Jo represents clients in corporate, securities, and employment law matters. Her practice has an emphasis on corporate governance issues. She has served as lead counsel on public registrations representing over a billion dollars and has substantial experience in cross-border corporate acquisitions. Jo also counsels clients on employment matters, focusing on reducing the risk of employment-related litigation.
Jo Watson Hackl
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2009 Awarded Practice Areas
Corporate Compliance Law Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Greenville.
Awarded Practice Areas
Corporate Compliance Law Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Greenville.
Biography
Locations
Education
- Yale University, J.D., graduated 1988
- Millsaps College, B.A., graduated 1985
Bar Admissions
Affiliations
- ETV Foundation - Board Member
- Hollingsworth Funds - Board Member
- Greenville Chamber ACCELERATE Committee - Member
- Greenville Area Development Corporation - Past Chair, Board of Directors
- The Community Foundation of Greenville - Past Chair
- Liberty Fellowship - Senior Advisor
- The Emrys Foundation - Past President
- Camperdown Academy - Board of Directors
- Leadership Greenville, Class XIX - Past Forum President
- Children's Museum of the Upstate - past Member of Board of Directors
Federal Clerkships
- United States Court of Appeals
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Corporate Compliance Law, Greenville (2026)
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Greenville (2024)
- Corporate Governance Law, Greenville (2019)
- Corporate Law, Greenville (2017)
- Corporate Governance Law, Greenville (2016)
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Greenville (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
Awards:
- Named Greenville Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers, 2017
- Recipient of the Greenville County Bar's Tommy Thomason Award, 2016
- Named the Greenville Corporate Governance Law "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers, 2016
- Listed in South Carolina Super Lawyers, 2015-Present
- Recipient of the Community Foundation's Ruth Nicholson Award, 2013
- Winner of the Greenville Chamber's ATHENA Leadership Award, 2013
- Selected as a finalist for the United Way Mentor of the Year Award, 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rated, 2013
- Selected as one of Greenville Business Magazine's 50 Most Influential, 2010-2011
- Selected as a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA, 2010
- Liberty Fellow, Class of 2008
- Recipient of the Richard Riley and the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Award, 1995
- Selected as one of 35 in the inaugural class of "Best and Brightest" by Greenville Magazine, 1994
Case History
Transactions
- Representatve matters include
- Represented an international public company in connection with a shelf registration statement covering up to $750 million of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants, debt securities and trust preferred securities.
- Represented an international public company in connection with 144A private placement of $400 million of notes and subsequent registered exchange offering.
- Represented an international public company in connection with a $250 million offering of floating rate notes. This offering was a takedown from the shelf registration statement described above.
- Represented a public company in connection with a tender offer and consent solicitation relating to its Senior Notes (approximately $31 million in aggregate amount then outstanding).
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