Jack McLean is Of Counsel at Bartko Pavia LLP and member of the Litigation Practice. He specializes in business litigation, antitrust matters, class actions, white-collar crime, government investigations, and international litigation. With over 50 years of experience in practicing antitrust law, Jack has tried three antitrust cases before juries while at Bartko, all resulting in favorable verdicts for the defense. These cases included a class action, a two-party litigation, and a criminal price-fixing case involving a U.S. executive.
In addition to his trial experience, Jack has extensive expertise in antitrust counseling and the development of compliance programs. His core principle is to help clients achieve their business objectives while identifying and managing antitrust risks.
Before attending law school, Jack served four years in the U.S. armed forces where he completed tours in Vietnam as an infantry advisor to the Vietnamese. During law school, Jack gained experience working for a labor law firm, a Wall Street firm, and as the Legal Counsel to the Governor of Wisconsin. Jack joined Pillsbury Madison & Sutro as an associate in June 1972, became a partner in 1980, and left the firm in 1999 to start his own private practice. After successfully defending his client against criminal price-fixing charges as co-counsel with Bartko, Jack joined Bartko as Of Counsel and laid the foundation for Bartko’s growth of its antitrust practice.
Over the years, Jack has conducted numerous antitrust compliance programs in many industries, including high-tech, heavy construction equipment, ocean freight shipping lines, forest products from trees to various wood and paper products, food manufacturing, corporate farming, consumer products, real estate MLSs, and insurance. These programs have included one or more activities: document and business plan reviews, management interviews, written analysis of risks and recommended solutions, in-house compliance program materials, and presentations (including movie scripts for training programs). As an offshoot of an antitrust compliance program for an international equipment manufacturer, Jack also conducted an investigation, prepared a report, and gave training on the dos and don’ts of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Recently, Jack conducted an antitrust litigation risk and compliance review and prepared a report for a company in the healthcare industry. He also prepared an evaluation and report for another company in the healthcare industry regarding potential litigation risks and prospects. Most recently, Jack has been part of the Bartko antitrust team advising a manufacturer of electric vehicles concerning antitrust issues on proposed conduct.
Jack also has experience in the classroom having served as the antitrust instructor at the University of California, Davis, School of Law for the school’s Extension basic program for foreign lawyers, “Orientation in U.S.A. Law,” and the masters MCL International Law Program (1995-2009).
Outside of work, Jack is a proud father and grandfather who strongly believes that having a sense of humor and maintaining a positive attitude are essential for happy and long-lasting life. His philosophy is simple: “The alternative to growing older is not very good, so I intend to grow older but not to grow up.” For a contemporary perspective on this philosophy, Jack recommends Toby Keith’s song “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which is featured in Clint Eastwood’s movie “The Mule.” Keith wrote the song after playing golf with Eastwood, who, at 88, shared that it reflects his approach to staying active as he ages.