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About Jesse
Jesse is a trial lawyer who focuses on white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation around the country. Jesse founded SouthBank Legal’s white-collar practice and represents companies and individuals at all stages of investigation, litigation, and appeal. Jesse’s clients have included multiple Fortune 500 companies and corporate executives. He has tried several dozen federal cases to jury verdict and has handled numerous appeals, including successful arguments in state and federal appellate courts. Jesse is also a key member of the firm’s Chambers-ranked commercial litigation practice.
Previously, Jesse practiced at Am Law 100 firms in Indiana and Washington, D.C., and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Indiana. During his 13 years as a federal prosecutor, Jesse led investigations into a wide variety of white-collar cases, including commercial fraud, complex tax violations, fraud involving Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs), tax-preparer fraud, securities fraud, student loan fraud, insurance fraud, mail and wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, fraud by government contractors, and public corruption. Jesse held a Top Secret security clearance and received awards for his service from multiple federal agencies.
Jesse has served as an adjunct professor at the Notre Dame Law School, where he has taught in the areas of trial skills and criminal law. He also has coached high school mock trial, and his teams have won state tournaments and competed in the national competition. Jesse is a member of the Edward Bennett Williams American Inn of Court, an invitation-only professional organization focusing on white-collar practice.
Experience
CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS & WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE
- Represented a Fortune 500 company in a dispute regarding contracts for broadcasting international sports competitions following a federal bribery investigation.
- Defended two Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies in federal and state investigations concerning alleged violations of anti-kickback and other statutes. The companies successfully avoided any charges or administrative sanction.
- Represented a Fortune 500 media company in connection with a prosecution involving rights for international athletic tournaments.
- Represented a Fortune 10 company in a high-stakes internal investigation regarding employment issues, determined the appropriate response, and spearheaded remediation in conjunction with an Am Law 10 firm and an employment consulting company.
- Conducted multiple internal investigations for a major sports broadcasting company regarding employee misconduct and internal policies, and interfaced with federal law enforcement concerning the relevant findings.
- Conducted an investigation for the board of directors of a Fortune 500 automotive company concerning the alleged conduct of a member of its board.
- Defended a Fortune 25 financial services company against government efforts to obtain its records through subpoenas.
- Assisted a Fortune 50 company in recovering funds stolen internationally. This required coordination with, and cooperation from, law enforcement agencies and international financial institutions.
- Counseled a Fortune 500 healthcare company in internal audits and external investigations regarding manufacturing practices.
- Represented a healthcare provider in a dispute over the confidentiality of records, including successfully arguing the appeal before the Indiana Supreme Court.
- Counseled healthcare companies in responding to multiple grand jury subpoenas, including structuring productions to avoid follow-up requests and further dedication of corporate resources.
WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE OF INDIVIDUALS
- Represented a key employee of a Fortune 100 company in a high profile, federal grand jury investigation of GMP issues.
- Obtained a probationary sentence, with few travel restrictions, for an executive convicted of tax fraud related to failure to report income from international sales of industrial and military equipment. The Sentencing Guidelines range was 12-18 months.
- Defended a C-suite executive in a month-long federal trial concerning allegations of financial crimes and election fraud. The convictions in the case were ultimately reversed on appeal.
- Represented a former elected official in a federal investigation involving alleged bribery in return for political favors.
- Represented an executive of a Fortune 500 financial services company in a high-profile SEC investigation.
- Represented a DOJ employee in a congressional investigation regarding alleged leaks of confidential information concerningnational security.
- Represented an executive of a military contractor in a federal investigation regarding alleged bribery in obtaining government contracts.
- Represented the general counsel of a financial services company in matters related to syndication of conservation easements.
- Represented a senior government employee in connection with a grand jury investigation of an elected government official.
- Obtained the dismissal of a federal indictment charging international parental kidnapping. This enabled the client to avoid charges, travel internationally, and maintain custody of children without any public disclosure of the criminal charges.
- Served as an expert witness on behalf of an Am Law 100 firm regarding claims of attorney misconduct in a federal criminal prosecution. The claims were ultimately rejected and the attorney was vindicated.
- Represented a prominent federal employee in an OIG investigation into alleged financial improprieties. The investigation was closed with no enforcement action.
- Represented a defendant charged in a SIM-swapping conspiracy involving alleged losses over $100 million.
- Convinced authorities to decline charges against the owner of an athletic organization in an embezzlement investigation.
- Represented a board member and the president of an international sporting organization relating to an investigation and potential testimony in an international bribery prosecution.
- Convinced the IRS to abandon a grand jury investigation into alleged underpayment of taxes by founders of a nonprofit advocacy organization.
- Convinced the DOJ to terminate the investigation of an individual concerning alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This matter involved the sale of military and industrial equipment in a foreign country.
- Led the team defending a former company president in multiple civil and criminal matters regarding the alleged misappropriation of over $100 million. This case involved negotiations with multiple financial institutions to obtain payment of hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll and other expenses.
- Represented the lead corporate auditor of a Fortune 500 company in connection with a complex criminal prosecution.
- Represented a former executive of a Fortune 100 medical company in civil and potential criminal matters, including alleged perjury. The client was never charged or otherwise sanctioned.
- Represented a doctor at sentencing following a conviction for a $150 million scheme to dispense unnecessary opioids in one of the largest federal opioid prosecutions.
COMPLEX COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
- Represented a Fortune 100 company regarding the impact on its business of environmental hazards from an industrial site.
- Defended the former president of a publicly traded company against tort and contract claims brought by a previous employer. The case involved extensive discovery, including a three-day Rule 30(b)(6) deposition and hundreds of millions of dollars in claimed damages.
- Represented individuals and entities in disputes, litigation, and administrative proceedings regarding the financing, development, and operation of a $300 million casino complex.
- Defended a Berkshire Hathaway company in an employment discrimination trial in federal court, obtaining a complete jury verdict for the defense.
- Represented a prominent media company in a lawsuit alleging defamation.
- Represented an event promoter against claims of fraud by former business partners.
- Represented an advertiser asserting constitutional claims against a municipality for restrictions on its business.
- Advised a Fortune 25 petroleum producer in a regulatory proceeding concerning the allocation of proceeds from the Alaskan oil pipeline.
- Represented a national railroad in a multimillion-dollar contract dispute with a customer.
- Counseled a trade group in a dispute with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including a potential constitutional challenge to certain actions of the PTO.
PRO BONO
- Provided pro bono representation to African American farmers who alleged that the United States discriminated against them in the provision of farm loans. This class action was among the largest civil rights suits in American history and led to the recovery of over $1 billion.
Education
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
- Editor in Chief, Notre Dame Law Review
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., magna cum laude
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit