Jack Bray is a senior member of the Washington trial bar. He has tried cases in federal district courts for over 50 years. His varied civil and criminal trial practice has included defense procurement, insurance coverage, antitrust, federal tax, environmental, and a great variety of breach of contract cases.
Mr. Bray’s work was featured in the recent book, Rats in the Grain by James B. Lieber, about his defense of Archer Daniels Midland’s Vice Chairman, Michael D. Andreas, in a two-month price-fixing trial. Among the author’s comments:
- Mr. Bray is “one of the capital’s most accomplished litigators” and “equally at home in criminal or civil cases.”
- “With his well-tailored suits, gun metal gray hair, and sonorous voice, he seemed the image of a trial lawyer.”
- “He was extremely good at explaining complicated economic and financial matters in court.”
- “In court, he seemed unflappable, courteous, well-spoken, and ready for anything. Jurors would see him as the calm point in a storm and would rely on him for the truth.”
Mr. Bray’s closing argument was especially noted by the author: “It had been a stunningly good closing that played upon themes of displeasure with the government, foreign competition and snitches. It hit the evidentiary holes. The language was strong but not strident. It had been smoothly but not slickly presented.”
He has tried cases across the United States, in federal courts in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Omaha, Chicago, Mobile, Tampa, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Denver, and many other cities.
He began his career as a trial attorney under the Attorney General’s Honors Program, and went into private law practice in 1968. He joined King & Spalding in Washington, D.C., as a partner in 1997. He graduated with honors from the Saint Louis University School of Law where he ranked first in his class and was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. From 1980 to 1993 and from 1995 to 2007 he was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.
