Known for his responsiveness to his clients’ needs and practical advice, John helps his clients successfully navigate all aspects of local government and public sector law.
As a member of the firm’s renewable energy permitting team, John guides clients through the land use permitting and development process in obtaining zoning relief and entitlements, negotiating development agreements, complying with statutory and ordinance requirements, and strategically preparing and presenting clients’ development projects for review and approval by administrative and legislative bodies. John advocates for his clients in real estate and land use controversies, challenges to unfavorable land use decisions, and disputes with governmental agencies.
Benefitted by his experiences as a law clerk to Justice Elizabeth Welch of the Michigan Supreme Court and a staff attorney at the Michigan Court of Appeals, John also regularly handles all types of appellate matters. He advises clients concerning notable appellate developments affecting their activities and prepares amicus curiae briefs to help protect his clients’ strategic interests. John has obtained client victories on a wide range of issues, including governmental immunity, disputes concerning ordinance interpretation and municipal law, constitutional questions, and zoning appeals.
John also counsels private and public sector clients concerning economic development incentives supporting the viability of commercial, residential, and industrial development projects. As special outside counsel to several brownfield redevelopment authorities and downtown development authorities, John has guided the implementation of tax increment financing and development plans supporting significant and transformational redevelopment projects throughout Michigan.
Before returning to Michigan, John worked at a leading Pennsylvania law firm specializing in real estate development and general litigation matters.
Education & Credentials
Education
Temple University Beasley School of Law
J.D.- magna cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- Temple Law Review, Articles Editor
- Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and Arts
B.A., History- James B. Angell Scholar
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Michigan Super Lawyers®
- "Rising Star, Government Finance, 2023-2024
Prominent Assignments
Land Use/Zoning
- Assisted renewable energy development companies in obtaining special land use and site plan approvals and negotiating development, stormwater, and community benefits agreements for utility-scale solar projects.
- Represented energy storage independent power producers in obtaining land use approvals for development of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
- Represented energy storage independent power producers in obtaining zoning text amendments necessary for facilitating BESS project development.
- Aided a renewable energy development company in litigating and obtaining a consent judgment allowing the development of a utility-scale solar energy facility following a township’s improper denial of a special land use permit.
- Obtained a zoning ordinance text amendment facilitating the eventual approval and development of a utility-scale BESS.
Appellate Victories
- Prevailed at the Michigan Supreme Court in a decisive and unanimous victory affirming the legal authority of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners under the County Charter to mandate that the County Executive provide real-time, read only access to financial information and reinforcing the Board’s legislative powers under county home rule government. Hackel v Macomb County Board of Commissioners, __ Mich __ (June 17, 2025) (Docket No. 166363).
- Persuaded Michigan Supreme Court to deny review of a published Court of Appeals decision granting declaratory relief and holding that the Macomb County Board of Commissioners has authority under the County Charter to appropriate funds for independent legal counsel retained by the County Prosecutor. Macomb County Prosecutor v Macomb County Executive, __ Mich ___ (June 16, 2025) (Docket No. 167415).
- Persuaded Michigan Supreme Court to deny review of a Court of Appeals decision granting declaratory relief and holding that the Macomb County Board of Commissioners has authority under the County Charter to adopt a budget independent of the County Executive’s recommended budget and that the County Executive exceeded the scope of authority by impounding appropriated funds. Macomb County Prosecutor v Macomb County Executive, 509 Mich 1098 (2022).
- Convinced the Michigan Court of Appeals to uphold the circuit court decision dismissing negligence claims on governmental immunity grounds and denying the plaintiff’s request for leave to file an amended complaint or to conduct discovery to identify other potential defendants. Blade v Oakland Co, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued June 12, 2025 (Docket No. 371082).
- Prevailed in a circuit court appeal rejecting a constitutional challenge against a city’s zoning ordinance provision restricting the number of residential yard signs as a valid time, place, and manner restriction under the First Amendment.
- Prevailed in a circuit court appeal upholding the determination of a township zoning board of appeals that a property owner had exceeded the maximum lot coverage for a residential lot.
- Prevailed in a circuit court appeal upholding a city zoning board of appeals denial of a variance request by a property owner seeking to circumvent setback requirements.
- Obtained summary disposition dismissing eavesdropping claim because the plaintiff did not establish that a voicemail errantly left by the plaintiff on the defendant’s phone constituted the willful use of a device to eavesdrop on the plaintiff’s conversation with another individual.
Economic Development & Municipal Law
Professional Involvement
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Government Law Section
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Real Property Law Section
- Real Property Law Section Land Use & Zoning Committee
- Appellate Practice Section
Publications/Presentations
- Co-Author, “Don’t Believe Everything You Hear! – Wise Words for Zoning Applicants,” Michigan Real Property Law Section eNewsletter, May 2025
- Presentation, “Preemption & Renewable Energy Legislation,” Real Property Law Section Summer Conference, July 2024
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Presentation, “Economic Development Tools Available to Michigan Municipalities,” Michigan Government Finance Officers Association Fall Institute, October 2023
- Co-Author, “New Michigan Law Significantly Expands Economic Incentives Available for Housing Development and Increases Availability of Transformational Brownfield Projects,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, July 2023
- Co-Author, "Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies “Aggrieved” Status for Purposes of Who May Bring Zoning Appeals,” Michigan Real Property Review, State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section, May 2023