Overview

Jack is a recognized litigator and trial attorney. He has an outstanding record of success in complex commercial disputes and is a trusted advisor and counselor to both his clients and his partners, respectively, in his client service work and his role as Assistant General Counsel of BFKN. Jack is a lawyer to whom clients and colleagues turn to for the toughest solutions.

Jack is a partner in the firm's Litigation and Motor Vehicle Groups. While focusing on manufacturer-dealer, landlord-tenant, and creditor-debtor disputes, Jack has a broad range of experience across the firm’s practice areas. Jack has tried cases both in court and in an administrative setting, argued dispositive motions in courts across the country, defended witnesses giving testimony in white-collar investigations, and managed cases from pre-litigation counseling through appeal.

Jack also negotiates and advises on dealer-manufacturer and regulatory disputes in the automotive franchise space across the country and is a regular source of strategic advice and regulatory counseling for automotive clients and clients in other industries.

Prior to going to law school and joining BFKN, Jack was an Associate Director at the Department of Homeland Security in a high-stakes role where he handled Senate confirmations, legislation, and Congressional inquiries.

Jack is very involved in his community. He served on of the Winnetka Caucus Council for three years, a non-profit community organization devoted to citizen participation in local government. Jack has also taught continuing legal education classes, including courses on civil discovery for newly admitted Illinois attorneys.

Credentials

Admissions

  • State of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin

Education

  • University of Chicago, J.D., with honors, 2010
  • Yale University, B.A., 2003

Experience

Litigation

  • Termination. Jack has handled several dealer termination matters, including in circumstances where dealers have ceased to operate or have otherwise encountered serious financial difficulties. In one recent case, a California dealer protested a notice of termination. Jack successfully argued a motion to dismiss, obtaining a recommendation from the administrative law judge that the New Motor Vehicle Board dismiss the matter. The Board adopted the administrative law judge’s recommendation and developed the law in a way that is favorable to manufacturers.
  • Commercial Landlord-Tenant. Jack authored the winning brief and successfully argued cross-motions for summary judgment in the first commercial eviction lawsuit in Minnesota to reach a decision in the COVID era. Representing the landlord, BFKN defeated the tenant’s defenses of impossibility and frustration of purpose at both the trial court and appellate level, establishing a key precedent for landlords to draw upon in the future.
  • Complex Commercial. Jack was a lead team member on the BFKN trial team that represented an ESOP trustee in multi-district litigation in SDNY. Plaintiff alleged defendant participated in the Tribune Company’s breach of its fiduciary duties resulting in excess of $3 billion in damages. Court dismissed all claims against defendant with prejudice. 2019 WL 294807 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2019).
  • Establishment (Add-Point). Jack has also handled several add-point cases. In one recent case, Jack was a key member of a trial team in a major case pending in state court in New York. In a bench trial, Jack cross-examined the other side’s damages expert. The judge went on to reject the expert’s testimony in deciding the case in favor of BFKN’s client.
  • Incentives. In a recent incentives case in federal court between an automotive client and one of its dealers, Jack deposed the dealer principal, chief financial officer, and damages expert. On the strength of the record Jack and the BFKN team developed, the court granted summary judgment to the client on several claims.

Regulatory Counseling & Transactions

  • Developing and implementing dealer performance improvement and “cure” programs to address under-performing dealers.
  • Assessing risks for national manufacturers and distributors when considering changes to their network plan.
  • Designing and advising on incentive programs, performance standards, and network development plans.
  • Working with state and local regulators to facilitate solutions to licensing, permitting, and public records act disputes.
  • Negotiating resolutions to real estate disputes over leases, foreclosures, eminent domain proceedings, and construction and development.
  • Handling transactions between distributors and suppliers in multiple industries.

Newsroom

Speaking Engagements

Recognitions

  • Crain’s Rising Stars in Law (2021)
  • Illinois Rising Stars, Super Lawyers (2019-2021)
  • Future Star, Benchmark Litigation (2023-2024)
    • 40 & Under List (2018-2023)
  • Secretary’s Award for Exemplary Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2006
  • Benchmark Litigation Future Star

Organizations

  • Winnetka Caucus Council (2016-18; Vice Chair, 2018)
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