Atty. John J. Bartko

Atty. John J. Bartko

John Bartko is a Founder and a Principal of the firm. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters.

Call (415) 956-1900 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About John J. Bartko at a glance

John J. Bartko is a criminal defense, business, white collar, and litigation attorney based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Bartko Pavia Llp. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California 1/11/1966. Educated at University of California Berkeley (J.D., 1965) and University of California Los Angeles (BA (Political Science), 1962). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • John Bartko is a Founder and a Principal of the firm
  • He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters
  • He has represented many executives ensnared in complex regulatory investigations and has been involved in significant international discovery and complex investigations requiring foreign court appearances, including conducting examinations in Switzerland and Japan through pioneering requests for civil judicial assistance
  • He has traveled to Europe, Asia and South Africa to obtain evidence for American civil and criminal proceedings and has represented foreign officials in U.S. legal matters
  • He has broad experience in representing various parties in complex financial fraud and environmental law cases
  • One of his trials was nationally televised on Court TV

Practice Areas Explained

John J. Bartko's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John J. Bartko handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Criminal Defense

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.

John J. Bartko is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in California →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

John J. Bartko is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →

White Collar Crimes

John J. Bartko is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in California →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

John J. Bartko is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Francisco are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Francisco or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about John J. Bartko

Where is John J. Bartko's law office located?
John J. Bartko's law practice is located in San Francisco, California. The firm is Bartko Pavia Llp. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does John J. Bartko handle?
John J. Bartko focuses on criminal defense, business, white collar, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
Where did John J. Bartko go to law school?
John J. Bartko earned their education at (J.D., 1965); (BA (Political Science), 1962).
How can I contact John J. Bartko for a consultation?
You can contact John J. Bartko directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has John J. Bartko received?
John J. Bartko's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Antitrust Law; Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice.

Education

J.D.
University of California Berkeley
- 1965
BA (Political Science)
University of California Los Angeles
- 1962

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Antitrust Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Copyright Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Malpractice Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities / Capital Markets Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Tax Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trademark Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Antitrust Trials and Investigations
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Class Action Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Complex Business Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Financial Institution Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Labor and Employment Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Malpractice Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Shareholder & Securities Disputes
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — White Collar Criminal Defense
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026

Bar Admissions

California, The State Bar of California 1/11/1966

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.