John’s practice concentrates on motor vehicle dealer franchises and related matters including dealership acquisitions and sales; organizing and advising various business entities; commercial finance and real estate transactions; general commercial litigation and motor vehicle dealer consumer defense litigation. Though focused on automobile dealerships, those skills transfer to providing similar services to businesses of all kinds.
John’s practice also includes significant work in commercial litigation, mainly for automobile dealers – contract disputes, construction litigation, defense of consumer litigation – and with skills that make him adaptable to multi-faceted situations. John also represents individuals in residential and commercial real estate transactions and probate administration and litigation.
For more than three decades in courtrooms and boardrooms, clients have looked to John for common sense advice and reasoned advocacy. As a regular in the courtrooms in Cook County, judges look to him for the same. John is a lawyer who brings decades of experience and to every matter.
As a former member and chairman of the Oak Lawn Planning & Zoning Commission, John possesses considerable knowledge and experience in planning, zoning, and other land use related legal matters.
John began his career path in private practice in the Southwest suburbs, moving to an in-house general counsel position at a multi-state holding company, and eventually to Hardt & Stern, P.C. from 1989-2003. Prior to returning to Hardt, Stern & Kayne in 2015, John was a partner in the Chicago law firm, Gordon & Karr, LLP, later Karr, Herschman & Eggert, LLP, a commercial law firm that also focused on representing automobile dealers. In addition to the commercial work, he has represented scores of clients in federal and state courts, and before State and Federal agencies.