T. Markus Funk

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T. Markus Funk
EducationPh.D. University of Oxford[1]
J.D. Northwestern Law School
University of Illinois
Occupation(s)Attorney[2]
Author
Law Professor
EmployerPerkins Coie[3]
Known forFormer Assistant United States Attorney and part of Operation Family Secrets prosecution team.[4]

T. Markus Funk is an American attorney, law professor, and author known for the prosecution of several high-profile mob figures during his career at the United States Department of Justice,[1] his role in co-leading the internal investigation into former Ohio State University team physician Dr. Richard Strauss,[5] and trial victory on behalf of the Costa Rican citrus industry.[6] He is currently a partner in the law firm of Perkins Coie,[7] where he served as the Firmwide Chair of the firm's global White Collar & Investigations Practice.[8]

Education and early career[edit]

Funk was raised in Germany before attending school in Illinois.[2] He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois in 1992[9] and in 2023 received the University's alumni award.[10] He went to Northwestern School of Law where he earned his J.D., graduating in 1995. He later received a Ph.D. (“DPhil”) in law from the University of Oxford.[11]

Prior to his career at the Department of Justice, Funk taught law at the University of Oxford.[1] He also served as a law clerk for Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Morris S. Arnold as well as U.S District Court Judge Catherine D. Perry.[9]

U.S. Department of State[edit]

Between 2004 and 2006, Funk worked for the U.S. Department of State as the Section Chief in Kosovo following the Kosovo War.[12] He represented the U.S. at diplomatic negotiations and headed the restructuring of Kosovo's justice system after the war.[12] He was given the Superior Honor Award by the Department in recognition of his service in Kosovo and also authored the Kosovo Trial Skills Handbook[13] which was published by the United States Department of Justice in 2006 and at the time was the Kosovo Supreme Court's most cited-to authority.

U.S. Department of Justice[edit]

Funk worked for the United States Department of Justice under U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald for 10 years.[2] During his time with the DOJ, he prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including those of mobsters,[9] white collar criminals, Roman Catholic priests and deacons, and company CEOs.[14][15][16]

Sketch of T. Markus Funk (left) and Frank Calabrese Sr. (right) during the Family Secrets Trial.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, Funk also prosecuted Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, Frank Calabrese, Sr. and other high-ranking mobsters as part of Operation Family Secrets, an FBI investigation into 18 homicides and various other crimes committed by the Chicago Outfit between the 1960s and 2000s. The investigation was considered one of the most extensive racketeering cases of its kind[17] and was labeled as one of the most important criminal investigations in American history by National Public Radio[18] (the 1995 movie “Casino” was based on the charged criminal activities[19]). During closing arguments of the trial, Calabrese told Funk, "You're a fucking dead man."[20] Calabrese and all of his thirteen co-defendants were convicted.[2]

Funk also prosecuted former U.S. Marshal John T Ambrose for leaking information to mob figures about the location of a protected witness. It was the first case of its type involving a U.S Marshal violating the security of the Witness Protection Program.[19] Ambrose was assigned to guard Nicholas Calabrese, the first "made" member to ever testify against the Chicago outfit.[21] Ambrose was charged and later convicted with leaking information about Calabrese to other mob figures.

Funk also prosecuted mobsters Joseph Scalise, Arthur Rachel and Robert Pullia for their involvement in a conspiracy to rob cash from the First National Bank of La Grange in 2010.[22] The three men, already famous for their 1980 involvement in the theft of the 45-carat Marlborough diamond from Graff's jewelry store, had planned to rob an armored vehicle at the bank and had stolen vehicles and stashed guns to use in the robbery.[23] All three were convicted.[24]

At the time of his departure from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Chicago Sun-Times described Markus as a "street-smart prosecutor with an Oxford pedigree.[25]"

Private practice[edit]

Funk left the Department of Justice in 2010 to become a partner at the law firm of Perkins Coie.[7] He specializes in internal investigations, complex commercial litigation, and white collar criminal defense,[26] and in 2011 co-founded the firm's corporate social responsibility and supply chain compliance practice.[27] He served as the Firmwide Chair of the Firm's White Collar & Investigations Practice from 2015-2021.[28] He also co-led the internal investigation into former Ohio State University team physician Dr. Richard Strauss,[5] and along with his team achieved trial victory on behalf of the Costa Rican citrus industry.[6]

Teaching and writing career[edit]

In addition to teaching at the University of Oxford, Funk has taught law at the University of Chicago Law School, Northwestern School of Law, Loyola,[2] University of Denver School of Law, and the University of Arkansas Little Rock. He currently co-teaches a class on bribery and forced labor in company supply chains at the University of Colorado School of Law.[29]

Throughout his career, Funk has authored over 100 scholarly articles, updates, and book chapters and has written nine books.[30]

Bibliography[edit]

  • 2021, Rethinking Self-Defence: The 'Ancient Right's' Rationale Disentangled[FTM(1] , Bloomsbury/Hart Publishing[31]
  • 2019, From Baksheesh to Bribery: Understanding the Global Right Against Corruption and Graft, Oxford University Press [32]
  • 2016, The ABA Compliance Officer Deskbook, The American Bar Association [33]
  • 2014, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties and Letters Rogatory: A Guide for Judges, Federal Judicial Center [34]
  • 2012, Child Exploitation and Trafficking: Examining the Global Challenges and U.S. Responses, Rowman & Littlefield,[35] (Second Updated and Expanded Edition, 2016)[36]
  • 2012, The Haiti Trial Skills Manual, American Bar Association[37]
  • 2010, The Darfur Trial Skills Manual, American Bar Association[38]
  • 2010, Victims' Rights and Advocacy at the International Criminal Court, Oxford University Press,[39] (Second Updated and Expanded Edition, 2015)[40]
  • 2006, The Kosovo Trial Skills Handbook, United States Department of Justice[12][13]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Funk has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition throughout his career. A Fellow of the American Law Institute, he was given the Attorney General's Award (John Marshall Award) for his work on Operation Family Secret[12] and the 2018 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing.[41] He is the only person to have received both the Department of Justice's Attorney General's Award and the U.S. Department of State's Superior Honor Award. In 2013, he was named Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado, and in 2012 he was named Colorado's top Corporate/Compliance Lawyer.[9] In 2014, the ABA awarded Funk the Frank Carrington Crime Victim Award (given to the person or organization who has done the most for victims of crime),[42] and in 2023 he received the University of Illinois Distinguished Alumnus award and was inducted into the Bloomington High School Hall of Fame.[43]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c T. Markus Funk (4 May 2010). T. Markus Funk on The International Criminal Court (Television Program). Reason.tv.
  2. ^ a b c d e Warmbir, Steven (26 July 2010). "Rising star mob prosecutor leaving office". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Mob Killer Dead". Chicago Sun-Times. 27 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ Calabrese Jr., Frank (2011). Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family. Random House LLC. ISBN 9780307717740.
  5. ^ a b Mather, Victor (May 17, 2019). "Ohio State Finds Team Doctor Sexually Abused 177 Students". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Pacenti, John (November 10, 2014). "13-Year Benlate Suit Nets $6 Million for Costa Rican Grower". Daily Business Review.
  7. ^ a b Warmbir, Steve (26 July 2010). "Street-smart U.S. prosecutor is moving on". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  8. ^ Packel, Dan (August 20, 2018). "Investigations Practices Pivot Amid 'Cascade' of Misconduct Claims". The American Lawyer.
  9. ^ a b c d "Illinois Alum Named Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado". Shield & Diamond (University of Illinois Alumni News). Spring 2013.
  10. ^ "College of LAS names 2023 alumni award honorees". University of Illinois.
  11. ^ Coen, Jeff (2009). Family Secrets: The Case That Crippled the Chicago Mob. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781569762462.
  12. ^ a b c d "Former U.S. Attorney T. Markus Funk Joins Perkins Coie". Illinois Bar Association. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  13. ^ a b https://www.perkinscoie.com/images/content/6/4/v2/64007/2006-Kosovo-Trial-Skills-Handbook.PDF.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ Toomey, Shamus (18 June 2002). "Accused Ex-Priest Took $200,000 Payoff, Prosecutors Say". Daily Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  15. ^ Warmbir, Steve (15 June 2002). "Ex-cleric here charged with possession of child porn". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  16. ^ Warmbir, Steve (6 July 2001). "7 indicted in massive credit scam". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Family Secrets of the Murderous Kind", www.fbi.gov, 10/01/2007, retrieved 9/9/2013
  18. ^ "Frank Calabrese Jr. On Opening His 'Family Secrets'". National Public Radio. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  19. ^ a b Chuck Goudie (27 October 2009). Lawyer: Ambrose to appeal sentence, conviction (Television News). ABC.
  20. ^ Marin, Abdon (20 October 2007). "Juror: Calabrese called prosecutor a 'dead man'; Allegedly made comment during attorney's closing arguments". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  21. ^ Robinson, Mike (23 April 2009). "Prosecutors – Deputy marshal broke law in mob leak". Fox News. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  22. ^ "Three Chicago Area Men Indicted in Alleged Conspiracy to Rob Bulk Cash" (Press release). State News Service. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  23. ^ Eldeib, Duaa (14 April 2010). "3 seniors had stashed guns, vehicles, feds say". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  24. ^ Ann Pistone (18 January 2012). Aging mob trio: Two plead, one takes bench trial (Television News). ABC Local.
  25. ^ Warmbir, Steve (July 26, 2010). "Streetsmart U.S. Prosecutor Is Moving On". Retrieved 2020-11-24 – via PressReader.
  26. ^ "ABA Ponders FCPA Reform". FCPA Professor. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Supply Chain Compliance & Corporate Social Responsibility". Perkins Coie.
  28. ^ "White Collar & Investigations". Perkins Coie.
  29. ^ "The many paths of T. Markus Funk". University of Illinois.
  30. ^ "Constitutional Rights, And Victims' Afflictions". The New York Beacon. 2 April 1997. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  31. ^ Funk, T. Markus (14 January 2021). Rethinking Self-Defence: The 'Ancient Right's' Rationale Disentangled. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1509934171.
  32. ^ From Baksheesh to Bribery: Understanding the Global Fight Against Corruption and Graft. Oxford University Press. May 3, 2019. ISBN 9780190232399.
  33. ^ "The ABA Compliance Officer's Deskbook". www.americanbar.org.
  34. ^ https://www.fjc.gov/sites/default/files/2017/MLAT-LR-Guide-Funk-FJC-2014.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  35. ^ "Book details 'crisis' of crimes against kids". Southtown Star. Chicago, Illinois. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  36. ^ Child Exploitation and Trafficking: Examining Global Enforcement and Supply Chain Challenges and U.S. Responses, Second Edition – via rowman.com.
  37. ^ https://www.perkinscoie.com/images/content/6/4/v2/64023/12-07-Funk-Haiti-Skills-Manual.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  38. ^ "Mr T Markus Funk". Justia Lawyers.
  39. ^ Funk, T. Markus (2010). Victims' Rights and Advocacy at the International Criminal Court. Oxford University Press USA. ISBN 9780199737475.
  40. ^ Victims' Rights and Advocacy at the International Criminal Court. Oxford University Press. Apr 13, 2015. ISBN 9780199941469.
  41. ^ "Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Awards – Law Firm". The Burton Awards.
  42. ^ "Frank Carrington Crime Victim Attorney Award". www.americanbar.org.
  43. ^ Stock, Eric (30 September 2022). "Bloomington High School, District 87 induct 3 into their halls of fame". WGL FM.

External links[edit]

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