News & Insights

Lightfoot Partner Jack Sharman Authors Chapter on Federal Grand Jury Witness Preparation in New ABA Book

December 18, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (December 19, 2017) — Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC partner Jack Sharman has authored a chapter in a new book published by the American Bar Association. The book, titled “From the Trenches II: Mastering the Art of Preparing Witnesses,” provides guidance, thoughtful insights and unique perspectives on preparing a witness to testify at trial.

Sharman’s chapter examines the unique process for preparing a witness for federal grand jury proceedings. He answers questions and covers topics including:

• Disclosure of Grand Jury Proceedings
• Can My Client Talk to Others About Her Grand Jury Testimony?
• “Can What I Say Get Me in Trouble?”: Grand Jury Subpoenas and Witness Protections
• “If I’m the target, will I be subpoenaed?”

“The federal grand jury is one of the most powerful, secret and peculiar institutions in American law and culture,” writes Sharman. “It is certainly the most one-sided and the one that most laypersons find runs counter to their civics-class understanding of American governance.”

Sharman has practiced law for nearly three decades and currently leads Lightfoot's White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations practice group. His practice focuses on internal corporate investigations, business crime, grand jury investigations, government-contract fraud, public corruption, criminal and civil defense of healthcare providers, and criminal matters involving the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.

In 2016, Sharman was appointed as special counsel to the Alabama House Judiciary Committee for the impeachment investigation of former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. He released his report in April 2017. Sharman was also the former special counsel to the House Banking Committee during its Whitewater investigation of President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.