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  1. Professionals

Jack Knight

Partner

Chair, Financial Services Litigation Practice

Charlotte

+1 704-350-7708

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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights & News

Jack is nationally recognized as a leading white collar defense attorney and represents corporations and individuals in high–stakes investigations. He is listed in Band 1 of the white collar law category in Chambers USA, is routinely recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, has been named to the North Carolina Super Lawyers list for many years, and was named to NC Business Magazine’s 2017 Lawyers of the Year. He was also named as the High Stakes Investigations Lawyer of the Year in North Carolina for 2024.

Jack focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, grand jury investigations, and financial services matters. As part of his practice, he regularly represents Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and individuals in complex white collar criminal defense and securities enforcement matters. He routinely handles high-profile white collar matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, State Attorneys General, Internal Revenue Service, and other federal and state enforcement agencies. Jack currently chairs Winston & Strawn’s Financial Services Litigation Practice.

From 2000 to 2005, Jack worked for the DOJ as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of North Carolina, where he handled all types of white collar prosecutions, including complex financial services cases. Jack is a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference and has tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal court.

Jack has conducted numerous high-profile trials, and as a prosecutor, Jack served on the prosecution team that tried the nationally televised trial of NFL player and then Carolina Panther, Rae Carruth.

Key Matters

  • Represented a large financial institution in a high-profile investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and National Futures Association related to the foreign exchange market. Conducted a wide ranging internal investigation and responded to parallel criminal and civil investigations by the DOJ and numerous other regulatory entities. The matter received significant media coverage.
  • Conducted numerous large-scale internal investigations for many different types of corporations, some of which involved whistleblower accusations. The internal investigations dealt with issues such as home lending, foreign exchange, cryptocurrency companies, tax issues, employee collusion and many others.
  • Successfully represented senior corporate executives in a high-profile securities investigation related to the manipulation of corporate earnings conducted by the SEC and DOJ, which resulted in no charges being filed against the executives.
  • Represented a large financial institution in relation to a DOJ and Internal Revenue Service investigation involving tax credits. After an extensive investigation that lasted several years, no charges were filed.
  • Represented a commodities trader in large scale DOJ investigation. After several preliminary hearings, the investigation resulted in no charges being filed.
  • Defended the general counsel of a national mortgage company investigated by the DOJ and State Attorneys General. No charges were ever filed.
  • Conducted a large internal investigation of a national financial institution regarding whistleblower allegations of accounting fraud.
  • Routinely represented national financial institutions in False Claims Act qui tam.
  • Conducted an internal investigation and defended a major power and electric company during a federal environmental grand jury investigation which resulted in no charges against the company or its employees.
  • Defended an individual in one of the largest antitrust cases ever brought by the Antitrust Division of DOJ.
  • Represented numerous individuals in DOJ health care fraud matters.
  • Defended one of the country’s largest construction firms during a federal investigation related to allegations of political kickbacks and fraud. No charges were brought against the company or any individuals.
  • Represented the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives during a public corruption investigation.
  • Defended corporations and individuals in investigations conducted by the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Jack has been listed for ten years in Band 1 of Chambers USA as a leader in the field of white collar law. The publication describes him as a “sharp lawyer” who is “extremely knowledgeable and accessible” and a “go-to guy.” Jack is listed in U.S. News and World Report and Corporate Counsel magazine. He was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation, where he has been recognized since 2010 for Criminal Defense: White Collar, and since 2018 for Litigation: Banking and Finance. He was recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide for White Collar, Criminal Defense, and Investigations from 2023–2024, and Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Global Litigators” guide for International Litigation & Arbitration (esp. Banking & Finance) in 2024. Jack was also named to the North Carolina Super Lawyers list for many years and named to NC Business Magazine’s 2017 Lawyers of the Year. In 2018, he was inducted into the North Carolina Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Society. Jack has also been recognized in Legal 500 US from 2022–2024.

Jack’s pro bono work is an important part of his practice. He helped start a pro bono legal aid clinic at the Charlotte homeless shelter and he regularly provides free legal services for homeless shelter residents. For this work, he was inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society. He is the past president of the Mecklenburg County Bar Criminal Justice Section and was also selected to be a member of the Local Rules Committee of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

Additionally, he has been an instructor at the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center, which is used to train Assistant United States Attorneys.

Capabilities

Government Investigations, Enforcement & Compliance
Compliance Programs
Government Program Fraud, False Claims Act & Qui Tam Litigation
Antitrust/Competition
Public Companies
Crisis Management
Financial Services
Financial Crimes Compliance

Key Matters

  • Represented a large financial institution in a high-profile investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and National Futures Association related to the foreign exchange market. Conducted a wide ranging internal investigation and responded to parallel criminal and civil investigations by the DOJ and numerous other regulatory entities. The matter received significant media coverage.
  • Conducted numerous large-scale internal investigations for many different types of corporations, some of which involved whistleblower accusations. The internal investigations dealt with issues such as home lending, foreign exchange, cryptocurrency companies, tax issues, employee collusion and many others.
  • Successfully represented senior corporate executives in a high-profile securities investigation related to the manipulation of corporate earnings conducted by the SEC and DOJ, which resulted in no charges being filed against the executives.
  • Represented a large financial institution in relation to a DOJ and Internal Revenue Service investigation involving tax credits. After an extensive investigation that lasted several years, no charges were filed.
  • Represented a commodities trader in large scale DOJ investigation. After several preliminary hearings, the investigation resulted in no charges being filed.
  • Defended the general counsel of a national mortgage company investigated by the DOJ and State Attorneys General. No charges were ever filed.
  • Conducted a large internal investigation of a national financial institution regarding whistleblower allegations of accounting fraud.
  • Routinely represented national financial institutions in False Claims Act qui tam.
  • Conducted an internal investigation and defended a major power and electric company during a federal environmental grand jury investigation which resulted in no charges against the company or its employees.
  • Defended an individual in one of the largest antitrust cases ever brought by the Antitrust Division of DOJ.
  • Represented numerous individuals in DOJ health care fraud matters.
  • Defended one of the country’s largest construction firms during a federal investigation related to allegations of political kickbacks and fraud. No charges were brought against the company or any individuals.
  • Represented the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives during a public corruption investigation.
  • Defended corporations and individuals in investigations conducted by the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Credentials

Education

Jack received a J.D., cum laude, from The Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C. in 1994. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2000–2004. He received a B.A. in political science in 1990 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Jody Akers Scholar. 

    Admissions
    • North Carolina

    Related Insights & News

    Jack frequently writes and speaks about the legal issues affecting his practice.

    Recent Publications
    • “Come See Us Before We Come See You – DOJ Announces New Whistleblower Program Intensifying Corporate Enforcement Efforts,” Investigations, Enforcement, & Compliance Alerts, Co-author, March 14, 2024
    • “Tips to Follow DOJ Guidance and Survive Corporate Investigations,” Bloomberg Law, Co-author, Jan. 6, 2023
    • “How to Navigate DOJ’s Update on Corporate Criminal Enforcement,” Bloomberg Law, Co-author, Oct. 26, 2022
    • “Do More and Move Faster – The DOJ Announces Significant Policy Changes to Prioritize Corporate Criminal Prosecutions,” Investigations, Enforcement, & Compliance Alerts, Co-author, Sept. 20, 2022
    • “The Department of Justice Takes a More Aggressive Approach to the Investigation and Prosecution of Companies,” Co-author, Dec. 15, 2021
    • “DOJ Announces Major Changes in Corporate Enforcement Policies,” Co-author, Oct. 28, 2021
    Recent Speaking Engagements
    • Guest Lecturer, the University of North Carolina School of Law, white collar law and internal investigations, spring semester 2025   

    • “What Will an ‘Overhauled DOJ’ look like under the Trump Administration?” Financial Services Symposium, Charlotte, NC, Jan. 30, 2025
    • “Government Investigations: How to Respond and Manage Efficiently” Mecklenburg County Bar White Collar Section, Presenter, Jun. 1, 2023
    • “Financial Services Regulatory and Enforcement Outlook for 2023,” Presenter, Jan. 26, 2023
    • “Should Companies be Concerned about the New Guidance from the DOJ for Prosecuting Corporate Crime?” Presentation to the Association of Corporate Counsel, Presenter, Feb. 15, 2022 
    • “The Biden Administration Turns One - Should Companies Be Concerned about the New Guidance from the DOJ for Prosecuting Corporate Crime?” Presenter, Jan. 26, 2022
    • “What to expect from the Department of Justice During the first 100 days for the Biden Administration,” Podcast Presenter, Nov. 16, 2021
    Blog
    Rebalancing the Sticks and the Carrots? A New DOJ White-Collar Enforcement Plan

    May 20, 2025

    Seminar/CLE
    Winston Hosts 2025 Financial Services Symposium in Charlotte

    January 30, 2025

    Webinar
    How Will the U.S. Election Results Impact Your Financial Services Businesses and Clients?

    November 15, 2024

    Recognitions
    Winston Attorneys Featured on the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America List

    September 6, 2024

    Recognitions

    Winston Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025

    August 15, 2024

    Recognitions
    Winston Lawyers Featured on the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators List

    July 25, 2024

    Recognitions
    Winston & Strawn Recognized in The Legal 500 U.S. 2024

    June 12, 2024

    Recognitions
    Winston & Strawn Recognized in Chambers USA 2024

    June 6, 2024

    Blog
    Come See Us Before We Come See You – DOJ Announces New Whistleblower Program Intensifying Corporate Enforcement Efforts

    March 14, 2024

    Seminar/CLE
    Winston Hosts 2024 Financial Services Symposium in Charlotte

    January 24, 2024

    Recognitions
    Winston & Strawn Partners Recognized in 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

    September 8, 2023

    Recognitions
    Winston Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024

    August 17, 2023

    View All Insights & News

    Capabilities

    Government Investigations, Enforcement & Compliance
    Compliance Programs
    Government Program Fraud, False Claims Act & Qui Tam Litigation
    Antitrust/Competition
    Public Companies
    Crisis Management
    Financial Services
    Financial Crimes Compliance
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