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 court and administrative cases and argued dispositive motions in forums across the country. In addition to extensive practice in state and federal court in Illinois, Jack has litigated cases in Texas, California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Michigan, among others.

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. Such experience involves dealership terminations, establishment and relocation disputes, disputes over incentive programs and enforcement of manufacturer standards, as well as dealer network creation, discontinuation, and realignment. Jack’s experience includes handling administrative matters in Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and other places.

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 the Winnetka Caucus Council for three years, a non-profit community organization devoted to citizen participation in local government. He currently volunteers for the local Scouting troop.

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
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan

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

  • Lecturer
    The University of Chicago Law School, Spring Quarter 2025 (forthcoming): Professional Responsibility: Representing Business Organizations
  • Guest Lecturer | March 2024
    Columbia Law School: Litigation, Economics and Statistics (with Professor Justin McCrary), New York, NY, 
  • CLE Presenter | October 2023
    “More Than Just the Fifth Wheel of the Law: Professional Responsibility for In-House Counsel,” given to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association’s legal seminar, Chicago, IL
  • Panelist | September 2022
    “Over-the-Air Updates and Franchise Legislation,” National Association of Motor Vehicle Boards and Commissions annual conference, Nashville, TN
  • September 18-20, 2019
    NAMVBC 2019 Fall Workshop
  • September 19-22, 2018
    NAMVBC 2018 Fall Workshop
  • Panelist | September 2018
    “Stuck in the Middle – Dealer vs Dealer (vs Manufacturer),” National Association of Motor Vehicle Boards and Commissions annual conference, New Orleans, LA
  • Panelist | July 2018
    “Legal Insights Around Autonomous and Connected Vehicles Overview,” TAGLaw Midwest and Southeast Regional Meeting, Columbus, OH
  • Instructor on Civil Procedure | December 2017 & 2020
    Circuit Court Boot Camp for New Illinois Attorneys, Pincus Professional Education

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 Stars 2025

Organizations

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