John spends most of his time doing business transactional work, with an emphasis on advising clients in business and property acquisitions, finance, yachts and commercial maritime matters, real estate, fisheries, and agricultural products. He also represents his clients in business litigation, workouts, loan participations, and club deals. His clients include banks, private lenders, owners, and investors in a broad range of industries.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) from Utah State University in 1976 where he was a National Merit Scholar, then graduated from law school in 1979 from Brigham Young University (cum laude).

John clerked for the Hon. Milton M. Souter in Anchorage, Alaska for one year after law school, then was General Counsel to the Alaska Public Employees Association until 1984, when he joined the firm, first working in Juneau and then in Seattle. He began his private practice in personal injury defense, and still does a substantial amount of work as a mediator in this area. For the past twenty years John has focused most of his practice on commercial matters, representing parties in all types of businesses and disputes, including vessel arrests, lien contests, and more sedate matters such as the purchase and sale of processing facilities, yachts, commercial vessels, and real estate. He focuses on bringing a measure of common sense, trustworthiness, loyalty, and problem-solving skills to his clients.

John is a member of the Washington and Alaska Bar Associations, has tried cases in both the federal and state courts in each state, and has handled appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and before the Alaska Supreme Court. He belongs to the Maritime Law Association and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Although he wonders about its meaning, he has been chosen as a “Super Lawyer” the past several years.