Overview

Steven Block is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer who represents companies and individuals in complex civil litigation and criminal and regulatory matters. He also conducts sensitive internal investigations for corporations, boards of directors and government entities.

Mr. Block represents corporations and executives in investigations conducted by the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), offices of inspector general and other federal and state agencies. In addition to representing targets and subjects in criminal and regulatory investigations, Mr. Block has represented key witnesses during investigations and high profile trials in cases involving public corruption, financial crimes and securities fraud. He also conducts sensitive internal investigations on behalf of corporations, boards of directors and public agencies.

During his almost 10 years as an assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Block tried numerous cases to verdict, investigated and prosecuted hundreds of cases involving a wide range of criminal offenses, and briefed and argued nine cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He focused primarily on investigating and prosecuting complex financial crimes and public corruption cases, including bribery, embezzlement, racketeering, Bank Secrecy Act, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion, insider trading, and complex wire and mail fraud cases. Several of these matters involved parallel civil proceedings with the SEC and other regulatory enforcement agencies.

Mr. Block served as a deputy chief in the U.S. Attorney's Office, where he trained and supervised junior prosecutors, including approving charging decisions and developing trial strategy. He also taught courses on investigating and prosecuting financial crimes to prosecutors and investigators in Eastern Europe as part of the DOJ's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT).

Additionally, Mr. Block served as chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, where he supervised more than 70 prosecutors and investigators handling cases involving racketeering, public corruption, financial crimes, law enforcement misconduct and violent crimes such as murder. As chief, Mr. Block had ultimate responsibility for all charging decisions and plea agreements in cases within the bureau. Mr. Block is among the few white collar practitioners in Chicago who have had recent senior supervisory experience as both a federal and state prosecutor.

Mr. Block devotes substantial time to community service each month through his involvement on public boards. In 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed Mr. Block to the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, a state commission that investigates claims that torture was used to obtain confessions leading to criminal convictions and, where warranted, provides those claimants a means of relief. In 2022, Mr. Block was appointed by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot to serve on the Chicago Police Board, an independent civilian body that decides serious disciplinary cases involving Chicago police officers.

Representative Experience

  • Conducted an independent investigation for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at the request of the governor's office
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a well-known museum regarding alleged wrongdoing by a curator
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a publicly traded cannabis company regarding bribery allegations related to a construction project
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a logistics company related to a diesel spill
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a publicly traded company regarding alleged False Claims Act (FCA) violations
  • Conducted an internal investigation for the board of directors of a publicly traded biotech company regarding allegations of market manipulation
  • Conducted an internal investigation for an audit committee of a major reinsurance company regarding alleged accounting irregularities

  • Represented a publicly traded company in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation related to alleged anticompetitive activities
  • Represented a real estate company in response to numerous U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoenas
  • Represented a biotech company in an investigation by the SEC and DOJ regarding alleged market manipulation and insider trading
  • Represented a pet food company in a lawsuit to recover damages resulting from an international price-fixing conspiracy
  • Represented an Italian luxury clothing manufacturer and Canadian distributor in fraud and civil conspiracy suit brought by a U.S. distributor
  • Represented a national retailer in a federal lawsuit against a manufacturer alleging anticompetitive practices in pricing of goods

  • Represented a corporate executive in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal investigation into bid-rigging and price-fixing allegations
  • Represented executives of a broker-dealer under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for insider trading
  • Represented employees of a large government contractor in connection with the investigation of the company for False Claims Act (FCA) violations
  • Represented various individuals in connection with the U.S. Attorney’s Office public corruption investigations
  • Represented a professor under investigation by the NASA Office of Inspector General
  • Represented a scientist who was charged with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets
  • Represented a business owner charged with manufacturing counterfeit goods
  • Represented a financial advisor in connection with a U.S. Attorney’s Office and SEC fraud investigation
  • Represented a professor under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for FCA violations
  • Represented a former executive of a major financial institution in civil litigation before a federal banking agency
  • Successfully argued a case of first impression before the Illinois Supreme Court on behalf of a pro bono client regarding imposition of an extended-term prison sentence

  • Represented a publicly traded company in a federal jury trial involving alleged theft of trade secrets
  • Represented a publicly traded company in a federal jury trial involving alleged breach of asset purchase agreement
  • Represented a publicly traded grocery store chain in an arbitration alleging breach of non-compete agreement by a former chief executive

  • Led the investigation and prosecution of former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for illegally structuring financial transactions and obstructing justice
  • Investigated, prosecuted and tried a former police officer and 18 others in a racketeering, kidnapping, money laundering and narcotics conspiracy case
  • Led the bribery investigation and prosecution of an executive of a city contractor involved in the privatization of a city's parking meter program
  • Investigated and prosecuted a city official for a wire fraud scheme involving theft of public funds and tax evasion
  • Secured convictions of seven defendants paying or accepting bribes to steer public works contracts for more than a decade
  • Secured the conviction of a city official for embezzling public funds and tax fraud
  • Investigated and prosecuted the owner of Chicago Public Schools' largest school bus contractor for a tax evasion scheme
  • Led the prosecution of eight defendants convicted of bank fraud, perjury and other charges arising from a massive identity theft scheme
  • Supervised prosecution of first trial in Cook County, Illinois, involving charges brought under state racketeering law

Credentials

Education
  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D.
  • Northwestern University, B.S., Speech and Political Science
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • Illinois Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
  • Chicago Police Board, 2021-Present
  • Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission (TIRC), Commissioner, 2021-Present
  • Hands Off Cain, Board Member, 2005-2007
  • United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Delegate, 2003
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2025
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2023, 2024
  • Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law, Crain's Chicago Business, 2021
  • Notable Rising Stars in Law, Crain's Chicago Business, 2021
  • Special Recognition Award, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 2016
  • Maurice Weigel Exceptional Young Lawyer Award, Chicago Bar Foundation, 2005
  • Dean's List, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
  • Dean's List, Northwestern University

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News