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Pauline F.
Hardin

Position
Partner
Office
New Orleans

Pauline Hardin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on criminal litigation as well as business, commercial, and labor disputes.


Pauline has tried more than 150 jury trials across the spectrum of criminal and commercial litigation. She routinely handles bet-the-company and high-stakes matters, and also draws on her experience to help clients facing grand jury investigations by avoiding prosecution, or when facing criminal charges, by negotiating plea agreements or going to trial.

Pauline focuses on representing companies and individuals facing complex proceedings involving, among other issues, criminal mail fraud, wire fraud, RICO, health care fraud, anti-kickback statutes and Stark laws, False Claims Act qui tam matters, false statements, bribery, public corruption, environmental crimes, financial crimes, securities crimes, tax crimes, and many other violations and their parallel civil and administrative claims relating to the underlying criminal matter. She also represents witnesses and targets in federal grand jury investigations.

Pauline conducts corporate internal investigations for corporations, non-profits, audit committees, and boards of directors. Throughout her career, she also has represented clients in commercial litigation involving civil and administrative matters in the banking industry, as well as UCC and contract claims, discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws, and disputes in many other areas.

Before joining Jones Walker, Pauline served as first assistant US attorney and chief of the Criminal Division in the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and as an assistant district attorney in charge of the Orleans Parish Fraud Unit.

A fellow of the American College of Trial lawyers since 1994, she has served on its Federal Criminal Procedure Committee. At Jones Walker, Pauline was formerly head of the Litigation Practice Group and served on the firm’s board of directors. She has also lectured and taught Trial Advocacy at Tulane Law School for many years.

Noteworthy

  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Criminal Defense: White Collar, New Orleans (2022)
  • New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyer (listed annually since 2018)
  • New Orleans CityBusiness, Women of the Year (2018)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star (2018)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar (listed annually since 2007)
  • Chambers USA, Band 1, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (listed annually since 2006)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar (listed annually since 2005)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Publications

  • "Real-Time Strategies for Healthcare Providers: Preparing for Government Investigations and Litigation Arising From the COVID-19 Pandemic," Jones Walker LLP Healthcare & Litigation Client Alert, April 2, 2020
  • "Supreme Court Slams EPA on Pre-Enforcement Wetlands Review Nine to Zero," Jones Walker LLP Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources EBulletin, May 9, 2012
  • "Terrebonne Parish Assessor, Alleging Fraud, Files More than 30 Suits Against Oil and Gas Companies," Jones Walker LLP Tax (International, Federal, State & Local) EBulletin, August 26, 2009
  • "Negligence and Respondeat Superior as Environmental Crimes," The Louisiana Environmental Lawyer, Vol. 6, No 2, June 1, 2000
  • "Environmental Criminal Law," Louisiana Environmental Handbook, No. 2, Chapter 29, January 1, 1997

Presentations

  • "Cryptocurrency – Virtual Assets, Real Enforcement Issues," 14th Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 22, 2022
  • "Federal Search and Seizure: Probate Cause and Judicial Involvement," LSBA's Tenth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 13, 2018
  • "Environmental Crimes," LSBA's Ninth Annual White Collar Symposium, April 7, 2017
  • "Healthcare Fraud – Applicable Statutes and Regs – Why So Many Cases? – Draconian Sentencing Guidelines? Why Not Resolve Civilly – FCA?" LSBA's Eighth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 8, 2016
  • "The Fourth Amendment in Cyber Space - How to Protect Companies and You - It's a New World," LSBA's Seventh Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 10, 2015
  • "Federal Search and Seizure - What to Do when the Government Raids the Plant/Any Business," Louisiana State Bar Association's Sixth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 11, 2014
  • "Masters of the Courtroom," New Orleans Bar Association, December 12, 2013
  • "The Judiciary Commission: Selected Issues from the 'Other Side' (Judges Only Ethics)," Louisiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting and LSBA/LJC Summer School, June 6, 2013
  • "Strengthening Our Profession," Louisiana State Bar Association, June 2, 2013
  • "Company Indemnification of Employees for Criminal Matters," 4th Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 2, 2012
  • "Pleading the Fifth Amendment in Civil Litigation," New Orleans Bar Association's 2011 Bench Bar Conference, April 15, 2011
  • "Federal Tax Crimes," LSBA 3rd Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 8, 2011
  • "Health Care Fraud & Compliance: Updates, Trends, and Where To Go From Here," Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 14, 2010
  • "Grand Jury Practice," Louisiana State Bar Association, April 9, 2010
  • "Ethical Minefields in Complex Criminal Cases," Louisiana State Bar Association, December 4, 2009
  • "Corporate Independent Internal Investigations, Including Corporate Compliance Programs," Louisiana State Bar Association White Collar Conference, April 17, 2009
  • "Grand Jury Investigations: How it Impacts Civil Lawyers," New Orlean Bar Association 2009 Bench Bar Conference, March 13, 2009
  • "Ethical and Professionalism Issues Arising from Criminal Inquiries to a Corporation and its Officers," 16th Annual Alvin B. Rubin Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 15, 2008

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, Section on Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime Subsection
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Tulane University Law School, Instructor, Trial Advocacy
black and white headshot of Pauline F. Hardin
New Orleans
201 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
D: 504.582.8110
F: 504.589.8110
Emailphardin@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Tulane University Law School
    JD, 1974
  • Loyola University New Orleans
    BA, 1971

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Related Practices

  • Banking & Financial Services Litigation
  • Corporate Compliance & White Collar Defense
  • Environmental & Toxic Torts
  • Environmental Criminal Defense
  • Environmental Enforcement & Litigation
  • Healthcare Practice
  • Litigation

Related Industries

  • Healthcare
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