John E. Freechack

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Partner

T. 312.984.3223
F. 312.984.3150

John is Chairman of the firm's Financial Institutions Group.

In addition to heading the firm’s banking practice, John has advised hundreds of financial institutions on strategic, corporate governance and other matters for over 25 years. His extensive experience includes the representation of numerous public companies, as well as regional and community banks. John spends considerable time counseling institutions with respect to mergers and acquisitions, regulatory enforcement, and securities and corporate law matters.

John has been teaching banking law and regulation at Northwestern University School of Law since 2001. He previously taught bank holding company law at Chicago Kent College of Law's graduate program in financial services law and has been a visiting lecturer at other law schools. He is a well-known speaker at national conferences involving the financial institutions area, addressing bank trade associations, regulators and industry groups across the country (link: Full List of Speaking Engagements). He is one of only three recipients of the Illinois Bankers Association’s Distinguished Bank Counsel Award.

He is the Co-Editor of the two-volume handbook, Advising Illinois Financial Institutions. A long time member of the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s Banking Law Committee, he is the founder and also served as Chairman of its Community Bank Matters Subcommittee.

Professional Activities

Northwestern University School of Law, Adjunct Professor/Banking Law, since 2001
Recipient of IBA’s Distinguished Bank Counsel Award
Chairman, ABA Business Law Section’s Community Banking Subcommittee
Graduate financial services program IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law, Adjunct Professor
American Bar Association Banking Law Committee, since 1981
Co-Editor of the two volume Advising Illinois Financial Institutions (2006)

Professional Honors

Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2009-2013)
Selected, Leading Lawyers Network (2009-2013)
Selected, Banking and Finance Law and Financial Services Regulation Law,The Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2013)
Selected, Chicago's Best Lawyers

Representative Matters

Financial Institutions
The Financial Institutions Group has grown to 30 lawyers representing over 250 banks across the country. The group prides itself in providing to banks the same efficient, experienced and responsive service that its banking clients provide to their customers. As a result, we are a national leader in bank M&A deals the past 5 years. We also have one of the largest groups of regulatory attorneys in the country serving regional and community banks in regulatory enforcement, workout, restructuring and compliance matters.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Lead counsel on acquisitions and sales of financial institutions totaling more than $1.5 billion in consideration. Counsel to successful buyers of failed banks, and ongoing representation of potential buyers in the FDIC bidding process.

Publications

Events & Speaking Engagements

Illinois Bankers Association 122nd Annual Conference & Trade Show
2013 Financial Institution Strategic Forum - May 9, 2013
The BHCA Spring Seminar: Banking on High Performance
2013 Compliance "Spring Cleaning" Seminar
Bank Director's 2013 Acquire or Be Acquired Conference
Webcast: 2013 Capital Raising Environment for Banks
FinCEN/SARs and Law Enforcement Investigative Case Studies
Bank Director Webcast: Key Strategic Decisions for Bank Management and Boards
Webcast: Making Sense of the Current Bank M&A Environment
IBA's 121st Annual Conference & Trade Show
"What Bank Management and Boards Need to Know in 2012," Acquire or Be Acquired Conference (Phoenix, AZ/January 2012)
Compliance Summit (San Diego, CA/January 2012)
Banker Roundtable (Chicago, IL/December 2011)
Legal Guidance for the Board & Executive Management: Lessons Learned from Problem Banks, How to Avoid Becoming a Problem Bank (Washington, DC/September 2011)
Corporate Governance, Regulatory and Compliance Update (Davenport, IA/August 2011)
IBA Annual Convention (Lake Geneva, WI/June 2011)
2011 Acquire or Be Acquired Conference (Phoenix, AZ/January 2011)
Compliance Summit: Bank on Trial (San Diego, CA/January 2011)
Is Your Bank at Risk? (Webinar/October 2010)
2nd Annual America's Bank Board Symposium (Dallas, TX/September 2010)
2010 Illinois Bankers Association Annual Conference & Trade Show (Springfield, IL/June 2010)
Legal Update for Community Bankers (Chicago, IL/May 2010)
"Where Are the Banks Going?" TMA Distressed Investing Conference (Las Vegas, NV/January 2010)
"What Bank Boards and CEOs Need to Know in 2010," Acquire or Be Acquired Conference (Scottsdale, AZ/January 2010)
Corporate Governance Workshop, America's Bank Board Symposium (Austin, TX/September 2009)
Presenter, Illinois Bankers' Association Annual Convention (Las Vegas, NV/June 2009)
“Insight on Oversight,” Bank Director Magazine's 2009 Bank Audit Committee Conference (Chicago, IL/June 2009)
Bank Recovery Strategies Webinar Series, May 19, June 16, July 29, September 8 and October 20, 2009 - various topics
Presenter, Strategic Options for the Community Financial Institution (Oak Brook, IL/May 2009)
Presenter, Bank CEO Network (San Antonio, TX/March 2008)

Practice Areas

Education

Bar & Court Admissions