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.
Representative Client Work
- 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. (2016-2020)
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Client AlertJune 17, 2020
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Press ReleaseJune 10, 2020
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Client AlertJune 9, 2020
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Client AlertJune 1, 2020
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Client AlertMay 7, 2020
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Client AlertApril 30, 2020
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Client AlertApril 20, 2020
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Client AlertApril 15, 2020
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Client AlertApril 9, 2020
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Client AlertFebruary 11, 2020
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Bisnow, QuotedOctober 14, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseMay 30, 2019
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Opportunity Zones Client AlertApril 19, 2019
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Worcester Telegram & Gazette, QuotedJanuary 9, 2019
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Opportunity Zones AlertNovember 9, 2018
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Opportunity Zones AlertOctober 22, 2018
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Real Estate Finance & Investment, QuotedAugust 20, 2018
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The Real Deal, QuotedJuly 16, 2018
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Press ReleaseJune 26, 2018
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Press ReleaseMay 30, 2018
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Client AdvisoryApril 18, 2018
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Press ReleaseMay 31, 2017
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Press ReleaseMay 26, 2017
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Law360.comNovember 2, 2016
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Press ReleaseJune 15, 2016
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HotelNewsNow, QuotedSeptember 3, 2015
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Banker & TradesmanOctober 20, 2014
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Tenant-In-Common Interests: Ideal Section 1031 Replacement Property (with Robert LeDuc)New York Real Estate Journal(September 5-11, 2005)
Seminars & Presentations
- Real Estate in the Age of COVID19: How Opportunity Zones May Play a Role in the Recovery
Real Estate Addicts Podcast (May 21, 2020) - The OZ Act After COVID-19: Where We Go From Here
Virtual Program (May 19, 2020) - OZones In Action — The Latest Update on How Opportunity Zones are Saving Taxes and Reshaping America
Sullivan Conference Center, Boston, MA (November 13, 2019) - New Orleans Investment Summit
New Orleans Business Alliance (June 13, 2019) - Opportunity Zones: The Second Wave of Regulations Explained
Sullivan Conference Center, Boston, MA (May 2, 2019) - QOZs: The changing landscape for deal-makers
RSM (March 28, 2019) - Opportunity Zones from a Legal Perspective
Northeastern University (January 24, 2019) - Worcester's Opportunity Zones
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce (January 9, 2019) - Opportunity Zones: An Overview of the Latest Tax Incentive for Investors
Sullivan & Worcester and Pickwick Capital Partners (January 7, 2019) - Tax Reform & Real Estate - A Discussion on Opportunity Zones and An Update on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Greater Boston Real Estate Board (November 13, 2018) - The Land of OZ Explained – Understanding the New Opportunity Zone Proposed Regulations
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center (November 8, 2018) - Opportunity Zones Offerings - the First Wave
ADISA Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV (October 9, 2018) - Opportunity Zones: A Remarkable Opportunity
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, New York, NY (July 11, 2018) - Opportunity Zones: A Remarkable Opportunity
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, Boston, MA (June 12, 2018) - Real Estate Investment Forum
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, New York, NY (July 10, 2017) - Working through Real Estate Joint Venture Issues - Critical Thinking and Creative Solutions
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, Boston, MA (June 16, 2016) - 4th Annual HELP Conference
Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA (April 13, 2015) - The Crowdfunding Forum for Real Estate
The Union League Club, New York, NY (March 10, 2015)
Practices
- Affordable Housing & Community Development
- Corporate
- Finance
- Fintech & Blockchain
- Opportunity Zones
- Private Equity Real Estate
- Real Estate
- Real Estate Acquisitions/Sales
- Real Estate Development
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Leasing
- Real Estate, Alternative & Offshore Investment Funds