John H.C. Barron, Jr. engages in an international business practice that includes complex corporate, real estate, finance, economic development, foreign investment and eminent domain matters. He has extensive experience serving as general and special counsel to domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies, joint ventures, institutional investors, real estate investment trusts, commercial banks and other financial institutions, pension funds, public and private real estate limited partnerships, nonprofit organizations, trusts, estates and high net worth individuals. Mr. Barron represents foreign investors acquiring U.S. corporations and real estate assets as well as federal, state and local government entities in major economic development projects. He regularly represents his clients in structuring, negotiation and implementation of transactions involving formation and governance of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, construction, redevelopment, land acquisitions and dispositions, financings, leasing, 1031 exchanges, sale/leasebacks, capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, equity investment and asset management.

Mr. Barron serves as a trustee of the Federal City Council, a member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., director of the American City Quality Foundation and a member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland, Mr. Barron is a 1971 graduate of Duke University School of Law.

Areas Of Practice

Business Law
Real Estate Law
Finance
Economic Development/Public-Private Partnerships
Foreign Investment
Eminent Domain

Representative Matters

Outside general counsel, Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, a federal government-owned entity, in connection with the redevelopment of Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington, D.C., including structuring, drafting and negotiation of a 99-year unsubordinated ground lease of land for development of the flagship J. W. Marriott Hotel and an adjacent office complex and retail mall, and counsel to the corporation regarding interpretation of its statutory authority.
Outside co-general counsel, Washington Convention Center Authority in connection with the development and construction of a new $850 million convention center, including negotiation and drafting of agreements with the architect/engineering team, the program manager, and the general contractor, negotiation and drafting of an historic preservation agreement, agreements in lieu of condemnation, an agreement for relocation of public utilities, review of preliminary official statement in connection with a $600 million tax-exempt bond financing, advice regarding the drafting and interpretation of governing statutes and regulations, and construction contract administration.
Counsel to a cooperative corporation that owns 42 acres of land fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach County, Florida in connection with the proposed $500 million sale of real estate assets and sale of 100% of corporate stock through a reverse merger
Corporate secretary and general counsel to a $500 million charitable foundation and director of its real estate holding company.
Counsel to a court-supervised trust in connection with the joint venture redevelopment of a new 380,000-square foot trophy office building.
General counsel to a foreign-owned corporation in connection with the design, construction, financing, leasing, operation and disposition of a commercial office building and the separate sale of the offshore parent entity on a favorable tax basis.
Counsel to landowners whose property was condemned for a new major league baseball stadium, including negotiation of a $50 million settlement with the condemnor.
Counsel to pension fund investment advisor in connection with more than $1 billion in real estate investment in more than 30 states and the District of Columbia.
Representation of a publicly-traded REIT in connection with the proposed acquisition of a Maryland corporation owning a trophy high-rise commercial office building.
Representation of landowners in connection with long-term unsubordinated ground leases for development of 300,000 square feet of retail and more than 1,300 high-rise residential rent apartment units in Pentagon City, Arlington County, Virginia.
Representation of a joint venture comprised of a U.S.-based real estate developer and a UK public company in connection with the development of a high-rise mixed-use commercial, retail and residential building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Representation of a major national hotel chain in connection with the development of a high-rise hotel in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
Representation of a New York-based university in connection with a build-to-suit high security office complex in Virginia used for conducting classified research for the Department of the Navy.
Representation of a Canadian-owned sugar refinery in Yonkers, New York in connection with a major redevelopment financing from the New York State Urban Development Corporation.
Representation of a major national pension fund in a major permanent financing of a national medical laboratory facility adjacent to O'Hare Airport in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Representation of a consortium of a Swiss private bank, a French bank, a U.S. institutional lender and a Dutch bank as manager on a construction/permanent loan on a downtown hotel, including complex lien litigation related thereto.
Representation of a lender in connection with permanent financing of multifamily housing projects in Arizona, California and New York.
Representation of the leading men's professional golf organization in connection with the development of the TPC at Avenel golf course in Potomac, Maryland, including land acquisition, negotiation and drafting of easements and CC&Rs, construction financing and permanent financing.
Representation of lenders in connection with foreclosure on major commercial office building.
Representation of pension funds in asset management of a major retail mall, including leasing, historic preservation, liquor licensing, construction, litigation, insurance and all other matters.

Professional Activities

The District of Columbia Bar
- Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section
- District of Columbia Affairs Section
Maryland State Bar Association
- Real Property, Planning and Zoning Section
- Business Law Section
Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

Admissions

Maryland
District of Columbia
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals for Maryland

Education

Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1971

University of Maryland, A.B., 1968

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2003-present
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, Washington, D.C.
- Partner, 1998-2003
Rogers & Wells, Washington, D.C.
- Partner, 1979-1997
- Associate, 1971-1978

Board Memberships

Director, American City Quality Foundation

Civic and Charitable Activities

Trustee, Federal City Council
Member, Economic Club of Washington
Volunteer legal services, ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter
Community Association President

Selected Speaking Engagements

Author and Teacher, "The Impact of Problems in the Subprime Market on Real Estate Financing - Armageddon or Opportunity", CLE Course, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2008
Panelist, Seminar on the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation and Public/Private Development, Chicago, Illinois