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.
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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