Overview
John’s practice focuses on internal investigations, financial fraud, financial institution defense, and cybersecurity matters. John regularly represents Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and HIPAA-covered entities in governmental investigations and class actions. John was appointed to serve as the first Special Master over discovery in the Takata Airbag Products Liability Multi-District Litigation. John is veteran of more than 15 jury trials and handled at least twice that number of evidentiary hearings during his time as an Assistant United States Attorney and in private practice. His trials included high-profile cases involving an airplane hijacking, the armed kidnapping of a federal employee, a mail fraud scheme targeting several schools, and the attempted enticement of a minor over the internet.
He has extensive experience in matters involving cyber intrusions, cyber extortions, corporate espionage, theft of trade secrets, and data breach events. On multiple occasions, John has counseled and defended companies experiencing massive, extremely high profile data breaches and crises. He has counseled and defended more than 80 financial institutions and FinTech’s across the country during examinations and investigations on issues relating to consumer and regulatory compliance issues and cyber preparedness. Throughout his career, he has led dozens of investigations in matters relating to financial crimes, insider abuses, consumer protection issues, the False Claims Act and potential FCPA violations.
John clerked for the Honorable Federico A. Moreno of the Southern District of Florida. He is a frequent speaker on cybersecurity and banking topics.
Experience
- Defended clients in class actions around the country involving breaches of sensitive financial data, health information, and the infiltration of email accounts, including In Re: Yahoo! Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation involving 3 billion user accounts. There are representative published data breach decisions in matters he handled in the Eleventh Circuit, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Norther District of Illinois, and the Northern District of California.
- Led multiple matters for health care companies and government contractors involving alleged civil and criminal violations of the False Claims Act and related statutes, including for Balfour Beatty Communities that operates over 50 military bases throughout the United States.
- Led investigations into FCPA, intellectual property theft, and financial fraud matters. He has conducted investigations for multiple large multi-national companies involving operations in South America, the Caribbean and Asia relating to fraud, corruption, financial irregularities, trade secrets, and sensitive data theft.
- Led multiple internal investigations for financial institutions relating to BSA/AML (Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering) matters, payment systems, and lending irregularities. Represented financial institutions and financial service providers during “Operation Chokepoint” relating to payment processors and short-term lending.
- Counseled and defended multiple Fintech financial institutions and companies on business and regulatory issues.
- Responded to “15 day letters” from primary regulators in almost every region of the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico on BSA/AML, UDAAP (Unfair and Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices), fair lending, and Regulation O issues. He has experience with regulatory ratings appeals and has negotiated consent orders, memoranda of understanding, and other private resolutions on behalf of financial institutions.
- Represented over 20 financial institutions that were threatened or referred to the Department of Justice on fair lending matters. Also represented companies involved in indirect auto lending on fair lending matters.
- Represented directors and officers in regulatory sworn statements and regularly defends clients before the regulatory examiners, FinCEN, the Department of Justice, and other agencies.
- Counseled and defended companies relating to online gaming, fantasy sports, and payment processing.
- Defended the company that employed the alleged Washington Navy Yard shooter in law enforcement, regulatory and Congressional investigations.
- Frequently works with information security consultants, forensic auditors, and statisticians or economists for clients. He has deposed opposition experts including on statistical analyses.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- Recognized as a Leader in Litigation: General Commercial, Florida, Chambers USA, 2022-2023
- Named among The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2016-2024
- Selected as a “Top Lawyer,” Corporate and Business Litigation, South Florida Legal Guide, 2015 and 2016
- Selected as “Top Up & Comer,” South Florida Legal Guide, 2013-2014
- Named among Law360 Privacy & Consumer Protection Rising Stars, 2013
- Selected as a “Rising Star,” Florida, 2009-2011, 2013. Selected as a "Super Lawyer," 2018-2019, Florida, Super Lawyers magazine
- Named one of the “Top 40 Under 40,” South Florida Business Journal, 2012
- Named one of the “40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers” of Miami-Dade County, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2011
- Named among Florida’s “Legal Elite,” Commercial Litigation, Florida Trend magazine, 2010
- Samuel J. Heyman Fellow for Public Service, Harvard Law School
Affiliations
Professional
- Former Chair and Member, Southern District of Florida, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance
- Former Member, Southern District of Florida, Committee for Reappointment of Magistrate Judges
- Former Member, Southern District of Florida, Bench & Bar Planning Committee
Insights
Legal Updates
Events & Speaking Engagements
Publications
Blog Posts
News
Education
JD, Harvard Law School, 2000
BA, Classics and History, Amherst College, 1995
Admissions
Florida
District of Columbia
New York
Clerkships
- US District Court, Southern District of Florida
Areas of Focus
- Cyber Investigations and Privacy Litigation
- Cybersecurity Incidents
- White Collar, Regulatory Defense and Investigations
- Anti-Corruption and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- Anti-Money Laundering
- Fair Lending
- Financial Institutions Corporate and Regulatory
- Consumer Financial Compliance and Litigation
- Congressional Investigations
- False Claims Act
- Litigation
- National Security
- Energy Sector Security Team
- Financial Services