John S. Meyer, Jr.

Shareholder

P: 314.505.5442
F: 314.505.5443
meyer@capessokol.com
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Areas of Concentration

Commercial Transactions & Finance
Real Estate Transactions & Dispute Resolution
Lending Disputes & Creditors’ Rights
Non-Profit Organizations

Education

J.D., Washington University School of Law (1984)
B.A., Psychology, Yale University (1980)

Designations & Awards

John S. Meyer, Jr. is widely recognized for his expertise in guiding and resolving complex legal matters related to non-profit companies, commercial real estate and business transactions. A shareholder and Executive Committee member at Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C., Mr. Meyer chairs the firm’s Business & Real Estate practice group.

A talented collaborator, Mr. Meyer has represented clients in a wide variety of commercial transactions over the span of more than 27 years in private practice, including:

  • Asset acquisitions & dispositions
  • Stock acquisitions & dispositions
  • Choice of entity
  • Entity formation
  • Contracts
  • Commercial finance & loan documentation
  • Real estate & construction finance
  • Construction contracts & dispute resolution, including resolution of mechanic’s liens
  • Build-to-suit leases
  • Buy/Sell agreements
  • Sale-leaseback transactions
  • Prosecution of creditors’ rights in bankruptcy proceedings
  • Zoning & permitting
  • Non-profit organizations

Mr. Meyer serves a wide range of corporate and nonprofit clients in transactions and matters of litigation, mediation and arbitration. Notable representations include:

  • St. Louis Embassy Suites Hotel. Resolved mechanic’s liens and obtained approval to sell hotel in developer’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
  • St. Louis Merchandise Mart. Resolved mechanic’s liens and procured bankruptcy court approval to foreclose on the historic St. Louis Merchandise Mart Building
  • Anheuser-Busch Companies. Resolved mechanic’s liens filed by subcontractors and suppliers to brewery renovations stemming from general contractor’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
  • Interco Incorporated. Responsible for claims resolution and daily issues arising in one of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases ever filed in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • Heritage Healthcare. Represented trustee in sale of financially distressed extended care facilities to fund distribution of proceeds to bondholders
  • Maritz, Inc. Negotiated build-to-suit leases for corporate office buildings in Toledo, Ohio and Torrance, California
  • Joe Edwards. Represents Joe Edwards and his companies’ with respect to various elements critical to development of “The Loop,” a mile-long stretch of Delmar Boulevard in University City and St. Louis, Missouri, which has been named one of the Ten Great Streets in North America by the American Planning Association.  Illustrative matters include development of Moonrise Hotel in The Loop and resolution of claims related to the restoration of the historic Tivoli Theatre
  • Farmland Industries. Resolved millions of dollars in assorted mechanic’s liens filed against Coffeyville, Kansas oil refinery amid Farmland’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
  • Grace Hill. General representation of 100+-year-old nonprofit corporation, including real estate development projects designed to expand accessibility to health care, Head Start and jobs training and placement services
  • St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources. General representation of nonprofit corporation formed pursuant to Missouri’s County Sheltered Workshop Act

Prior to joining Capes Sokol in 2007, Mr. Meyer practiced in the Banking and Real Estate, Bankruptcy and Construction Law groups at Bryan Cave, LLP. He is licensed to practice in the state of Missouri. He has litigated matters in various courts, including the Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, Southern Illinois and Southern New York, as well as the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and the Circuit Courts of St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

Mr. Meyer is a member of the American Arbitration Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) and the Construction and Business Law sections of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Meyer is a native of St. Louis with long-time involvement in a number of civic endeavors, including:

  • He chairs the Washington University School of Law Eliot Society and Annual Giving Campaign and is a member of the National Council of Advisors
  • He is involved on several fronts with Grace Hill, including as a member of the Presidents’ Council and the Facilities Advisory Committee, and is an active fundraiser for that non-profit corporation
  • He recently joined the Beyond Housing Board of Directors
  • He recently completed six years of service as member of the Board of  Trustees of John Burroughs School
  • He is a Member of the Executive Committee of Robert Burns Club of St. Louis
  • He has served as a Board Member of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (past President and Treasurer), where he remains a member of the Finance Committee
  • He is active with fund-raising for the Forsyth School (past President, Capital Campaign Co-Chair and member of Campus Master Planning Committee)
  • He is a past director of The City Museum and a past member of the Downtown Development Committee of St. Louis 2004

Publications & Seminar Topics

  • “Construction Project Payment Issues in the Context of Bankruptcy,” Journal of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), Fall 2001
  • “Mechanic’s Liens and Construction Bonds Under Missouri Law” numerous presentations, The Cambridge Institute, 1992–1998
  • “Construction Law–How to Obtain Payment” presented for the Seminar Group, May 2003
  • “Debtor Creditor and Bankruptcy Issues and Construction Issues,” The Center for Real Estate, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business, January 2004, 2005, 2006  (Spring and Fall)

Significant Published Decisions

  • Tivoli Bldg., L.L.C. v. Metropolitan Design & Bldg. Co., Inc., 139 S.W.3d 592 (Mo. App. E.D. 2004)
  • In re Thermadyne Holdings Corp., Beck v. Victor Equipment Co., Inc., 277 B.R. 179 (S.D.N.Y. 2002)
  • Sachs Elec. Co. v. HS Const. Co., 86 S.W.3d 445 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • Moto, Inc. v. Board of Adjustment City of St. Louis, 88 S.W.3d 96 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • In re Interco, Inc., Gretchen’s of Minneapolis, Inc. v. Highland House, Inc., 186 F.3d 1032 (8th Cir. 1999)
  • L. Waldo & Associates, Inc. v. PVO Foods, Inc., 852 S.W.2d 424 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • In re Melp, Ltd., 143 B.R. 890 (Bkrtcy. E.D.Mo. 1992)
  • Lemay Bank & Trust Co. v. Lawrence, 710 S.W.2d 318 (Mo. App. E.D. 1986)