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John Hartigan
Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
John F. Hartigan is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.1 He advises clients on issues such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, broker-dealer, investment advisor and securities law, and SEC enforcement matters.123 He represents private equity funds, financial institutions, public and private companies, and government entities.1 Additionally, Hartigan represents boards of directors and special committees in complex business transactions, internal investigations, and government probes.1
Hartigan was honored with the Business Law Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Lawyers Association (CLA) in September 2023.2 The award recognized his reputation, outstanding practice, and contributions to the CLA and the legal community.2
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Hartigan worked for over eight years at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including as Assistant Director of the Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C.123
Throughout his career, Hartigan has been involved in several high-profile enforcement matters, including work with Drexel Burnham Lambert, where Morgan Lewis & Bockius was chosen by the Department of Justice and SEC to conduct a review of the company's internal controls.4 In the early 1990s, he began representing Apollo Advisors, advising them on policies, procedures, and transactions.4
Hartigan has held various leadership positions, including Managing Partner of Morgan Lewis' Los Angeles office, member of the firm's Governing and Advisory Boards, and Co-Chair of the firm's Securities Interdisciplinary Group.1 He is also active in professional organizations, having served as President of the Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni (ASECA) and General Counsel of the Bank Insurance & Securities Association.12 He has been Vice Chair and a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, and Chair of its Education Committee.12
Hartigan earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a case and notes editor and a member of the executive board of The Tax Lawyer.13 He also holds a degree in Finance with honors from the University of Illinois.1

