John T. Farnum

John T. Farnum has represented clients in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters, commercial real estate disputes, loan enforcement proceedings, and complex commercial transactions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and nationwide for nearly 20 years.

His practice spans several interconnected areas:

Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights. John advises secured creditors, landlords, asset purchasers, indenture trustees, mezzanine lenders, special servicers, receivers and other parties-in-interest through all phases of business bankruptcies and restructurings, including contested Chapter 11 proceedings, plan confirmation and cramdown litigation, asset sales under Section 363, cash collateral disputes and preference and avoidable transfer defense.

Loan Enforcement & Workouts. John develops and executes enforcement strategies for distressed commercial debt, including judicial and nonjudicial foreclosures, UCC sales of ownership interests, receivership proceedings, deeds-in-lieu, forbearance agreements and complex collection and judgment enforcement matters. He has served as a court-appointed receiver and substitute trustee in numerous commercial real estate matters. On the workout side, he represents lenders and borrowers in negotiating and documenting loan modifications, discounted payoffs and restructurings.

Commercial & Real Estate Litigation. John represents owners, landlords, tenants, developers, lenders and investors in real estate and commercial disputes, including lease controversies across all asset classes, acquisition and disposition disputes, mechanics’ liens and construction claims, brokerage disputes, title and survey issues, partnership and joint venture disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims and land-use and condemnation matters. His broader commercial litigation practice includes breach of contract, business torts, fraud claims and business divorces.

Real Estate & Commercial Transactions. Outside the courtroom, John counsels clients on acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing and structuring investments in real estate. Although much of his transactional work relates to distressed assets or fractured deals, he also represents clients in conventional transactions. He also provides outside general counsel advice.