Biography
With over 17 years’ experience advising on commercially and politically sensitive disputes, Joana is skilled at developing investigative strategies and gathering evidence in support of complex litigation, arbitration, and high-value asset recovery. Joana is ranked Band 1 in Chambers’ 2024 guide for Litigation Support, and Band 1 for Asset Tracing & Recovery (Global Investigations).
Joana works closely with Claimants, their legal counsel, PR, third-party funders and other disputes specialists. Her work focuses on the support of legal processes including discovery/disclosure and other interim relief; fraud and corruption investigations; sanctions-related actions; and other special situations. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of these disputes, Joana’s work is often channeled into PR and government relations campaigns. She has given evidence and provided witness statements in support of her and the team’s findings.
Combining creativity and precision in her approach to high value asset recovery, Joana advises clients on potential enforcement targets and pressure points to develop efficient recoverability strategies. Highly experienced in the enforcement of awards against sovereign States and state-owned companies, Joana has helped clients with evidence and solutions addressing complex commercial transactions involving sovereigns, veil piercing, alter-ego arguments and evidence of the commercial purpose of assets.
Recognised in Chambers as “outstanding”, “thorough and meticulous” and “adept at getting quick results” clients’ praise Joana’s “ability to analyse complex matters and excellence in pursuing alternative investigative strategies” adding that she is “very responsive, incisive and brings to group conversations a view that challenges things”. “The quality of her work is next level”.
Joana is frequently invited to speak on asset recovery, fraud and corruption investigations at leading industry conferences.
Prior to co-founding Raedas in 2016, Joana was a partner and co-chair of the dispute consulting group at GPW in London. She was previously an investigator for Diligence in Brussels and London. She began her career working in international development cooperation at the OECD and the United Nations.