Born in Minnesota and raised in South Dakota, John attended the University of South Dakota, from which he received a B.A in Pre-Law History, before entering Law School at the University of Virginia. Concluding, after a year, that he belonged on the prairie, John transferred to the Law School at the University of South Dakota, graduating with Honors in 1972. John has practiced law from Sioux Falls continually since, interrupted only by a stint in the Army.

With the rising business fortunes of contemporaries and intense exposure to developing creditor and debtor law in the wake of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, John (just “Q” to many) transitioned from a young general practice courtroom lawyer in the 70’s to today’s business practitioner. The breadth of experience acquired along the way has made him a true “counselor at law”, skilled in anticipating and avoiding problems for his clients. When problems nonetheless present, John is committed to net positive resolution while not losing sight of advocacy (a client once said “you never have to wonder which side he’s on”). In his transactional practice, John enjoys nothing more than taking a project to the client’s anticipated finish line.

John and his lawyer niece, Rachel Hanisch, who joined him in the practice in 2004, count among their continuing clients over three hundred small and medium sized South Dakota business entities, many of which also conduct business elsewhere, several banks and other lenders and, of course, many individuals with respect to both their personal and work lives. John and Rachel have developed a reliable and experienced network of colleagues in specialized areas of the law with whom they collaborate in order to deliver solid advice and broad effective representation.

John and his wife, Kris, a retired labor and delivery Registered Nurse, are the parents of two adult sons and reside in rural Minnehaha County, where they are at the beck and call of a host of four-legged fellow travelers in life.

Areas of Practice:

  • Commercial & Contract Litigation
  • Business Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation

Education:

  • University of South Dakota School of Law J.D.
  • University of Virginia School of Law
  • University of South Dakota B.A.

Bar Admissions:

  • South Dakota 1972
  • US District Court District of South Dakota 1972
  • US Court of Appeals 8th Circuit 1978
  • US Supreme Court 1978