Steady. Articulate. Resourceful.
John is an experienced, entrepreneurial corporate attorney who partners with business leaders to solve their most challenging legal issues while keeping practical business outcomes top of mind.
A pragmatic, adaptable business lawyer, John acts as a go-to resource for his clients’ legal needs. He works closely with companies, investors, founders, and executive teams, offering sophisticated legal advice grounded in a real-world understanding of how deals get done and businesses actually run.
I like helping clients see the full picture—not just the deal in front of them, but what comes next. When you can anticipate issues early, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary risk.
What he's great at
John advises businesses at every stage, providing straightforward legal guidance that supports growth, manages risk, and keeps operations moving ahead. His practice combines day-to-day counseling with complex transactional work, giving clients a single, trusted resource for both strategic opportunities and ongoing legal needs.
His practice includes:
- General corporate and commercial representation
- Corporate governance and fiduciary duties counseling
- Equity and debt financing transactions (investor- and company-side)
- Mergers, acquisitions and strategic joint ventures
- Intellectual property protection and licensing
- Employment matters and executive benefits & compensation
- Day-to-day business counseling and commercial contracts
Why you'll enjoy working with him
John is deeply focused on business practicality. He doesn’t just help clients get deals done—he works to understand the full picture of their business so he can offer proactive, end-to-end legal support that helps them manage risk, avoid problems before they arise, and make confident decisions as they grow. Clients value his ability to spot issues early, explain options clearly, and deliver advice that is both legally sound and commercially sensible. The result is a trusted advisor who helps businesses stay out of trouble while moving forward with clarity and momentum.
Prior to joining Bernstein Shur, John was a shareholder at the law firm Marcus Clegg Bals & Rosenthal. Before joining Marcus Clegg, John worked in the corporate and securities group of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati, PC, located in Washington DC; was employed as solo in-house General Counsel and Secretary to several early-stage companies in the technology and pharmaceuticals sectors; and served as Deputy Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to Maine’s Governor Paul R. LePage.
Who he is off the clock
Outside of his legal practice, John enjoys spending time with his wife and his many children, reading, thoughtful civil discourse, traveling, exercise, attending church, working on old cars, and undertaking all manner of do-it-yourself projects.