Overview
Reprinted with permission from The American Bar Association
Membership Spotlight | John Geiringer
We’d like to congratulate John on receiving the recent Banking Law Committee Frank Simpson III Award.
About John
As the Regulatory Section Leader of Barack Ferrazzano’s Financial Institutions Group, John Geiringer advises a wide variety of financial institutions around the country about the full spectrum of the legal, regulatory, supervisory, and investigative issues that they face, including safety and soundness, compliance, anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism, and operations. Working at the forefront of banking law and regulation, John also is a thought leader in the field, through teaching, writing, and media interviews. He is a frequent speaker on issues surrounding banking regulations, examinations, and enforcement actions, as well as cybersecurity and national security.
John also is the founding Co-Director of the Center for National Security and Human Rights Law (and its Consortium for the Research and Study of Holocaust and the Law) at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he teaches classes on banking, national security, and the Holocaust. Among his other publications, he is the editor of Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Law and Policy and is the co-editor of an upcoming treatise on legal issues surrounding the Holocaust. John serves as a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is a member of the Consultation Committee advising the Claims Conference’s forthcoming HALL (Holocaust, Antisemitism and Law Learning) Center.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Business Law?
During my undergraduate classes and internships in Washington, I became fascinated by government relations, policy debates, and the intersection of the public and private sectors. Being a bank regulatory attorney allows me to combine those interests and have a front row seat to many pivotal societal events. The financial services industry touches so many fascinating and evolving issues, such as economic trends, money laundering and terrorism, drug legalization, national security, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, that the inspiration continues.
What challenges have you faced in your career within Business Law, and how have you overcome them?
The regulatory side of banking law is complicated, hypertechnical, constantly evolving, and often shrouded in mystery. I’ve overcome those challenges by having brilliant colleagues, strong regulatory relationships, and deep friendships among my fellow Banking Law Committee members, all of whom have helped me navigate this difficult area of law. For emotional resilience, I rely on family, friends, and hobbies, and a combination of traditions from my Jewish faith, wisdom from the Stoics, and practices from Zen Buddhism.
Which Business Law Section committees or initiatives have you engaged with, and how has your involvement contributed to your professional growth and career development?
I’ve served as the Chair of various BLC subcommittees, including those related to mentoring new members, enforcement actions, and anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (which I started), and then became a Vice Chair of the BLC. I currently serve on the BLC Chair’s Leadership Council and coordinate Fundamentals of Banking Law, a biannual seminar that the BLC originally established over 25 years ago.
My BLC involvement has exposed me to places I never would have visited (so many amazing cities), events I never would have experienced (like walking a New Orleans second line), and insight I never would have gained (often directly from high-ranking officials), but most importantly to fellow banking lawyers I never would have met. They practice at the absolute highest levels, and are yet the kindest and most generous fellow travelers one could ever hope to meet.
What is your highlight thus far being a member of the Business Law Section?
Certainly winning The Frank Simpson III Award at the Cosmos Club among so many good friends. An ongoing highlight for me is distilling information I’ve learned from representing clients of all sizes around the country to better inform my fellow BLC members, and sharing with our clients the critical knowledge I’ve learned at BLC meetings.
Are you involved in any outside hobbies or interests?
In addition to teaching, my hobbies include playing music in several dad bands, practicing martial arts, and co-hosting a podcast, with my friend Asher Lopatin, called A Rabbi and a Lawyer Walk Into a Bar. My favorite pastime is traveling overseas with my wife Jen, a litigator turned therapist, and my two children, Jake and Catie.
To read the article on The American Bar Association's website, visit the link below.
