John focuses his practice in the areas of securities law and mergers and acquisitions.  He advises clients on compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  John regularly handles matters relating to the establishment and operation of both public and private closed-end funds and business development companies, including compliance with, and exemptions from, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Prior to joining the firm, John worked as an attorney-advisor at the Securities and Exchange Commission where he was responsible for reviewing registration statements, proxy materials and periodic reports relating to public offerings and mergers and acquisitions transactions.  During his time at the Commission, John examined a number of transactions involving companies in the oil, natural gas, mining and timber industries while assigned to the Office of Natural Resources.   John also spent a significant portion of his time at the Commission in the Office of Mergers and Acquisitions, where he gained extensive experience handling issues involving tender offers, proxy solicitations, going-private transactions and beneficial ownership reporting obligations.

In addition, John assisted in drafting the beneficial ownership portion of the 2003 Staff Report to the Commission on Implications of the Growth of Hedge Funds, and spoke regarding mergers and acquisitions issues at the 2003 International Institute for Securities Market Development sponsored by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

John is a member of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, as well as the Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar Association.