Marc Levinson From February of 2008 through February of 2015, John and I worked together on the City of Vallejo and then the City of Stockton chapter 9 bankruptcy cases. We also helped keep two California cities out of bankruptcy by negotiating workouts; the one done with the assistance of a mediator concluded in 2016. You really don’t get to know your friends or law partners (often who are both) when a deal or litigation is going swimmingly. But you do when you’re in the foxhole together and your adversaries – and sometimes your clients – are shooting at you. My eight years under intense fire with John, including multiple daily phone calls and emails and countless in-person meetings, convinced me that he was one of the best people and best lawyers I’ve ever met and likely ever will meet. Here’s some elaboration: Brilliant public finance lawyer. John’s knowledge of both the law and its application to shifting fact patterns never ceased to amaze me. Perhaps more importantly, it never ceased to amaze our clients, our adversaries and, in one bankruptcy case and one workout, the two mediators. Even during the most heated and uncomfortable negotiation sessions, when John opined about the law – or perhaps instructed is a better word – everyone both listened and accepted his analysis. I should add that we were dealing with the first string, including Weil Gotshall and Sidley, plus very capable mediators – one sitting and one retired bankruptcy judge. John delivered his analysis objectively, and when the analysis was unfavorable to where we wanted to go, he nevertheless delivered it. His undeniable honesty complemented his vast expertise. Creative. While John knew and was able to explain the law, he also was unwilling to merely apply it. Rather, he worked within the law to develop creative solutions, a number of which were implemented, enabling both Stockton and Vallejo to emerge from bankruptcy. His mind was always working, looking for Door No. 3 if Doors 1 and 2 didn’t work. His out of the box thinking impressed me, but it went beyond that, stunning clients, adversaries and the mediators. Flexibility. Public finance lawyers don’t face the gut-wrenching adversity and criticism that litigators do. So John entered a new world in 2008 when his client, the City of Vallejo, and its lawyers were attacked harshly by our adversaries (primarily three of the City’s four labor organizations) in meetings, in court filings and in the media. The equally strong adversity in the Stockton case came from the capital markets lawyers. He adjusted, and although was never happy with the level of animosity, dealt with it calmly and stoically. Warm, caring and modest. John was a superstar. He had to know that, but he never acted like a superstar. No ego, no boasting, no demeaning a lawyer who misstated the law during a negotiation session. He was very comfortable within his own skin, and did not feel the need to tell others that he was special. John cared about others, and, simply stated, was a nice person who treated everyone as an equal – whether or not they deserved it. Attached photo. In 2013, John and I received the CLAY (California Lawyer Attorney of the Year) Award for Bankruptcy Law our work for Vallejo and Stockton. John won the award for Municipal Law a few years later for a creating from whole cloth a public finance project that raised funds for an underprivileged neighborhood. The attached photo was taken at the 2013 awards ceremony; the presenter was California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. The photo brings back warm memories, but makes me miss John even more.

Lauren Sommerhauser John playing the piano at the Wheeling PFD retreat. He was so good he inspired others to sing along.