminal Justice System
Chicago, Illinois
January 2017
Federal Bar Association, Human Trafficking Seminar
Chicago, Illinois
August 2016
Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Annual Conference, Case Study on Violent Traffickers
Chicago, Illinois
September 2015
Domestic Terrorism Conference, National Advocacy Center, Case Study on Domestic Terrorism
September 2013
Gangsters: America's Most Evil, Reelz TV Channel
September 2013
NBC News, gun trafficking segment
- The John Marshall Law School, Chicago (J.D. magna cum laude 2004; Distinguished Scholar Award [full-tuition scholarship]; Staff Editor, The John Marshall Law Review); University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A. in Journalism and Political Science 2000)
- Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Deputy Chief, and Senior Litigation Counsel, Criminal Division, United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois (2007-2018)
Chambers USA: litigation: white-collar crime and government investigations (2020-2024)
Law360 2023 White Collar MVP
Notable Trial Lawyers and Litigators, Chicago Crain's Business
Best Lawyers in America: criminal defense: white-collar (2023)
Midwest Trailblazer, American Lawyer
2020 Top 50 Exceptional Women Lawyers, Chicago Lawyer
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022-2025)
Forward under 40 honoree, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Recipient of outstanding service and performance awards from FBI and Chicago Police Department
- Extern to Judge Robert W. Gettleman, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2002)