John D. Mitchell is a highly accomplished trial lawyer and investigator who joined Willkie after spending 13 years as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago and as a Senior Attorney in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. John spent the bulk of his time as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Securities & Commodities Fraud Section, where he led teams of prosecutors and FBI agents in dozens of criminal investigations and served as trial counsel on behalf of the United States in complex and high-profile jury trials involving insider trading, securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering, and other federal criminal violations. As a member of Willkie’s Litigation Department and the Firm’s White-Collar Defense, Securities Litigation & Enforcement, and Investigations & Enforcement Practice Groups, John represents companies and individuals in government and internal investigations as well as in complex civil and criminal matters in federal courts throughout the United States.
Experience
Prior to joining Willkie, John spent 13 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and as a Senior Attorney in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in Chicago. Prior to his time at the DOJ and SEC, John was an associate attorney at another major law firm and a law clerk for an Illinois Appellate Court judge.
- 2019 Cook County Crime Stoppers’ Excellence in Law Enforcement Award.
- 2018 Chicago Crime Commission’s Excellence in Law Enforcement Award.
- 2013 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement Director’s Award for role as lead counsel in investigation and prosecution of an international hedge fund manager who defrauded investors of more than $350 million.
- Leadership Greater Chicago, 2022 Fellow
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Board of Governors
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Trial Advocacy Adjunct Professor
- Partnership to Educate and Advance Kids (PEAK), Former Mentor and Current Board Member
- Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Tutor from September 2006 through June 2018
- Panelist, “Hearing from the Regulators: Understanding Priorities & Enforcement,” General Counsel Conference Midwest, April 19, 2023
During his time as a federal prosecutor, John’s significant investigations and prosecutions included the following:
- Insider Trading Conspiracy: Lead prosecutor and first-chair trial counsel in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation and prosecution of nine insider trading defendants in first criminal insider trading trial in the Northern District of Illinois in 15 years. United States v. Eric Weller, et al., 17 CR 643.
- Investment Adviser Fraud: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation and criminal prosecution of a Merrill Lynch investment adviser who misappropriated more than $3 million of his clients’ funds. United States v. Marcus Boggs, 19 CR 659.
- Unauthorized Securities Trading and Misappropriation Scheme: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation and prosecution of the managing director of an SEC-registered broker-dealer who fraudulently obtained approximately $1 million in fictitious commissions and caused more than $30 million in losses through unauthorized trading in fixed income securities. United States v. Keith Wakefield, 21 CR 614.
- Securities Offering Fraud: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation and criminal prosecution of the CEO of a real estate investment company who defrauded more than 900 investors and institutional lenders of more than $150 million.
- Cryptocurrency Offering Fraud: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation of suspected embezzlement, market manipulation, and insider trading by the founder and CEO of a Chicago-area cryptocurrency trading exchange.
- Hedge Fund Insider Trading Conspiracy: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation of suspected insider trading by several members of a Chicago-area hedge fund.
- International Insider Trading Conspiracy: Lead prosecutor in parallel DOJ-SEC investigation of a suspected international insider trading conspiracy that profited more than $2 million through the purchase of publicly traded securities of a Chicago-area pharmaceutical company.
*John advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.
Credentials
Education
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2004 University of Connecticut, B.A., 2001