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Overview
JOHN IS AN EXPERIENCED, BUSINESS-FOCUSED ATTORNEY WHO HELPS CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR BUSINESS GOALS THROUGH CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS, SUCH AS MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, JOINT VENTURES AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.
As a partner in the M&A practice group, John represents buyers and sellers in business transactions, venture capital financings and complex commercial arrangements. He also provides general corporate counseling on a variety of matters, such as corporate governance, commercial contracts and technology commerce. Prior to practicing in the United States, John practiced law in Toronto, Canada for several years.
Experience
Client Achievements
Representative Transactions
Healthcare
- Acquisition of Tufts Health Freedom Plan by UnitedHealthcare Services
- Purchase of HealthMarkets, a provider of health and ancillary protection products to individuals and small business consumers, by Golden Rule Financial Corporation
- Purchase of Peoples Health, a Louisiana Medicare Advantage Plan and operator of four primary care clinics, by UnitedHealthcare
- Purchase of EPIC Hearing Services Plan and entry into a long-term supply agreement
- Sale of Spectera vision lab assets to Essilor and entry into a long-term supply agreement
- Purchase of Amber Pharmacy by Hy-Vee, Inc.
- Purchase by St. Jude Medical of certain assets of MitralSolutions
- Acquisition by Oxford Health Plans LLC of certain subsidiaries of Health Net of the Northeast, Inc.
- Sale of Atritech, Inc. to Boston Scientific Corporation
Technology
- Acquisition of a remote patient-monitoring and care company by Best Buy
- Sale of MediaBeacon, a leader in Digital Asset Management (DAM) software solutions, to DHR Esko
- Sale of MindShift Technologies, a cloud and managed services company, by Best Buy
Retail/Services
- Acquisition of Two Peaks, LLC (Yardbird outdoor furniture) by Best Buy
- Acquisition of Floral Merchandising Assets by Stein Industries
- Sale of AmeriPride Services, a linen and uniform services company, to Aramark
- Sale of Napster, a digital music service provider, by Best Buy to Rhapsody
Banking
- Acquisition of AimBank, the wholly owned subsidiary of holding company AIM Bancshares, Inc., by FirstBank & Trust
- Acquisition of Johnson Financial Group Arizona Branches by Arizona Bank & Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heartland USA, Inc.
Manufacturing/Mining
- Sale of the assets of Aevenia, Inc., an energy and electrical construction company, to Primoris Services Corporation
- Purchase by Apogee Enterprises, Inc. of Glassec, a Brazilian glass manufacturer
- Purchase by The Mosaic Company of Archer Daniels Midland Co's fertilizer distribution business in Brazil and Paraguay
- Sale of Mosaic Argentina’s assets to Bunge Argentina
- Purchase by The Mosaic Company of CF Industries’ phosphate mining and manufacturing operations
- Sale of Mosaic International (Thailand) Limited to ICP Fertilizer Co., Ltd.
Strategic Transactions/Equity Investments
- Negotiation of ammonia supply agreement, raw material supply agreement and toll manufacturing agreement relating to the production of fertilizer along with an equity investment in the fertilizer producer
- Joint Development and License Agreement along with preferred equity investment in glass technology company
- Negotiation of Master Services Agreements between The Mosaic Company and Hatch Ltd.
- Sale on behalf of shareholder of minority interest in Cyromed Therapies
- Negotiation of mining joint venture between Vale S.A., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and The Mosaic Company
- Series A preferred stock investment by Best Buy in Unagi scooter
- Equity Investment by Canon USA in Spartan Bioscience Inc., a leader in on-demand DNA testing
- Negotiate investment agreements on behalf of start-up entities in connection with seed and preferred financings
Education
- Sale of assets relating to qualifying nurses for Certified Nurse Assistant Certificates in various States
- Acquisition of Navvy Education, LLC, which developed a diagnostic assessment system, by NCS Pearson
- Acquisition of MZ Development, a testing technology innovation company, by NCS Pearson
- Acquisition of Spotlight Education, a provider of proprietary technology to create personalized video reports for students Sale of assets relating to qualifying nurses for a Certified Nurse Assistant Certificate
- Sale of Education Software for Guiding Instruction (ESGI) in its sale to Riverside Insights, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors
News & Resources
Articles
March 30, 2017
December 19, 2016
February 22, 2016
January 28, 2016
October 8, 2015
June 29, 2015
News & Press Mentions
August 15, 2024
September 25, 2023
August 17, 2023
September 19, 2022
October 14, 2020
October 3, 2019
July 29, 2019
April 25, 2019
May 31, 2016
February 19, 2016
May 27, 2014
Events & Speaking Engagements
May 10, 2017
May 10, 2017
April 13, 2004 - April 13, 2004
Industries & Practices
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceCanada Cross-Border Transactions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceCorporate Governance & Compliance
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Canada Cross-Border Transactions
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Emerging Companies
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mining
- Technology
Accolades
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2021-2025
- Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A), 2011-2024
- Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
- Named to BTI Client Service All-Star Attorneys, 2016
- MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2015-2016, 2018, and 2022
- Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2008-2009
- IFLR1000 Highly Regarded – State, 2019-2021; 2023