John Sikora is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department. John represents companies and their officers and directors in SEC and FINRA enforcement investigations and examinations. John's clients include public companies, fund managers, investment advisers, and financial services firms. John also advises clients on securities-related compliance.

Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, he was an Assistant Director in the Chicago Regional Office and in the Asset Management Unit of the SEC’s Enforcement Division, a national specialized unit that focuses on misconduct by investment advisers, investment companies, and private funds.

During his 16 year tenure at the SEC, John was responsible for supervising all types of SEC enforcement activities, including investigations involving public company accounting fraud and other disclosure violations, misconduct by investment advisers, broker-dealers and auditors, and insider trading. Many of the investigations supervised by John resulted in parallel prosecutions by the Department of Justice.

John is a frequent speaker and panelist on securities law issues. John earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation in April 2012.

John's experience includes representation of:

Investment Advisers

  • A mutual fund sponsor in an SEC investigation focused on shareholder fees, distribution of fund shares and intermediary arrangements
  • Private fund managers in SEC investigations involving disclosures related to fees and conflicts and involving compliance with the “pay-to-play” rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
  • A private equity fund manager in an SEC investigation related to financing of portfolio company transactions
  • A multinational fund manager in an SEC investigation focused on principal and cross-trading
  • Major fixed income managers in SEC investigations related to trading in structured products
  • An investment adviser in an SEC investigation related to mutual fund share class selection
  • A major private company in an SEC investigation focused on trade allocation practices
  • A proprietary fund manager in SEC investigations related to portfolio investments

Broker-Dealers

  • Lead banker in SEC and DOJ parallel investigations related to underwriting of municipal securities where issuer allegedly engaged in financial fraud
  • Underwriters in the SEC’s Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation (MCDC) Initiative
  • Broker-dealer firms in FINRA and SEC investigations related to mutual fund share class selection
  • A broker-dealer in SEC and CFTC investigations related to possible insider trading and manipulation of credit default swaps
  • A broker-dealer and lead banker in a FINRA inquiry related to public finance investment banking practices
  • Broker-dealer in connection with FINRA investigation of firm’s dark pool alternative trading system
  • Broker-dealer in FINRA investigation concerning customer identification procedures

Public Companies

  • Public company in an SEC investigation concerning accounting and disclosures of loss contingencies
  • Former CEO of a public company in revenue recognition investigations by the SEC, DOJ, and the company’s audit committee
  • Public company in an SEC investigation of disclosure of regulatory approvals
  • Public company services provider in SEC investigation related to tax accounting
  • Public company in DOJ and SEC insider trading investigation
  • Board member in connection with internal investigation into alleged insider trading
  • Former officer in connection with SEC investigation into alleged insider trading

Internal Investigations

  • Public company audit committee investigation regarding trading program that led to substantial losses
  • Investigation of investment adviser’s marketing of private funds
  • Investigation of charges to portfolio companies by principal of private equity fund manager
  • Investigation of broker-dealer’s payment for order flow practices
  • Investigation of investment adviser’s mutual fund share class selection practices

Cryptocurrency

  • Represent token trading platform and issuers in SEC investigations

Select SEC Enforcement Cases

  • SEC v. Kwame Kilpatrick, et al.: Action alleging “pay to play” scheme involving the former Mayor and Treasurer of Detroit and a major investment adviser to Detroit public pension funds*
  • SEC v. Nikolai Battoo, et al.: Action alleging that international hedge fund manager purporting to manage US$1.5 billion in assets inflated valuations and performance track record to conceal impact of losses incurred during financial crisis of 2008*
  • In the Matter of Ambassador Capital Management, LLC, et al.: Action against investment adviser and portfolio manager alleging deception of the Board of Trustees of a money market mutual fund, and deviations from Rule 2a-7 exemptive provisions*
  • SEC v. Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors, LLC et al.: Action against registered investment adviser and its top officers alleging concealment of misappropriation from public pension fund client*
  • In the Matter of Paul W. Oliver, Jr. and Mary Beth Stevens: Actions against former Chairman and former CFO of investment adviser based on allegations of aiding and abetting misappropriation scheme*
  • In the Matter of Gerard M. Oprins, CPA and Wendy McNeeley, CPA: Rule 102(e) proceedings against former auditors of manager and its funds based on allegations of improper professional conduct*
  • SEC v. Joseph P. Micatrotto; SEC v. Greg Gadel, et al.: Actions alleging securities fraud by former CEO, CFO and Controller of Buca, Inc. in connection with undisclosed executive compensation and financial accounting fraud*In the Matter of Christopher A. Black: Action against former CFO of a public company in connection with violations of Regulation FD*

*Matter completed prior to joining the firm

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, Northwestern University School of Law, 1991
  • BA in History, Trinity University, 1988
    magna cum laude