John is co-leader of the firm's Real Estate Group and Opportunity Zone Group, focusing on debt and equity transactions. His practice in real estate and finance law includes private/preferred equity investing, structured real estate transactions, all facets of opportunity zone matters, syndicated real estate projects, "in-bound" foreign investment, lending matters and fund formation. John's clients include hedge funds, insurance companies, domestic and international family offices, developers, investment banks, local, national and international banks, REITs and other institutional investors.

John is also one of the founders of the firm's Opportunity Zone practice group, and has assisted in the structuring of over $1 billion in Opportunity Zone projects throughout the country, including both real estate and operating business.

Representative Client Work

  • Represent second generation real estate platform with respect to regional development joint venture projects utilizing GP, co-GP and LP structures (including preferred equity) involving over $250 million in project value
  • Represent institutional private equity provider with respect to their national joint venture equity program with projects throughout the Unites States involving all asset classes and over a billion dollars in asset value
  • Represented Equity Resource Investments in a series of real estate private equity joint venture transactions with an aggregate value of over $100 million and $500 million in property value
  • Represented a strategic joint venture between North River Company and Jeff Leerink involving the structuring of a strategic development in Somerville, MA utilizing the Opportunity Zone Statute with an aggregate value of over $500 million in property value
  • Represented Choice Housing Investments in a real estate strategic joint venture for a portfolio of multi-family assets in Texas with an aggregate value of over $100 million in property value
  • Represented global insurer in the structuring and investing of multiple equity investments involving industrial properties valued at over $500 million
  • Represented hedge funds and institutional equity providers in the structuring and investing in multiple private equity joint ventures worth more than $1.5 billion involving both turnaround and stabilized real estate 
  • Represented a life insurance company in the acquisition of a $23 million secondary private placement transaction involving eight properties backed by finance leases
  • Represented an off-shore buyer in connection with the acquisition of U.S.- based office/retail buildings totaling $400 million
  • Represented multiple fund sponsors and investors in the structuring and creation of $600 million in opportunity funds and opportunity zone businesses across multiple asset classes
  • Represented sponsors in all aspects of tenancy in common and Delaware statutory trust offerings, including real estate acquisitions, securities-related issues including drafting private placement memorandum and non-performing assets involving over $1 billion of real estate
  • Represented an issuer/lessor in the $125 million placement of senior notes for the construction of a headquarters office building and the conversion of such structure into a credit-tenant loan upon completion
  • Represented sponsors in the formation of funds with an emphasis on mezzanine and bridge financing
  • Represented an underwriter and lending panel in the $400 million lease financing of a downtown Chicago office tower

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts

Education

  • B.A., College of the Holy Cross
  • J.D., cum laude, Suffolk University Law School

Community Engagement

  • Real Estate Finance Association
  • National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
  • Real Estate Investment Securities Association
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Member, Catholic School Foundation Advisory Board
  • Former Board Member, St. Agatha’s Parish School
  • Boston’s Future Leaders Program, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 2012

Awards & Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America® (2019-2021)
  • Chambers USA, Recognized Practitioner in Real Estate (Massachusetts) (2017-2018)
  • The Legal 500 U.S. (2016-2021)

Seminars & Presentations

Practices

Industries

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