John is an experienced commercial litigator who has represented businesses and individuals in a wide range of litigation matters. He focuses on commercial litigation, particularly concerning financial services where he represents business clients in a variety of mortgage, banking and commercial litigation matters.
John also has experience handling other complex civil litigation, business torts, contract disputes, real estate disputes, medical malpractice, commercial trucking accidents, products liability and construction litigation. He has extensive courtroom experience, and has conducted numerous trials to jury verdict.
He has represented landowners and developers in disputes over land ownership, breaches of sales contracts, development rights and architectural control. He has prosecuted and defended against foreclosures of commercial properties, and has litigated lien claims and other construction disputes.
In addition to his law practice, John is active in bar and community affairs. Since 2011, he has served as the Regional Coordinator for the NCAJ High School Mock Trial Competition. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Brigade Boys and Girls Club of Wilmington, as well as the University of North Carolina School of Law Alumni Board of Directors.
While earning his law degree from the University of North Carolina, John was a member and coach of the Broun National Trial Team and treasurer of the Trial Law Academy.
Experience
- Representation of multiple large financial institutions and mortgage servicers in establishing protocols, building an in-house and outside counsel teams, and overseeing management of thousands mortgage-related and UCC actions in a multi-state territory, focusing on effective and cost-efficient resolution. John has led this project for over 7 years and oversees a team of more than forty attorneys that handle well over 1000 active cases. John’s team also oversees CFPB, state attorney general, and other regulatory inquiries into individual cases.
- Defense of a luxury yacht manufacturer in lawsuit alleging manufacturing defects and breach of warranty. Our team had case dismissed at trial level and defended the trial court’s decision on appeal to North Carolina Court of Appeals.
- Defense of a commercial trucking company at trial in personal injury action arising from an early morning trucking accident involving a log truck. At close of trial, jury returned verdict on behalf of defendant.
- Defense of a real estate developer and general contractor in case alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, and unfair and deceptive trade practices arising out of construction of luxury home. Trial court dismissed all of plaintiff’s claims against our clients on summary judgment.
- North Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
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Named to “North Carolina Rising Stars,” Business Litigation, General Litigation, Civil Litigation Defense, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2011-2013
Named to “Legal Elite,” Young Guns, Business North Carolina, 2008
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
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The University of North Carolina School of LawJD
with Honors, Published Member, North Carolina Law Review
2002 -
North Carolina State UniversityBS
magna cum laude
1998
Member, American Bar Association
Member, North Carolina Bar Association
Member, New Hanover County Bar Association
Member, Brigade Boys and Girls Club, Club of Rising Professionals (CORP)
Mock Trial Committee Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ)
- Author, Hardin v. KCS Int’l, Inc., 682 S.E.2d 726, 2009 N.C. App. LEXIS 1572, 2009
- Author, "Brisson v. Santoriello and Rule 9(j)," North Carolina Law Review, 2002