John Bartko is a Founder and a Partner of the firm. John has decades of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil, criminal, and regulatory matters.  He has broad experience representing various parties in complicated financial fraud and environmental law cases. He has represented many executives ensnared in regulatory investigations and is recognized as a leading white collar criminal defense attorney, most notably as lead trial counsel in a 2008 criminal antitrust case where he successfully defended a U.S. executive accused of international price fixing even though the government had obtained 17 guilty pleas from other defendants. One of his trials was nationally televised on Court TV.

John also has significant international experience, having been involved in international discovery and complex investigations requiring foreign court appearances, including conducting examinations in Switzerland and Japan through pioneering requests for civil judicial assistance. He has traveled to Europe, Asia, and South Africa to obtain evidence for American civil and criminal proceedings and has represented foreign officials in U.S. legal matters.

John’s recent arbitrations include the representation of a technology company’s founders against purchasers and financial advisors in claims arising from exit strategies. John has also represented U.S. companies in claims arising from international transactions involving joint ventures and real estate investments. In shareholder cases, John has represented corporations, directors, officers, and shareholders in antitrust, finance, real estate, technology, and other businesses and in state and federal litigation and governmental investigations. In addition, he has represented clients in professional malpractice claims and in other litigation concerning the departure of officers, partners, and shareholders.

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D.
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.

Professional Affiliations

  • Bar Association of San Francisco
  • American Bar Association, Committee on White Collar Crime
  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California (ABTL), Board of Directors, President (2003)
  • Advisory Board, Berkeley Center for Law, Business, and the Economy

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Hawaii

Honors & Awards

  • Named as a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters (2005-2023)
  • Recognized by “Best Lawyers,” Commercial Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense (2013-2021)
  • Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, indicating very high legal ability and very high ethical standards

Representative Cases

John successfully represented landowners in pioneering environmental regulation matters resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lake County Estates v. Tahoe Reg. Planning Agency, 440 U.S. 391 (1979).

Publications & Speaking Appearances

Mr. Bartko’s many speaking appearances include presentations at the American Law Institute, American Bar Association and Practicing Law Institute where he discussed internal corporate investigations, international discovery, and trial practice.

Practice Areas