John O. Sutton Jr. joined Haynes and Boone, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Finance Practice Group. He will work out of both the Fort Worth and Dallas offices.

John has substantial experience representing banks, commercial financiers, and investment funds in asset-based lending (ABL) and structured finance transactions involving real estate, aircraft, hospitality, shipping and other industries. He has spent the bulk of his career at Hughes & Luce LLP and later K&L Gates LLP, following the merger of the firms. During his nearly 25 years at the firm, John handled a broad range of sophisticated debt transactions, including representing acquirers and capital sources in the structuring of leveraged acquisitions; lenders in debtor-in-possession and post-confirmation financings; and issuers and purchasers of mezzanine or senior subordinated debt.

“John has built a phenomenal finance practice and is well-regarded by financial institutions across the country,” said Haynes and Boone Partner Neal Kaminsky, who is chair of Haynes and Boone’s Finance Practice Group. “He is a wonderful addition to our team and immediately bolsters the services we can offer clients.”

John will work closely with Haynes and Boone Partners Tim Johnston and Jim Markus, who joined the firm last year from Vinson & Elkins LLP and have decades of experience handling syndicated and bilateral domestic and cross-border ABL transactions.

John said he was attracted to Haynes and Boone because of its reputation in finance, particularly in regard to mid-market and ABL transactions, as well as its collaborative culture, strong leadership, and entrepreneurialism.

“I could not pass up the opportunity to team up with such stellar lawyers as Neal Kaminsky, Jim Markus and Tim Johnston, among others in Haynes and Boone’s Finance Practice,” John said. “Together, we can provide a breadth and depth of practice in the ABL space that will be very attractive to clients.”

Haynes and Boone’s Finance Practice Group structures new and sophisticated financing vehicles that fit the business needs of clients. The team is recognized for its successful work for commercial lenders, as well as its work with domestic and foreign borrowers, regional banks and financial institutions, investment banks, non-bank credit companies, vendors, financial sponsors, private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds, and other investment funds.