Chicago, IL – August 25, 2026 – Winston Taylor announced today that John D. Mitchell, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and Senior Attorney in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, has joined as a partner in the firm’s Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice in Chicago. An accomplished trial and regulatory lawyer, John brings more than a decade of government and private practice experience to the firm’s transatlantic litigation and government investigations platform.
Drawing on more than two decades of legal practice, including 13 years in government service, John brings a practical, high-stakes perspective to white collar defense matters, SEC and CFTC enforcement actions, securities litigation, and complex commercial disputes. He represents companies and individuals across the financial services, healthcare, government contracting, and cryptocurrency sectors in government and internal investigations, as well as in civil and criminal matters in federal courts across the country.
During his time as AUSA in the DOJ’s Securities & Commodities Fraud Section, John led prosecutors and FBI agents in criminal investigations as well as served as trial counsel on behalf of the United States in complex, high-profile jury trials involving insider trading, securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering, and other federal criminal violations. While at the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, John led complex investigations of suspected violations of the federal securities laws, including investigations of suspected fraud and misconduct by domestic and international investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks, and other financial institutions. In private practice, John has leveraged his experience as a federal prosecutor and an SEC Senior Attorney to secure remarkable results for individuals and entities facing their most challenging investigations and litigations.
“Winston Taylor has a strong reputation for handling sophisticated litigation and transactional matters, supported by a depth of capabilities and now geographical reach,” said John. “That combination is increasingly important for clients as regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, and related business risks become more complex, dynamic, and cross-border in nature. I look forward to continuing to help clients navigate matters with significant operational, financial, and reputational implications on this new platform.”
“John brings a deep understanding of the evolving domestic and global regulatory environments and has a proven ability to defend companies and individuals facing enforcement and litigation challenges,” said Litigation Department Co-Chair Linda Coberly.
“The duality of John’s government and private practice experience aligns exceptionally well with our firm’s regulatory, compliance, FCPA, and international trade capabilities,” said Litigation Department Co-Chair Brett Johnson.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to our Chicago office. Not only does he bring global white collar and investigations experience, but he also has a deep understanding of the regional landscape,” said Bill O’Neil, managing partner of the Chicago office. “In recent months, we’ve welcomed former AUSA Ashley Chung and transactional partners Lee Discher, David Love, and Patrick Valenti to our office. John’s arrival further enhances our delivery of comprehensive, strategic counsel, and trial advocacy to our clients in Chicago and globally.”