Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Litigation Practice with the addition of T. Markus Funk as a partner in Chicago.
"Growth in our Chicago office is a strategic priority," said White & Case Chair Heather McDevitt. "Markus's arrival reflects the Firm's commitment to this important market, while also adding continued strength to our US litigation capabilities."
Funk is a former Chicago federal prosecutor who represents companies, boards, audit committees, executives and others in complex litigation matters, as well as in anticorruption, investigations, enforcement and regulatory proceedings. He has successfully tried dozens of federal and state jury trials, directed more than 500 investigations, and acted as lead counsel in more than 700 in-court evidentiary hearings and other contested proceedings. His recent successful representations range across product liability, contract, counterfeiting, commodities fraud, defamation, intellectual property, insider trading and False Claims Act matters.
From 2000 to 2010, Funk served as an Assistant US Attorney in Chicago. In 2007, he received the Attorney General's Award for his work prosecuting Operation Family Secrets, a landmark investigation into organized crime activity that National Public Radio labeled one of the "most important criminal investigations in American history," and the FBI called the "nation's most extensive" mob-murder case. The charged crimes formed the basis of the 1995 movie "Casino." He also served as the DOJ's conflict-deployed Section Chief in Kosovo, helping oversee US efforts to restructure and modernize Kosovo's legal system.
"Markus is a highly regarded first-chair litigator, and his extensive government and private practice experience will add immediate depth to our team in Chicago," said White & Case Co-Head of Global Litigation David Hille. "As we continue to represent top market participants in their most high-stakes matters, his exceptional track record will further enhance our trial-ready practice."
Funk added: "I've been opposite White & Case lawyers many times and have developed a tremendous respect for its Litigation Practice and white collar capabilities. I'm excited to join a go-to firm for clients who face high-stakes commercial litigation and investigatory challenges, and to plug into its highly integrated, globally-connected team."
Funk has written a dozen law-related books and was the first attorney to receive both the DOJ's highest trial performance award and the State Department's highest general service award. He joins White & Case from another leading law firm, where he was previously global chair of its white collar and investigations practice for four years, and served in various other leadership roles. He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford, where he also served as a lecturer in law.
Funk's arrival builds on recent additions to White & Case's disputes capabilities, including Global Co-Head of Litigation Jonathan Polkes and Litigation partners Stacy Nettleton and Adam Banks, all of whom joined the Firm's New York office in March; White Collar partner Xavier Hubert, who joined the Paris office in March; and White Collar partner Brent Wible, who joined the Washington, DC office in January.
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