John has been engaged in an international transaction, regulatory and dispute resolution practice since 1979. He has particular experience in the Middle East where he was resident from 1980 for approximately ten years and where he continues to practice extensively today. He has also practiced throughout Asia and Europe since the mid 1980’s and was resident in London for part of that time. John is resident in the Washington, D.C. and Riyadh offices of the firm.

John’s commercial practice concentrates on international commercial transactions, including the negotiation of manufacturing strategic alliances in the aerospace, petrochemical and high-technology industries in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. He also advises international and Middle Eastern clients on matters relating to the establishment of joint ventures, distribution arrangements, and the regulation of business activities, including the satisfaction of foreign investment and fiscal requirements.

He has also represented numerous international defense and technology companies in connection with governmental sales whether on a direct or a foreign military sales basis. That representation includes advising on the equipment and service provision aspects of the transaction, advising on local and US regulatory issues, and assisting in the structuring and satisfaction of offset and local manufacturing requirements. This experience includes commercial and military aircraft, security systems and technology, and land systems. He has also advised service providers in the defense and security industry segments.

John also has extensive energy experience, including the negotiation of upstream transactions and advising service companies relating to the conduct of their Middle Eastern operations. In this regard, he has advised both IOC’s and service companies relating to transactions in the Middle East. Prior to the unification of Yemen, he acted on behalf of both the Peoples' Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic in connection with the negotiation of drilling and production rights with a foreign group led by U.S. and European oil companies. John has also advised foreign contractors and operators relating to the development, construction and operation of energy facilities in the region, including the establishment of concessionary greenfield petrochemical joint ventures and technology license transactions.

John has also represented many clients in connection with international dispute resolution, whether conducted locally in the Middle East or pursuant to foreign arbitration. Subsequent to the 1991 Gulf War, John led a multidisciplinary team of over 150 international and Kuwaiti professionals (attorneys, accountants and engineers) that advised, prepared and resolved approximately $100 billion of claims for the Government of Kuwait against Iraq relating to the invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The claims were argued before the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva. John also represented Saudi Arabia before that forum in addressing that country’s environmental claims against Iraq arising from the first Gulf War.

John advises US companies regularly on compliance matters arising from US and local regulations that apply to the conduct of their international operations. Those activities include the conduct of numerous investigations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia to ensure compliance with all of US, international and local regulations, including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Antiboycott Regulations. He speaks frequently on those topics and assists companies in developing their compliance programs, training their personnel relating to the same, and conducting both due diligence and investigations to ensure compliance. He has conducted numerous investigations relating to these and other corporate and regulatory compliance matters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

John has authored a number of articles and spoken at a variety of conferences on matters relating to international business and U.S. trade regulatory issues.

• American Bar Association - Section on International Law, Committee on Middle Eastern Law (former chair)
• World Affairs Council of St. Louis - Board of Trustees
• University of Michigan Law School Center for International and Comparative Law - Advisory Board
• University of Michigan Law School - Committee of Visitors Advisory Board
• Saint Louis University Institute of International Business - Advisory Board

• Best Lawyers in America
• "Super Lawyer," Missouri/Kansas Law and Politics
• "Best St. Louis Lawyers,” in international trade and finance law
• Marquis “Who’s Who in American Law”

1979 - J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan Law School
1976 - B.A., summa cum laude, Political Science, University of Notre Dame