John A. Bourgeois is a versatile trial lawyer with extensive jury-trial experience in civil and criminal cases. John has tried multi-week civil and criminal cases to verdict in state and federal courts, represented clients in commercial arbitrations, and argued numerous appeals. In addition to handling high-stakes commercial litigation, John represents clients in business disputes, administrative and licensing proceedings, and intellectual property, personal injury, and civil rights litigation. He also represents lawyers in malpractice and professional-responsibility proceedings.
As a leader of the firm's Criminal Defense practice, John is commended for his exceptional client service and outstanding advocacy. He has a "strong trial practice" and "remains a go-to litigator for wide-ranging commercial disputes and criminal defense proceedings," according to Chambers USA. In addition to the Chambers guide, John is recognized as a leading lawyer by Benchmark Litigation, and The Best Lawyers in America. John has been selected as one of Lawdragon's 500 Leading Litigators in America every year since 2022.
John is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and served as Chair of the College's Maryland State Committee from 2022 to 2024.
Before becoming an attorney, John worked as a human-rights officer and assistant director of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial in Washington, D.C.
John is an ‘outstanding trial lawyer' recognized for his 'strong courtroom presence' and delivery of 'concise arguments to the judge and opposing counsel. His broad caseload is reflective of his impressively broad-based practice.'
- CHAMBERS USA
Recognized in Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Maryland, since 2007
Recognized in Benchmark Litigation, "Local Litigation Star," Commercial Litigation, Professional Liability, Criminal, since 2015
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, since 2019
Selected for Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, since inaugural edition 2022
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
American Association for Justice
American Bar Association
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow; Maryland State Committee Chair
Baltimore County Bar Association
Bar Association of Baltimore City
District of Columbia Bar Association
Maryland State Bar Association
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Co-presenter, "Arbitrating B2B Disputes: Maximizing Your Results," ACC-Baltimore Chapter, 2018
Co-presenter, "The Yates Memo: What Corporate Counsel Needs to Know," ACC-Baltimore Chapter, 2016
Co-author, "Maryland Court of Special Appeals Affirms Trial Court's Decision that the Improper and Untimely Designation of Experts Results in Summary Judgment," The Defense Line, November, 2020
Co-author, "What to Do When the Feds Come Knocking," Association of Corporate Counsel - Baltimore, 2016