Asst. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Singh Johannes Joins Carlton Fields in Miami

Former Federal Prosecutor Brings Extensive Trial Experience to Firm’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice

Miami, Fla. – Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Singh Johannes has joined the firm’s Miami office. Nationally recognized for excellence as a federal prosecutor, Mrs. Johannes brings her extensive trial experience in complex criminal and civil matters to Carlton Fields’ White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice.

For a decade, Mrs. Johannes served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, trying more than 25 federal jury cases to verdict and handling appellate matters before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In private practice, she has represented clients in a variety of white collar matters involving fraud, antitrust, and environmental issues.

“Vanessa is known for her ability to connect with a jury, her wide-ranging and impressive record handling complex criminal and civil matters, and her deep knowledge of the Southern District of Florida,” said Carlton Fields Shareholder Adam P. Schwartz, who leads the firm’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice. “We are ecstatic to have her join our team of former federal prosecutors.”

Carlton Fields’ White Collar and Government Investigations Practice Group has significant experience in the areas of business, tax, and securities frauds; trade secret theft; money laundering; Medicare and Medicaid frauds; bank fraud; forfeiture matters; and immigration crimes. The team, which includes more than 10 lawyers with high-level experience as assistant U.S. attorneys, assistant state attorneys, and federal and state public defenders, has tried more than 1,000 criminal cases to judgment in bench trials, more than 1,200 criminal cases to jury verdict, and has handled more than 475 criminal appeals.

“I am thrilled to join Carlton Fields, where I am surrounded by colleagues who share my passion for trial work,” Mrs. Johannes said. “Carlton Fields’ attorneys have a reputation for excellence in the courtroom and for top-notch client representation, and I am excited to continue that legacy.”

In her distinguished career as a federal prosecutor, Mrs. Johannes investigated, indicted, and tried cases involving crimes such as fraud and money laundering, arms trafficking, child exploitation, human trafficking, armed robberies, and homicides. She also handled numerous complex civil investigations into civil rights violations. During her tenure, Mrs. Johannes served as a member of the Special Prosecutions, Affirmative Civil Rights, Major Crimes, and Appeals units and, more recently, as the Southern District’s Project Safe Childhood coordinator, assisting federal agents with training, investigating, and assigning all child exploitation matters in South Florida. Mrs. Johannes earned the prestigious Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2018 for her work prosecuting Christopher Glenn, a U.S. citizen and Department of Defense contractor, who committed cyber espionage, theft of classified materials, and sex trafficking of minors in Honduras.

Previously in private practice Mrs. Johannes had a track record of representing Fortune 500 companies in complex litigation. Her notable matters include representing a large financial institution in multibillion-dollar federal antitrust litigation, a nonprofit foundation in a lawsuit against a purported hedge fund manager who ran a million-dollar Ponzi scheme in New York, a large telecommunications company in an environmental toxic tort litigation in federal court; and various corporations' litigation interests in bankruptcy court.

A Caribbean-born Miami native, Mrs. Johannes is devoted to her community. She volunteers as a writing coach for the Posse Foundation, which provides minority high school students with college scholarships and training in writing and leadership skills. Mrs. Johannes also is involved in the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association and the Caribbean Bar Association.

“Vanessa is an outstanding lawyer who is well-versed in international investigations and other key aspects of Miami client representation,” said Miami Office Co-Managing Shareholder Steven J. Brodie. “She joins the growing ranks of high-caliber lawyers in our Miami office, which we will continue to expand strategically in 2021.”

Added Miami Office Co-Managing Shareholder Amy E. Furness: “Vanessa is a skilled attorney who strengthens a group of high-profile former federal prosecutors in our Miami office, including Shareholders Michael Pasano and Lee Stapleton. She is also an exemplary Miami community member, and we are happy to welcome her to our team.”

Admitted in New York (until admission in Florida, any work on Florida matters supervised in accordance with Rule 4-5.3).