John is a member in the firm's Boston office and practices in the Public Finance Section. His practice focuses on public finance and public agency representation, with special expertise in the legislative process (and legislative drafting), the Massachusetts conflict of interest law, and the Massachusetts Constitution (particularly the provisions relating to pledging the state's credit).
Since 1984, he has been principally responsible for all legal services rendered by the firm to the State Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including bond counsel work, disclosure counsel work, and work relating to pension fund investments and administration. He represents several state agencies involved in finance-related activities, including agencies that finance environmental improvements, economic development, and renewable energy production. He has acted as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel in a wide variety of tax-exempt bond transactions, including financings for transportation, public higher education, parking, and water and wastewater treatment. He has also served for many years as one of the ethics partners in the firm, advising on professional responsibility matters.
John is a member of the WGBH Overseers Advisory Board and is a former chairman of the WGBH Community Advisory Board. He is vice-chairman of the United Methodist Foundation of New England, a director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association, and a trustee of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. He serves as treasurer and a trustee of Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was primarily responsible for developing and implementing Mintz Levin's pro bono policy and chaired the firm's Pro Bono Committee from 1986 to 1990. He served as co-chairman of the Boston Bar Association's Task Force on Multi-Disciplinary Practice in 2000-2001.
John has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in public finance law.
John is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and is a member of the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations. He is also a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He received his B.A., with highest distinction, from the University of Kansas (1971) and his J.D. from Yale Law School (1976).
Industries
Financial Services
Government