John Thomas, a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice, is a seasoned business transaction lawyer with more than 25 years of experience counseling and representing private and public companies in a variety of industries, including high technology, apparel, aviation, financial services, senior living and clean technology. John focuses his practice on counseling and representing clients in mergers and acquisitions; corporate financings, including underwritten public securities offerings and private placements; joint ventures and strategic alliances; restructurings and spin-offs; purchases, sales and leases of aircraft and aviation finance; commercial transactions and contracts; periodic reporting and securities law compliance; and corporate governance.
John is a frequent speaker and author of articles on a variety of primarily public company topics, including securities law and corporate governance issues. John co-authored The Public Company Handbook: A Corporate Governance and Disclosure Guide for Directors and Executives.
Ranked by Chambers & Best Lawyers
Named “Securities Regulation Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America, 2024
Ranked by Chambers USA 19 Years in a Row
Professional Recognition
- Named Best Lawyers' "Portland Lawyer of the Year, Securities / Capital Markets Law," 2015, 2020, 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law; Securities Regulation, 2007 – 2024
- Ranked by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions, 2005 – 2023
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal USA – Corporate Governance, 2006
- Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Oregon Super Lawyers", 2006 – 2018, 2020 – 2023
- Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Professional Leadership
- Oregon State Bar, Business Law Section Legislative Committee, Co-Chair
- Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum, Board Member, 2004 – 2006; Chair, Development Committee 2004, 2005; Member, Development Committee 2003; Member, Venture Oregon Committee 2001, 2002
- American Bar Association Business Law Section, Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section, Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section Executive Committee, 1996 – 1999
- Multnomah Bar Association
- The Northwest Academy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 2010 – 2015; Trustee, 2005 – 2015
- Open School, Director, 2015 – present
Related Employment
- Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, OR, Associate, 1991 – 1998; Partner, 1999 – 2007