Meet John, deal driver, smart communicator, and regulatory closer.

207 228-7105 direct
207 774-1200 main
207 774-1127 facsimile
100 Middle Street
PO Box 9729
Portland, ME 04104-5029
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2025 (Ranked since 2021)
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Corporate Law
Here’s why you’ll enjoy working with him.
John has a general corporate and regulatory practice focused on private mergers and acquisitions, both buy-side and sell-side, outside general counsel to emerging and mature companies, and licensing and regulatory compliance in the healthcare and hospitality industries. John has extensive experience in private merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions involving the purchase and sale of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other types of businesses in various sectors, including medical, dental, veterinary, and food and beverage. John’s licensing and regulatory knowledge allows him to anticipate compliance issues early in the transaction process, to deliver smart solutions to resolve them, and to reflect them in the transaction documents. John’s clients appreciate his clear advice, grounded manner, responsiveness, and results-based approach to transactions and other legal matters.
John is also the co-chair of the firm’s Craft Food and Beverage Group in which he represents craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, hotels, music venues, restaurants, and other food and beverage businesses regarding start-up formation, brand protection, commercial financing, private capital, corporate governance, and federal, state, and local licensing and regulatory compliance. He’s the author of The Brew Kit, which is an informational guide to starting, owning, and operating a craft brewery, plus state licensing requirements, in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. John is a regular writer and speaker on panels regarding the hospitality industry, including trade association summits and related events.
John lives in Portland with his wife, Marisa, and their two dogs, Rosey and River.
Education
JD, University of Maine School of Law, magna cum laude
BA, University of Maine, magna cum laude
Admitted to practice
State of Maine
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Maine
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit