John J. “Jack” Barber collaborates with the leadership, management, and boards of privately held and publicly traded clients to tackle their most challenging risks.

Jack leverages his experience as a registered Certified Public Accountant and a comprehensive understanding of complex financial statement risk to guide public companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and accounting firms to proactively manage high-stakes government and internal investigations, securities class actions, complex commercial litigation, and professional liability matters.

Jack's practice includes advising clients regarding:

  • Securities litigation
  • Professional liability advisory and defense
  • US securities filings
  • Financial statements and disclosures
  • Accounting and auditing standards
  • Internal investigations
  • Governmental investigations
  • White collar criminal defense
  • Complex commercial litigation
  • Cryptocurrency

Jack serves as lead counsel in investigations and litigation. He represents clients in civil and criminal matters initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and other regulators.

Before joining the firm, Jack served as an assistant general counsel at a national accounting firm. Prior to that, he was a partner at a Chicago-based litigation boutique.

He prioritizes giving back to the community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Barber National Institute — a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive services to individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral health challenges and their families.

Jack is active in the firm’s pro bono program, including leading matters involving organizations that seek to advance the interests of military veterans and matters relating to access to justice.

A recognized thought leader, Jack regularly speaks on matters relating to accounting and auditing, cryptocurrency, and risks that newly public companies face.

Jack's experience includes handling:

  • SEC, PCAOB, and state board of accountancy investigations of accounting firms and individual accountants
  • Federal securities class action litigation
  • Internal investigations supervised by Boards of Directors or Audit Committees
  • SEC enforcement investigations of public companies; accounting firms; and individual officers, directors, and accountants
  • SEC examination of an investment firm
  • PCAOB enforcement investigations of accounting firms and individual accountants
  • DOJ and UK Serious Fraud Office investigations involving public and private companies and accounting firms
  • FINRA enforcement investigations
  • Trade secrets and non-competition litigation

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, University of Notre Dame Law School, 2005
    cum laude
  • BBA, University of Notre Dame, 2001