MBA Member Directory

JOHN S. HAN

HIGH SWARTZ LLP

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Born in Seoul, South Korea on August 20, 1968, John Han immigrated to the United States with his parents and younger sister at the age of six in 1974.  He grew up in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, attending high school at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island.  He graduated with Class Honors from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics in 1990.  He then attended American University, Washington College of Law, earning his Juris Doctor Degree in 1993. 

Prior to graduation from law school, John accepted a commission as an officer in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and served on active duty from 1993 to 1999.  During his naval service, Mr. Han successfully performed duties as a defense counsel, prosecutor, and general counsel in San Francisco, CA (1994-1996), Naples, Italy (1996-1998), and Patuxent River, Maryland (1998-1999). 

John received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy in 1999.  From 2000 to 2006, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.  In this capacity, he prosecuted numerous jury and bench trials in cases involving public corruption, fraud, white collar crime, and violent crime.

In December 2006, John left the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to begin his career in the United States Department of Justice as a Trial Attorney in the Organized Crime and Gang Section in Washington, D.C.  From 2006 to 2021, he investigated and prosecuted major federal RICO cases against national and international organized crime groups, including the Mafia, violent gangs, and corporations engaged in fraudulent activities.

In 2007, 2008, and 2010, John received the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award for superior sustained performance of duty.  In 2009, he received the ATF National Honor Award for the successful RICO prosecution of 14 members and associates of the violent international criminal organization known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, in Nashville, Tennessee.  From 2011 to 2014, John served as lead counsel in the successful RICO conspiracy prosecution of 13 members of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family. 

In October 2021, John left the Department of Justice and opened his own law firm, Han Law, LLC, based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  From October 2021 to September 2023, Han Law provided representation to clients facing investigation and prosecution for state and federal criminal violations.  On September 5, 2023, John joined High Swartz LLP, based in Norristown, Pennsylvania.  As a Criminal Defense Attorney, John represents clients facing investigation and prosecution by both State and Federal Law Enforcement authorities throughout the greater Philadelphia area.

In June 2010, John was appointed by the Judge Advocate General of the Navy to serve a four-year term as a Military Trial Judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary.  He presided over 31 felony cases, 7 of which were contested jury trials.  Respected for his extensive trial experience, knowledge of the law, and superior writing ability, he was hand-picked by the Chief Judge to preside over the most complex and demanding courts-martial, including numerous sexual assault cases that garnered intense national media attention.  John currently holds the rank of Captain in the United States Navy Reserve.

As an active member of Montgomery Bar Association, John was elected to serve on the Board of Directors.  He also serves on the Federal Practice Committee and Minority Bar Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

John is a former member of the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law and Criminal Law Section of the American Bar Association.  He also served on the Executive Committee of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania for many years.  He is a lifetime member of the Judicial Council of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. 

Beyond his bar leadership duties, John is engaged in diverse community service activities.  He serves on the Board of Directors for the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation and for the Montgomery County Community College Foundation.  He is a proud member of American Legion Post 769 in Ambler, Pennsylvania.  Further, John works on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of Wissahickon Trails.

In December 2021, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association honored John with its 2021 Military and Veteran Service Award.  John is actively involved in pro bono legal and civic activities to fight against racism, discrimination, and hate crimes against Asian Americans and other racial minorities.

John is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New York.  He is fluent in Korean and Italian.  He and his wife have three children.