Joanna D. Frazier

In the intricate world of law, maintaining the highest standards of ethics and professional responsibility is not just a guideline but a fundamental pillar. For legal professionals and firms across California, navigating these complex rules requires specialized insight and an unwavering commitment to compliance. In San Francisco, Joanna D. Frazier stands as a prominent attorney with a dedicated focus on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and risk management. Operating within the esteemed firm of Sheppard Mullin, she provides critical counsel that helps legal entities uphold integrity and avoid potential pitfalls. This article will delve into the expertise of Joanna D. Frazier, her professional affiliations, convenient location, and why she is a vital resource for those seeking guidance on the most sensitive aspects of legal practice in California.

Joanna D. Frazier serves as Assistant General Counsel at Sheppard Mullin, a leading full-service global law firm. In this pivotal role, she regularly advises the firm on a wide array of issues related to the rules of professional responsibility, ethics, conflicts of interest, and other sensitive risk management concerns. Her background includes prior experience as an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson, where she practiced professional liability defense, further honing her expertise in safeguarding legal practitioners and firms. Ms. Frazier is deeply embedded in the legal ethics community, having served as President of the Queen's Bench Foundation (2007) and the Queen's Bench Bar Association (2006), and as a member of the Ethics Committee of the San Francisco Bar Association. She is also a member of California Women Lawyers and has served on the Board of Directors for the Child Care Law Center. Her distinguished career includes receiving the American Jurisprudence Award for Writing & Research twice, underscoring her analytical prowess and clear communication skills. Her work is crucial in ensuring that legal practices adhere to the highest ethical standards, mitigating risks, and upholding the integrity of the profession.

Joanna D. Frazier practices from the San Francisco office of Sheppard Mullin, located at 4 Embarcadero Ctr #17, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA. This address places her within the prestigious Embarcadero Center, a prominent and highly accessible complex in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District. The location offers excellent connectivity for legal professionals and clients throughout the Bay Area. The Embarcadero Center is directly served by the Embarcadero BART and Muni station, providing seamless public transportation access from various neighborhoods and surrounding counties. Numerous bus lines, light rail services, and even ferry terminals are within comfortable walking distance, offering diverse and convenient commuting options. For those who opt to drive, several public parking garages are available within the Embarcadero Center complex and its immediate vicinity, though public transit is often the most efficient choice in this bustling urban environment. This central and easily reachable location ensures that Ms. Frazier's expert counsel is readily available to those who need it most.

While Joanna D. Frazier's role as Assistant General Counsel at Sheppard Mullin primarily involves advising the firm internally on ethical and professional responsibility matters, her expertise is invaluable to the broader legal community and, indirectly, to clients seeking a firm committed to the highest ethical standards. Her areas of focus and experience include:

• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility: Providing counsel on compliance with State Bar rules, codes of professional conduct, and best practices for attorneys and law firms.
• Conflicts of Interest: Advising on identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex conflicts of interest that may arise in legal representation, ensuring adherence to ethical obligations.
• Risk Management for Law Firms: Developing strategies and policies to minimize legal and ethical risks for law practices, including issues related to client intake, engagement letters, and data security.
• Professional Liability Defense: Drawing on past experience, contributing to the defense of legal professionals against claims of malpractice or ethical breaches.
• Internal Firm Advising: Guiding law firm management on sensitive internal legal issues to ensure operational compliance and ethical integrity.
• Litigation (General Civil): While her current role is advisory, her background includes litigation, which informs her understanding of the practical implications of ethical rules in contentious legal matters.
• Legal Research and Writing: Known for her award-winning skills in legal research and writing, enabling clear and precise analysis of complex ethical issues.

Joanna D. Frazier's professional profile is marked by several significant features and highlights:

• Specialized Ethics Expertise: Her role as Assistant General Counsel focusing on ethics and professional responsibility makes her a highly specialized and trusted authority in this crucial area of law.
• Esteemed Firm Affiliation: Practicing at Sheppard Mullin, a top-tier global law firm, provides her with access to extensive resources and a collaborative environment that reinforces her high-level practice.
• Leadership in Legal Organizations: Her past presidency of the Queen's Bench Foundation and Queen's Bench Bar Association, along with her membership on the San Francisco Bar Association Ethics Committee, demonstrates her commitment to shaping ethical standards in the legal profession.
• Award-Winning Analytical Skills: Having twice received the American Jurisprudence Award for Writing & Research, she possesses exceptional abilities in dissecting complex legal issues and articulating clear, well-reasoned advice.
• Focus on Risk Mitigation: Her work is fundamentally about helping legal entities avoid problems before they arise, offering invaluable proactive guidance on compliance and ethical conduct.
• Published Insights: She has authored articles on various legal topics, including the discovery of electronic mail and employment practices liability insurance, showcasing her thought leadership.
• Judicial Clerkship Experience: Her externship for the Honorable Claudia Wilken in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California provides her with a valuable perspective on judicial expectations and litigation processes.

As an attorney operating within a large, established law firm like Sheppard Mullin, and with a specialized focus as Assistant General Counsel, Joanna D. Frazier's services are not typically offered through public promotions or special discounts. The firm's fee structures for clients are generally based on the complexity and scope of the legal work required, often involving traditional hourly billing rates or other customized fee arrangements depending on the client and the nature of the engagement. The value of engaging with an attorney of Ms. Frazier's caliber and expertise, within a firm like Sheppard Mullin, lies in the assurance of receiving highly specialized, nuanced, and strategic legal counsel, particularly on matters of legal ethics, professional responsibility, and risk management. For entities or individuals seeking counsel on these specific, sensitive legal areas, it is advisable to contact Sheppard Mullin's San Francisco office directly. During an initial consultation, you can discuss your specific needs and gain a transparent understanding of the firm's engagement process and fee structure.

For legal professionals, firms, or entities in California requiring specialized guidance on legal ethics, professional responsibility, or related risk management issues, Joanna D. Frazier at Sheppard Mullin's San Francisco office can be contacted using the following details:

• Address: 4 Embarcadero Ctr #17, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
• Phone: (415) 434-9100
• Mobile Phone: +1 415-434-9100

Connecting with the firm by phone is the most direct way to inquire about her availability and to discuss how her specialized expertise can address your legal and ethical concerns.

For legal professionals and firms across California, particularly within the robust and highly regulated legal environment of San Francisco, Joanna D. Frazier serves as an indispensable resource. Her dedicated expertise as Assistant General Counsel at Sheppard Mullin, with a sharp focus on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and risk management, makes her uniquely suitable for those who need to navigate the intricate ethical landscape of legal practice. In a state with stringent bar rules and a strong emphasis on professional conduct, having an attorney of her caliber is not merely a convenience but a necessity for compliance and safeguarding reputation.

Her location in the prestigious Embarcadero Center ensures exceptional accessibility for legal professionals in the Bay Area, facilitating direct consultations on sensitive matters. While the provided information indicates her role is primarily internal to the firm, her prominent position and active involvement in ethics committees underscore the high standards to which Sheppard Mullin adheres. This commitment to ethical excellence, driven by professionals like Ms. Frazier, assures clients that their legal matters are handled with the utmost integrity and professionalism. For anyone in the California legal community seeking unparalleled guidance on legal ethics and risk mitigation, Joanna D. Frazier at Sheppard Mullin is a trusted and highly suitable source of expertise.