John J. Bartko is a Founder and Partner of Bartko Pavia LLP and has decades of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil, criminal, and regulatory matters. His experience includes representing various parties in complicated financial fraud and environmental law cases. John 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 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.