Biography

John is well–known regionally for his expertise in complex land use, environmental and economic development transactions, representing for-profit, non-profit and quasi-governmental organizations.  Prior to co-founding the firm, John practiced as a partner in the real estate and environmental groups at several prominent Boston law firms. Most recently, John has been recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® both in Massachusetts and in New England for Real Estate, and in 2024 as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer in the field of Real Estate.

John brings to his practice particular expertise in governmental permitting, structuring public/private partnerships with state and local governments on behalf of developer clients involving complex mixed-use redevelopment projects, securing zoning amendments, and local, state and federal entitlements for projects frequently involving federal and state tax incentives and subsidies, negotiating development agreements often involving urban redevelopment projects, warehouse and distribution facilities, and multifamily housing and mixed use projects.

He regularly counsels developers on the requirements for satisfying the complex land use and environmental laws and regulations applicable to large-scale industrial warehouse and e-commerce, commercial, and multifamily and mixed use residential projects throughout the region. Over the past several years, has represented developers in the rezoning, permitting and/or redevelopment of over 9 million square feet of warehouse, distribution, industrial, and logistics facilities. His expertise is deepest in complex permitting matters, building on his frequent participation in state-level regulatory, policy and rulemaking efforts involving land use and environmental matters affecting residential and commercial real estate development.   

A significant portion of John's current development practice involves working with clients on affordable and market-rate multifamily residential projects where he has been involved in the permitting of over 4,000 residential units, frequently involving public-private redevelopment partnerships using state and federal economic development incentives. Most recently, he has been involved with rezoning efforts for the redevelopment of a 400+ unit multifamily project under the MBTA Communities law, and he has been instrumental in the creation of the new Starter Home Law under Chapter 40Y and has been actively involved in the new Chapter 40Y regulations currently being promulgated. He also regularly advises clients on environmental compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing oil or hazardous materials, solid waste and recyclable materials, water pollution control, occupational health and safety, and historic preservation matters.