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John Potter is a nationally renowned trial lawyer with a practice focused on civil litigation and white collar criminal defense.  Mr. Potter has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best lawyers in the United States by Chambers, USA, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, The Legal 500, The Expert's Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America.  Chambers, USA has described  Mr. Potter as “extraordinarily talented” and a "great strategic thinker” who is “famed as an outstanding trial lawyer."  Other profiles on Mr. Potter have called him an "A-List" defense counsel; the "best" in the business; and a "high powered trial lawyer."

Mr. Potter serves as the Co-Chair of the Firm's White Collar and Corporate Investigations Practice Group and was the past Chair of the American Bar Association's White Collar Committee for the Northern District of California.  Mr. Potter also currently serves as the National Co-Chair of the ABA's Criminal Antitrust Committee. A former federal prosecutor, Mr. Potter has conducted numerous internal investigations at the request of corporations, boards of directors, audit committees and special committees. 

Mr. Potter has defended corporations, directors and officers in a wide array of civil matters including shareholder derivative suits, securities litigation and false claims actions, as well as unfair competition, libel, breach of contract, and employment cases.  An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Potter has tried over 20 cases to verdict.  Mr. Potter taught trial advocacy to federal prosecutors as part of the Attorney General's Trial Institute Program.

Mr. Potter previously held a number of high ranking positions within the United States Attorney's Office where he received professional commendations from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Defense and the United States Customs Service.  The Attorney General of the United States personally presented Mr. Potter with a Director's Award for his successful prosecution of an United States Congressman.  Mr. Potter also received a Department of Justice commendation for the successful civil rights prosecution of the Los Angeles Police Officers involved in the Rodney King beating.

Mr. Potter is a frequent lecturer to professional groups including the American Bar Association, California Continuing Education of the Bar, California District Attorneys Association, and the Bar Association of San Francisco.

Selected by former Vice President Al Gore to represent the Special Committee of Apple, Inc. in an internal investigation into the alleged backdating of stock option grants received by Apple executives including Steve Jobs; subsequently represented the Apple Special Litigation Committee in related shareholder derivative lawsuits and class action litigation.

Defended Dr. Henry  T. Nicholas, the founder and former CEO of Broadcom Corporation, in a federal criminal prosecution; obtained dismissal of all charges.

In the Brocade litigation, obtained dismissal of Special Litigation Committee’s claims pending against the company's former President and CFO.

Successfully represented the directors and officers of Maxim Integrated Products in shareholder derivative actions.

Obtained dismissal of shareholder derivative action on behalf of directors and officers of Public Storage, Inc. and successfully defended the ruling on appeal, resulting in a published 9th Circuit opinion.

Successfully represented Sehat Sutardja, Co-founder and CEO of Marvell Technology Group, in class action and related shareholder derivative lawsuit.

Obtained dismissal of Section 16(b) Securities Exchange Act claim on behalf of CFO and successfully defended the ruling on appeal, resulting in a published 9th Circuit opinion.

Won arbitration award on behalf of public figure in slander and defamation action.

Won defense verdict after jury trial for billionaire client accused of wrongfully terminating employee in retaliation for testifying against him in grand jury proceedings.

Represented Kaiser Permanente in an internal investigation into fraud allegations.

Represented Johnson & Johnson in an off-label criminal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice, and related civil qui tam action.

Won defense verdict after bench trial for employer accused of wrongfully denying employee overtime pay.

Successfully represented Beverly Enterprises in false claims action.

Successfully represented the president of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in DOJ criminal investigation; no charges were filed.

Successfully represented Fortune 500 health care company in connection with the alleged submission of false 510(K) applications to FDA; no charges were filed.

Successfully represented a Fortune 100 energy company in connection with a Department of Justice investigation; no charges were filed.

Represented a Fortune 500 technology company in an internal investigation related to the misappropriation of trade secrets.

Successfully represented a technology company in a criminal antitrust investigation; no charges were filed.

Represented the president of a French bank in a criminal investigation related to the takeover of MGM/United Artist by Giancarlo Paretti.

Represented numerous companies, directors and officers in SEC proceedings throughout the United States.

Represented various companies in FCPA investigations.

Represented numerous executives in antitrust proceedings throughout the United States.

Represented elected officials in various government investigations.