1. John, how do you define your practice and areas of expertise:
I spent the first 17 years of my career on Wall Street, so the next 20+ years of my legal career have centered on providing business, legal, regulatory, and strategic advice to clients. Over the last 20 years I’ve assisted and advised in over $10B in transactions, including complex funds, investment management, M&A transactions, and public and private securities offerings.
So then your clients …
Span a variety of industries, including asset management (mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, hedge funds, private equity, and US and offshore feeder funds), financial services (investment advisers and broker-dealers), fintech, real estate, renewable energy, insurance, healthcare, consumer products, and e-commerce.
Um, to name a few.
2. Tell us about your legal career journey. How did you get here?
As a political science major in college, I was pretty sure I’d eventually go to law school but first wanted to work and gain real world experience (and financial independence). So, after college, I worked in Argentina as a paralegal before moving to Spain, running out of money, and then back to the US. My then-girlfriend, now-wife and I moved to New York, where I got a job in financial regulatory compliance, despite no experience. I worked for the same asset management firm 17 years, attending law school at night. Eventually I became Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel. But I always wanted to own my own business, so I launched my law firm and compliance consulting business.
And you ended up at Practus because …
Thankfully, both became successful enough that I no longer had the time to do the administrative work myself and I needed more help with the work, which is when I joined Practus. Having a team of attorneys and staff to assist me has been tremendously helpful.
3. What is your professional secret sauce? The secret of your success?
Having helped to run a business for so long, I think like a businessperson first so I can relate to clients and understand their needs and objectives in a way that many attorneys cannot.
4. What is your definition of professional success?
Helping my clients make their dreams come true. Being compensated for doing it is the icing on the cake.
5. Which lawyer depicted by Hollywood do you most relate to? Atticus Finch? Elle Woods? Harvey Specter? Who is your Hollywood alter ego?
I volunteer as an attorney for abused foster kids in Philadelphia so I aspire to be like Atticus Finch when it comes to social justice.
6. What would people be most surprised to know about you?
My Dad came to US when he was 14 but my Mom’s family came to the US in the late 1600s so I’m a mix of two very different worlds.
