Jesse Barrett

White Collar Defense and Investigations | Commercial Litigation

Jesse is a trial lawyer focusing 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 from multiple federal agencies for his service.

Jesse has served as an adjunct professor at the Notre Dame Law School, where he taught trial skills and criminal law. He has also coached high school mock trials; 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.

Prior to engaging in private practice, Jesse clerked for the Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

• “The ESG Movement and Business Regulation,” 2023 Federalist Society Tampa Bay Lawyers Chapter

• “The ESG Movement and Business Regulation,” 2023 Federalist Society Florida Lawyers Chapters Conference

• “White Collar Defense and Prosecution,” Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, August 2022, June 2022, February 2019

• “Criminal Justice Reform,” 2021 Federalist Society Kentucky Chapters Conference

• “Federal White Collar Prosecutions,” Notre Dame Law School, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

• “Practicing as an Assistant United States Attorney,” Notre Dame Law School, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009

• Note, Legislative History, the Neutral, Dispassionate Judge, and Legislative Supremacy: Preserving the Latter Ideals through the Former Tool, 73 Notre Dame L. Rev. 819 (1998)