John Jolly has a legal expertise in all things business. As Chair of the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups, John focuses his practice on general corporate, commercial real estate, banking, and construction matters.
John’s experience encompasses representation of all aspects of retail, commercial, and industrial real property acquisition/sale, development and leasing; lending/financial institution matters, title insurance matters; and condominium/community association matters.
He works with business clients from inception to sale and/or succession, and every other matter along the way. With extensive experience in formation, operations and related business planning, John has the knowledge and strategic know-how to help find success for closely held corporations, limited liability companies, trade and non-profit associations, and similar business organizations.
John is a Certified Specialist in Business, Commercial, and Industrial Real Property Law, as certified by the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA), and is a member of the OSBA’s Real Property Specialty Certification Committee. He also serves as General Counsel to the Ohio Lake Communities Association.
Articles & Presentations
Articles
•“Spotlight: John Jolley,” Columbus Business First, June 2, 2017
Presentations
•“Environmental Issues Affecting Trust Real Estate,” The Huntington National Bank Quarterly Trust Department Meeting, April 23, 2007
•“Don’t Be Held Hostage by Property Taxes,” Ohio Golf Course Owners Association 27th Annual Convention, March 15, 2006
•“Offers/Letters of Intent; Choice of Entity,” Ohio State Bar Association Commercial Real Estate Law Seminar, November 2002, October 2004, November 2005
Experience
•Nursing home sale - Nursing home
Counseled clients through the sale of nursing home facilities
•General Outside Counsel Representation - Multi-Division Manufacturing Company
Representation as general counsel for a multi-division manufacturing company
•Project Counsel - Shopping Center Development, North Carolina
Counseled the owner and developer of a $25 million lifestyle center in North Carolina through acquisition, development, construction and leasing
•Project Counsel - Mixed Use Retail/Commercial/Residential Development, Northwest Ohio
Served as project and general counsel in representing the owner, developer and General Manager of a lifestyle shopping center, including a $58 million refinancing
•Loan Work-Out / Deed in Lieu - National banking association
Represented client in two loan work-out/deed in lieu of foreclosures for asset-based loan transactions secured by golf course projects
•Sporting/Event Arena Acquisition and Takeover of Operations Management - Convention Facilities Authority
Represented a Convention Facilities Authority as lead real estate counsel in which the Authority became the owner of a 25,000 seat, 685,000 square foot sports arena and related ancillary buildings and commercial space used as “home ice” by a NHL hockey team. The transaction included the collapse and termination of several layers of ground leases and subleases, conveyance of all properties to the Authority, and in turn licensing and leasing of the property to various interested parties. John also counselled the client and assisted in the creation of a new tax exemption for the Authority in order to lessen the financial burden from real property taxes imposed on the properties, and worked through various title and financing issues attendant to the transaction.
Honors
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2025-2026
•Ohio Super Lawyers, 2005
•AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
•Recipient of the Alice Neeley Memorial Award, 2004
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
