Real Estate Sales

John Zinke

Attorney at Law

P.O. Box *****, Carol Stream, IL 60188-8300

phone: 630-***-**** fax: 630-***-****

e-mail: *****@************.***

website: http://www.zinkelawfirm.com

LinkedIn webpage: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnzinke

.Senior Operations Counsel with extensive experience in the financial

services industry

.Possesses both transactional & litigation experience

.Demonstrated success in commercial finance, equipment leasing, asset-based

lending

.Adept at documentation and negotiation of transactions

.Possesses a collaborative working style with professionals and executives

at all levels

.Self-motivated leader with a unique combination of legal experience, keen

business savvy,

problem resolution & relationship management skills

Law Practice Concentrated in the Areas of:

. Operations . Asset & Portfolio Acquisitions . Collections . Commercial

Finance

. Corporate Governance . Corporate Law . Due Diligence . OEM & Vendor

Programs . Equipment Leasing

. In-House Counsel . Lawyer . Litigation . Franchise & Transportation

Financing . Mergers & Acquisitions

. Real Estate . Secured Transactions . UCC Art. 9 and 2A . Risk Mitigation

. Transactional Law

. UCC Lien Perfection & Enforcement . Mortgage Foreclosure

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

.Senior commercial finance/equipment leasing operations attorney with

outstanding credentials and 19 years of demonstrated law firm and in-house

experience with a proven track record of excellent settlement and recovery

gains

.Recently served for seven years as in-house counsel in a hands-on,

corporate, commercial transaction, collection, and general litigation role

managing the legal affairs for a large independent equipment leasing

company with four geographical locations (including coordination of due

diligence and consummation of merger & acquisition of three business unit

divisions in three different states)

.Started in-house legal department from scratch, eventually growing the

staff to four associate attorneys (two transactional and two litigation),

four paralegals and support staff

. Managed outside counsel and dramatically reduced cost of outside attorney

fees by utilizing legal department stafff and handling legal matters

internally thereby converting legal expenses from a loss center to a profit

center

.Created legal department handbook and operating procedures manual

incorporating best practices and processes for handling of legal matters

.Created and maintained databases of forms and electronic tracking and

filing systems for over 1,000 commercial finance lease contract

transactions, bankruptcy, breach of contract and fraud cases

. Facilitated thousands of settlements between parties as alternatives to

litigation, thereby avoiding significant exposure and expense

. As lead in-house attorney, responsible for successful resolution of Class

Actions and Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General Complaints

involving portfolio of over 800 individual contracts having a net value of

over $19 million

. Drafted and negotiated program agreements, OEM/vendor agreements, and

over $100 million in portfolio sale agreements specific to medical, office,

industrial, and commercial equipment leases

.. Negotiated and drafted confidentiality agreements, letters of agreement,

purchase agreements, performed due diligence and managed transactional

phase of mergers and acquisitions, joint venture arrangements and corporate

financing for the acquisition of several out of state businesses,

increasing sales volume, business platforms and assets

ZINKE LAW FIRM 2009 to present

Legal Services available on a Consultant/Independent Contractor basis

including coverage of suburban & collar county court calls

Attorney at Law, Sole Proprietorship

Practice of law focused on:

.Preparation of commercial & residential real estate contracts & real

estate closings, short-sales & foreclosures

.Volunteer Foreclosure Mediation Attorney (Chicago Volunteer Legal

Services)

.Corporate law & business counseling, including contract negotiation,

document review & drafting

.Commercial finance, contracts & collections

.Wills, trusts, probate

.Registered Real Estate Title Insurance Agent

IFC Credit Corporation 2002-2008

A national $180 million commercial equipment leasing and finance company

Attorney, Vice-President of Legal Affairs, Lead in-house counsel and legal

department manager handling corporate, transactional and litigation matters

. Managed attorneys, paralegals and support staff within legal department

while continually evaluating talent

. Drafted, reviewed and negotiated agreements, contracts and documentation

relating to OEM/vendor programs and the funding of small-ticket up to multi-

million dollar commercial equipment financing transactions and lease

transactions for all types of collateral

. Reviewed, drafted and negotiated software and employment agreements

. Reviewed, drafted and negotiated contracts involving franchise financing,

vehicle and transportation financing, and portfolio sales and acquisitions

. Worked in conjunction with the vendor sales team and other departments

regarding transactions and litigation for such matters as regulatory

compliance, restructuring electronic discovery, state and federal

litigation, repossession/replevin, class actions

. Managed outside counsel for handling transaction and litigation matters

such as contract enforcement, collections employment claims and

investigations by state and federal government agencies including FTC,

State Attorney Generals

. Maintained corporate legal structure including organization of

subsidiaries and the implementation of policies

. Handled matters involving corporate governance, due diligence, mergers

and acquisitions and joint ventures

. Member of Bankruptcy Creditors' Committee and Post-BK Beneficiaries'

Committee of a complex Ch. 11

case involving liquidation and reorganization of multi-million dollar sub-

prime auto loan company and its related entities by maximizing recovery for

creditors

. Provided legal status reports and updates to the Board of Directors

General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC)/ Mellon First United Leasing

2000-2002

A small ticket commercial equipment leasing subsidiary of Mellon Bank that

was acquired by GE Capital Corporation

Manager of Legal/Litigation Department - Senior Staff Attorney - GE Capital

Corporation (6/01-3/02)

Took on additional responsibilities of managing the Legal / Litigation

Department after acquisition by GECC

Senior Attorney - Mellon First United Leasing, a division of Mellon Bank

(2/00-6/01)

Hired to handle contracts/transactional matters in addition to collections,

litigation and bankruptcy

. Represented the Manufacturers and Dealers Business Unit

. Worked in conjunction with all departments to facilitate front-end

assistance in transactional matters, contracts, regulatory compliance,

bankruptcy and state and federal litigation

. Supervised paralegals, support staff and outside counsel that handled

collection litigation and bankruptcy matters

. Provided assistance and training to fellow employees in regulatory and

compliance matters

. Drafted, negotiated and reviewed small ticket commercial equipment

leasing transactions and OEM/vendor programs for assets such as forklifts,

office equipment, technology and medical equipment

. Managed collections, negotiations, restructuring, repossession/replevin,

and litigation of over 200 defaulted/non-performing equipment lease files

. Managed all aspects of bankruptcy files to maximize credit recovery on

defaulted/non-performing equipment

leases in bankruptcy with a proven track record of excellent settlement and

recovery gains

Coston & Lichtman 1996-2000

Chicago based national law firm representing equipment lessors, banks,

finance companies and funding sources on a nation-wide basis

Senior Associate Attorney

. Representation of commercial equipment lessors, banks and finance

companies; transactions and litigation

. Handled bankruptcy, discovery, depositions, motions, trials and appeals

in state and federal courts

Poznak Law Firm 1995-1996

Sole-practitioner specializing in corporate and business law

Associate Attorney

Practiced in the areas of corporate law, transactions and litigation in

state and federal courts

Law Offices of Victor J. Cacciatore 1990-1995

Chicago area law firm specializing in business, commercial real estate and

banking

Associate Attorney (91-95)

Served as an Associate in the areas of banking, real estate, personal

property and mortgage foreclosure, probate, corporate

and general business, transactions and litigation

Law Clerk (90-91) Performed research and wrote memoranda

Judge Monica Reynolds, Chancery Division: Circuit Court of Cook County 1989-

1990

Judicial Law Clerk

Externship, Performed research, prepared drafts and provided general

assistance

State Attorney's Office: DuPage County 1985-1989

Investigative Assistant, Investigations Division (86-89)

File Clerk, Records Division (85)

BAR ADMISSIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

-Member of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association ("ELFA") 1996-2008

-Member of the Chicago Bar Association 1991-present

-Supreme Court of Illinois 1991

-United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 1991

EDUCATION:

The John Marshall Law School 1990, Juris Doctor, Class Rank: 9th

Loyola University of Chicago 1985

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Pre-law Program with concentration

in Business

VOLUNTEER:

-Chicago Legal Clinic Pro Bono Program 1991-1995

-Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, (CVLS), Volunteer Foreclosure Mediation

Attorney, 2010-present

-The Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities 1980-Present

John Zinke's Highlights of Significant

Real Estate & Mortgage Foreclosure Experience:

. Commercial Real Estate Leasing:

-Negotiation of Oak Brook Mall lease on behalf of tenant;

-Resolution of commercial and office lease disputes on behalf of landlord;

and

-Warehouse eviction trial on behalf of landlord (obtained judgment for

landlord).

. Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals:

-Representation of petitioner in zoning change after petitioner's initial

application was rejected.

-Prepared and made presentation to Zoning Board of Appeals, successfully

obtained zoning change.

.Purchases and sales of Real Estate including Sale of Multi-Unit Apartment

Building in Chicago

. Represented lender in loan modification/workout involving cross-

collateralization and cross-default agreements for 14 different loans and

parcels with a total mortgage debt of $7,009,309.

. Represented lender in deed-in-lieu of foreclosure from joint venture

developer, subject property in varying stages of completion i.e. vacant,

under construction and completed residences, total mortgage debt of

$1,856,693 including letters of credit, mechanic's liens, engineering and

environmental issues.

. Collection of manufacturing facility mortgage debt of $280,597 by

commencing state foreclosure action, representation of secured lender in

chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and consummation of assignment (sale) of

judgment to third-party.

. Collection of strip mall mortgage foreclosure debt of $216, 713 by

commencing state foreclosure action, representation of secured lender in

chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, enforcement of assignment of rents during

bankruptcy, and consummation of foreclosure sale to third-party.

(Writing Sample & References available upon request)

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