John Thompson focuses his practice on complex Chapter 11 cases and debtor and creditor rights. He handles business reorganizations and cross-border insolvency matters, and has extensive experience representing debtors, creditors, acquirers, landlords, and equity holders both in and out of court across a broad range of industries. John has served as counsel for numerous high-profile Chapter 11 debtors, including Enron, Worldcom, Northwest, and LyondellBasell. His creditor representations include a local council in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy, a major auto maker in the Takata airbag Chapter 11, national energy companies in the White Star and First Energy restructurings, and several swap counterparties in the Lehman bankruptcies.

John regularly assists private equity funds, family offices, and other asset managers with opportunistic section 363 acquisitions and efficient dispositions of distressed assets. He also advises financial institutions on trading contract and derivatives issues, and he is a member of Akerman’s Crypto Insolvency Team.

Dedicated to giving back to his community, John frequently volunteers and handles pro bono matters. He served as counsel of record in the restructuring of a nonprofit school for emotionally disturbed adolescents and represented African-American police officers in their employment discrimination litigation against the city of Baltimore. John actively participates in pro bono activities on behalf of veterans and military service members serves as co-chair of the legislative committee for the American Bankruptcy Institute's Veterans Task Force.

Before earning his law degree, John served as a captain and helicopter pilot in the United States Army. During his service, John commanded a company of 275 soldiers stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and led an air cavalry platoon of the 24th Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.