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Biography

John represents the firm’s clients on a variety of municipal bond and project finance issues, serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel or company counsel.  Increasingly, John’s work involves significant Public Private Partnership (P3) projects, serving as developer counsel or as governmental counsel.

He frequently counsels lenders and borrowers in financial transactions, including syndicated and multi-lender loan transactions.  Recent lending work includes structuring loans secured by Bourbon whiskey and other distilled spirits, for banks and specialty lenders.  He often advises companies on investment incentives available for new and expanded industry, including tax benefits through use of taxable industrial revenue bond structures.

John is a frequent speaker and author of articles on public finance, project finance, financial transactions and bankruptcy. He is past Chairman of the Louisville Bar Association’s Business Law Section and of the LBA’s Bankruptcy Section. John is a former leader of Frost Brown Todd’s Lending and Commercial Services group.

Other Info About John

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Assisted the developer in structuring a P3 multi-use project on land leased from a large public university, financed through the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable certificates of participation (COPs) in a lease of the completed facilities back to the university.

Represented the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in negotiating the Bi-State Development Agreement between Kentucky and Indiana for the Louisville Ohio River Bridges project.

Acted as bond counsel for a $330 million tax exempt bond issue in which insured auction-rate bonds were redeemed and replaced by new fixed-rate tax-exempt debt.

Acted as bond counsel for a $125 million tax exempt bond issue for the benefit of a regional non-profit hospital system.

Acted as bond counsel on many direct-purchase bonds for the benefit of non-profit corporations throughout the region.

Education

Law School

Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1984, with honors

Graduate School

Johns Hopkins University, M.A., 1975

Undergraduate School

Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1973

Bar Memberships

John is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Kentucky, 1993

South Carolina, 1984 – 1993, 2023

Courts

John is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

U.S. District Courts and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts

Western District of Kentucky

Eastern District of Kentucky

Southern District of Indiana

District of South Carolina

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Selected for inclusion in Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2012-2024

The Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights Law/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2007-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2016, 2020; Public Finance Law, 2010-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2018, 2024; Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2013, 2017, 2021, 2024

AV® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, 2015-2020

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Kentucky Bar Association

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Subcommittee advising Joint Local Rules Commission of the Eastern and Western Districts of the United States District Court on bankruptcy related issues

American Bankruptcy Institute

Louisville Bar Association, Chairman Business Law Section, 2006

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