Jonathan Bach

Practice Areas

Jonathan Bach is one of the nation’s leading trial lawyers. Over the past 30 years, he has handled numerous high profile criminal and civil trials in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has successfully represented prominent Wall Street professionals, public officials, entertainment figures, as well as a range of public, private, and non-profit entities. A past President of the New York Council of Defense Lawyers, his practice focuses on white collar criminal defense and complex business litigation, including high-stakes trade secrets and other bet-the-company disputes.

A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and ranked among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America, Jonathan has long been recognized in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers, Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, and New York SuperLawyers. He has represented both domestic and foreign clients in regulatory investigations, grand jury investigations, corporate internal investigations, arbitrations, and numerous contested litigations.

In his criminal defense practice, Jonathan has obtained numerous trial acquittals and helped many individuals and entities avoid charges altogether. He has also authored amicus briefs for the United States Supreme Court and testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

In his civil practice, Jonathan has successfully represented defendants in many trial and arbitration proceedings. He has led litigations concerning securities and financial fraud, civil rights violations and discrimination, trade secret misappropriation, and various business torts and contract disputes, as well as international, cross-border, and Section 1782 matters.

Early in his career, Jonathan served in the Federal Public Defenders Office in the Southern District of New York, where the majority of his trials resulted in acquittal or hung juries. Later, in his pro bono practice, he obtained the acquittal of defendant David Lemus in a high profile murder trial that has been the subject of extensive media coverage and two television documentaries following numerous law enforcement investigations. The New York Times called the case “one of the more notorious and vexing trials of the last 20 years in New York.” As part of the defense, Jonathan succeeded not only in clearing his own client, but in identifying and obtaining a witness-stand confession from the actual murderer.

Before joining Shapiro Arato Bach, Jonathan was the Partner-in-Charge of the New York office of a major international law firm.

Professional Memberships

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers.

Past President, New York Council of Defense Lawyers.

Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Federal Defenders of New York.

Testified before Senate Judiciary Committee in April 2015 to address aspects of the asset forfeiture laws and their effect on the criminal justice system.

Author of amicus brief concerning Fifth Amendment rights and criminal forfeiture quoted and discussed by the United States Supreme Court in Kaley v. United States, 134 S. Ct. 1090 (2014).

Author of amicus brief in United States v. Fazio, 770 F.3d 160 (2d Cir. 2014), concerning the ability of district courts to excuse sitting jurors before a trial has been completed.

Co-author of amicus brief in United States v. Hoskins, 902 F.3d 69 (2d Cir. 2018), in which the Second Circuit held, in a matter of first impression, that there is no aiding and abetting or conspiracy liability under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Author, “Insider Trading Case Raises Concerns About Judicial Assignment,” New York Law Journal, Sept. 30, 2013.

Panel Presentation on recent developments in conspiracy law for National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Panel Presentation, “Trials in the 21st Century:Legal and Practical Issues Presented by the Electronic Age,” concerning the use of social media and electronic devices in the jury selection process.

Author, “SDNY Takes New Tone In Judicial Assignment In Insider Trading Case,” New York Law Journal, June 16, 2017.