JOHN MARK HONGS, Principal Attorney

John is a business lawyer specializing in the areas of corporate formation and structure, commercial contracts, and real estate. His experience includes representing Fortune 500 Companies, other leading public corporations, banks and financial institutions, land holding companies and trusts, shopping mall developers, private equity funds, municipalities, and closely-held entities. He is also a recognized and peer-reviewed business litigator having significant successes in both jury and judge-tried cases.

I believe in providing people a direct path to their personal goals.

The way I do this is by helping them succeed in business.

I just happen to be a business lawyer.

Licensure & Court Admissions
Missouri, Illinois, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Education

Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri; J.D., May 2002

• Law Review, Washington University Journal of Law and Policy; Editorial Board Member, Articles and Notes Editor

Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois; B.A.

• Economics

Significant Representative Matters

• Designed risk-reducing procedures for Associated Bank, N. A. call centers.
• Termination of St. Louis Region Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants franchisor WenAmerica LLC, related reacquisition of properties, real estate and protected marks.
• Representation of the City of Brentwood, Missouri in the disposition of tax incremental financing litigation involving the Brentwood Meridian.
• Purchase and acquisition of business assets and related real estate for Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches franchises in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
• Coordination and compliance oversight of ADA standards update and rehabilitation of the Saint Louis Galleria in Brentwood, Missouri.
• Dismissal and other favorable disposition of environmental and nuisance claims relating to former PPG Industries glass factory site in Crystal City, Missouri.
• Dismissal of federal class action claims concerning interest rate calculations on commercial loans on behalf of numerous bank clients.
• Early disposition of Fair Debt Collections Practices Act class action consisting of over 21,000 class members.
• Early disposition of Real Estate Settlement Practices Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action consisting of class members spanning the entire State of Missouri.

Honors

"AV Preeminent" Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, denoting that a lawyer has acheived the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Selected to Super Lawyers 2022 in Business Law by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers

Top Attorneys, Missouri & Kansas 2022; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 2022; KS Magazine, October 2022

"Rising Stars" awarded in Business Litigation by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers, a distinction earned by no more than two-and-a-half percent of all lawyers in the state of Missouri.

Top Attorneys, Outstanding Young Lawyers, 2012; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 2012; KS Magazine, October 2012

Lectures and Seminars

"Drafting LLC Agreements: Essential Skills and Hands-On Training"; National Business Institute Seminar

"Draft Documents That Protect Everyone's Interests"; National Business Institute Seminar

"The Anti-Contact Rule for Business Lawyers and Litigators - When Can You Speak to Adversaries or Their Current and Former Employees and Agents?"; WestLegalEdCenter

"Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Essentials"; National Business Institute

"Choosing the Right Legal Entity and Issues in Small Business"; Veterans Business Resource Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Associations & Activities

Missouri Asian American Bar Association

• President 2014
• Board member 2016, 2015, 2010-2012
• Secretary 2013
• Member 2009 - present

Rotary Club International, Club 11

• Member 2016 – present
• Community Service Committee

The Northwest Chamber of Commerce (Saint Louis, Missouri)

• Board of Directors 2019 - 2020
• Executive Board 2020

Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) of St. Louis

• General Counsel 2010-2013

Asian American Chamber of Commerce Foundation

• General Counsel 2011-2013

OCA - MAAP (Mentoring Asian American Professionals)

• Mentor / Volunteer