Biography Photo of John Gonway

John P. Gonway

Mr. Gonway specializes in real estate, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, family offices and secured lending. His experience includes the acquisition, financing, construction, development and leasing of all types of commercial real estate (with particular experience in multi-family housing), as well as the representation of clients in all aspects of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions, including complex franchise acquisitions and private equity syndications.

In his family office practice, Mr. Gonway assists high net worth families, asset managers, and advisors in wealth protection strategies including strategic planning, due diligence, investment management, family philanthropy, office formation and operation, counseling clients on tax efficient structures and strategies for wealth management and wealth transfer.

Mr. Gonway received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Wayne State University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, he received his undergraduate degree in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University, with additional studies in history and political economics. He is a member of the Real Property, Business Law and Taxation Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.

Education & Credentials

Education

Michigan State University, James Madison College

B.A., 1993

Wayne State University School of Law

J.D., 1996

  • cum laude

Bar Admission

  • Michigan

Acknowledgements

  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Real Estate Law, 2020-2025
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2025

Representative Clients

  • EventLink
  • FordDirect
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • Harbinger Capital Advisors LLC
  • The Huntington National Bank
  • Ibis Investment Company
  • Level One Bank
  • M1 Concourse
  • O-I Glass, Inc.
  • Petzold Enterprises
  • PureForge
  • Uniprop
  • Utica Leaseco

Prominent Assignments

Assisting an energy company with regard to a project for the reclamation of environmentally sensitive natural resources, including drafting the necessary contracts for the construction and operation of a newly constructed processing plant and related infrastructure, the harvesting of the natural resources, and the sale of the processed product to end users.

Regional Lead for Multifamily Portfolio Acquisition with a Purchase Price in Excess of $1 Billion

Lead Attorney in Multi-State Franchise Acquisitions

Lead Attorney in Multi-State Industry Rollups

Lead Attorney for the M1 Concourse

Professional Involvement

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
  • Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
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