Zachary Fardon

• Represented Equifax in investigations by 47 state Attorneys General who formed a multi-state group to investigate the 2017 cybersecurity incident, which impacted approximately 145.5 million U.S. consumers, and in multiple related lawsuits brought by cities and states.
• Represented the Chairman of the CFTC, two CFTC Commissioners, the CFTC Chief of Enforcement, and other CFTC staff in successfully convincing the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss contempt proceedings against the CFTC individuals alleging improper public statements regarding the CFTC’s settlement with Kraft-Mondelez in a market manipulation case.
• Represented the Board of Trustees of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois in an internal investigation into potential misconduct by its Executive Director.
• Represented the Board Independent Directors of Interface Inc., the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of carpet tiles, in an independent investigation of #metoo allegations made by a whistleblower.
• Conducted an independent investigation for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office into allegations of improper outsourcing of legal services at the CCSAO.
• Represented a major state university in multiple sensitive matters, including #metoo allegations, COVID-19 return-to-campus issues, and investigations of improprieties in one of its sports programs.
• Represented major U.S. corporations in internal investigations, coordination with law enforcement investigations, and crisis response and communications in the wake of tragic workplace violence incidents.
• Representing a major financial services institution in responding to inquiries from various state Attorney General offices and other state regulators relating to a data breach.
• Representing multiple high-ranked corporate executives in federal criminal investigations and SEC, DOJ, and state AG investigations involving product recalls, financial improprieties, bribery, RICO allegations, FCPA violations, and Medicare fraud and kickbacks.

Zach Fardon leads King & Spalding’s Special Matters & Government Investigations practice group and is Managing Partner of the firm’s Chicago Office. A former U.S. Attorney with over 15 years in private practice, Zach represents companies and individuals nationwide in a broad array of sensitive defense and investigations matters. He has built a reputation as a careful, discreet problem solver and elite trial lawyer with extensive experience in bet-the-company civil and criminal matters. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is ranked Band One by Chambers.

Prior to rejoining King & Spalding in 2017, Zach served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, leading one of the top prosecutor’s offices in the country and overseeing prosecutions in areas of corporate misconduct, healthcare and securities fraud, public corruption, terrorism, and other criminal and civil matters. Zach served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and co-chaired the AGAC’s White Collar Crimes Subcommittee, working closely with the Department of Justice leadership, U.S. Attorneys across the country, and other enforcement officials. He co-chaired the Securities and Commodities Fraud Working Group, which includes the DOJ, FBI, SEC, CFTC, FINRA, and other agencies. Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Zach spent nearly a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and tried numerous high-profile cases including the corruption trial of former Illinois Governor George Ryan. During his years of public service, Zach received numerous national awards and distinctions.

At King & Spalding, Zach represents institutional and individual clients in governmental, internal, and independent Board-driven investigations, crisis management, and complex litigation. He has guided public and private companies, boards, major universities, and high-ranking executives to successful results in sensitive matters across industries and subject areas, including among others allegations regarding financial and accounting issues, misconduct by senior management, data breach and cyber threats, public corruption, foreign bribery, and workplace violence. 

Zach is a committed advocate for the greater Chicago community and, in particular, for finding long-term solutions to Chicago’s gun violence epidemic. He has served on the Boards of Directors of A Better Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services of Chicago, and the Legal Aid Society of Chicago, which he Chaired. He created and taught a seminar on Chicago's gun violence epidemic at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law. He currently serves on the Boards of Youth Guidance and Vanderbilt Law School.