Overview
With over 18 years of experience as a federal white collar prosecutor and Department of Justice leader, and over 20 years of leadership experience as a Marine Corps Officer, John has a sophisticated and deep understanding of government agencies and investigations and extensive experience leading through crises. John drives litigation teams to vindicate his client’s interests.
John has conducted numerous investigations and litigated matters in the health care, financial services, banking, defense, education, and telecommunications industries including:
- $3.5 billion fraud prosecution of the third largest Ponzi fraud scheme in U.S. history,
- $3.5 million jury verdict in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding seeking clawback of fraudulent transfers,
- $400 million Medicare fraud investigation and prosecution of a national hospital corporation,
- prosecution of a criminal organization that defrauded telecommunications companies of over $20 million,
- $7 million Medicare overpayment fraud investigation,
- public corruption investigation that resulted in convictions and substantial leadership changes in a metropolitan government agency,
- an extensive internal investigation of a public university and its athletic department , resulting in a public report and testimony before the governing board, and
- representation of senior corporate officers against allegations of internal and external misconduct.
John has extensive experience in crisis response and management, having served as a Crisis Management Coordinator with the Department of Justice, and a Marine Corps infantry officer. John has been repeatedly recognized by numerous governmental and private agencies for his firm and calm leadership and legal abilities.
John is co-chair of the firm's Government Solutions and Investigations Practice Group.
Education & Admissions
University of Oregon School of Law (J.D., 1991), Order of the Coif; Law Review Distinguished Service Award; AmJur Award for Criminal Procedure
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1985), National Merit Scholar; Undergraduate Research Opportunities Project
Admissions
- Minnesota
Experience
Representative Cases
John has led multi-agency teams conducting multi-state and international investigations, and involving numerous industries. John has counseled on matters involving government ethics, government procurement processes, securities and banking regulatory and law enforcement actions, medical devices, health care compliance, cybersecurity, public corruption, national security, receiverships, money laundering, RICO, and bankruptcy. Representative cases include:
- Health care fraud schemes by chiropractors, ancillary service providers, hospitals, and insurance companies
- FDA enforcement actions for medical devices and pharmacies
- Fraud and self-dealing by bank officers selling participation loans and mortgages
- Government fraud by disaster response company at the 9/11 evidence recovery sight
- Procurement fraud allegations against government contractor
- Securities fraud allegations against hedge fund operators, technology startups, and financial services representatives
- Insider fraud and embezzlement by financial services company employees
- Investment fraud, tax fraud, and securities schemes pitching wind power, telecommunications schemes, prime banking notes, and real estate
- National security matters involving terrorism, cybersecurity, and foreign coups
- Bankruptcy adversary proceedings seeking clawback of fraudulent distributions
- Assault charges against U.S. and Chinese corporate officers
John has extensive experience developing and exercising multi-component crisis management plans. John is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, and U.S. Army Airborne Course.
News & Resources
Articles
News & Press Mentions
Events & Speaking Engagements
Industries & Practices
Antitrust & Competition Law
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceBanking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceCybersecurity, Privacy & Social Media
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceDevelopment & Infrastructure
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceGovernment Solutions & Investigations
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHealthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHigher Education & Academic Research Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Anti-Corruption Group
- Antitrust & Competition Law
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Construction Litigation
- Cybersecurity, Privacy & Social Media
- Development & Infrastructure
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Government Solutions & Investigations
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Higher Education & Academic Research Institutions
- Indian & Alaska Native
- National Security Law
- Real Estate Litigation
Accolades
- Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations), 2020-2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2020-2025
- Listed in Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2019-2024
- Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020-2022
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2016-2018 and 2020-2023
- 2010 United States Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award, and the 2009 Minnesota Lawyer of the Year Award as co-lead counsel in the $3.5 billion Thomas Petters fraud prosecution
- 2002 Integrity Award from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, 2002 for service as lead counsel in a $7 million Medicare overpayment investigation
- 2001 United States Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service and DHHS OIG Cooperative Achievement Award for leadership in a Medicare upcoding investigation with civil and criminal recoveries of over $400 million