Joanita N. Gakami

Associate

Joanita N. Gakami is an Associate at Alisme Law LLC, where she focuses her practice on business litigation, representing companies and entrepreneurs in a range of complex commercial disputes. She has experience litigating matters involving breach of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, business torts, fiduciary duty claims, and related corporate conflicts.

Joanita brings a strong background in commercial and employment litigation, having previously served as Special Counsel at Reavis Page Jump LLP and as an Associate at prominent corporate defense law firms. She has represented clients from early-stage businesses to established corporations in state and federal courts, agency proceedings, and arbitration. Her work includes handling contract enforcement actions, defending against commercial claims, managing internal investigations, and advising on risk mitigation strategies.

In addition to her business litigation practice, Joanita has experience advising clients on employment-related issues, including workplace investigations, compliance with employment regulations, and the drafting of personnel policies and employment agreements. She is also a certified Mediator through the Social Justice Mediation Institute and draws on her dispute resolution training to help clients resolve matters efficiently when litigation can be avoided.

Joanita earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was a Leadership Fellow and recipient of several academic and service honors. She earned her B.A., with honors, in Philosophy and the Study of Women and Gender from Smith College. During law school, she interned for the Honorable Steven C. Mannion of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and served as a Student Advocate in the Southern District of New York Mediation Practicum.

Deeply committed to social impact, Joanita is active in numerous service organizations, including Solar Sister (Board Member), Massai Girls Education and Empowerment (President and Co-Founder), and Women Creating Change (Public Policy Fellow). She is fluent in Kiswahili and Maasai.

Selected Publication:
“The Department of Labor Rule Increasing Exempt Employee Salary Threshold Has Gone into Effect,” RPJ – July 11, 2024