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Professional background
Biography image

John C.Allerding

Partner
Atlanta

O 404.407.3676

Cleveland

O 216.566.5748

John C.Allerding

Partner

As a member of the Firm’s Business Restructuring, Creditor’s Rights & Bankruptcy and Business Litigation practice groups, John represents clients in a wide range of industries on a variety of different matters, including commercial and creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, distressed and special asset workouts, drafting and negotiation of asset purchase agreements, preference action litigation, fraudulent transfer litigation, Uniform Commercial Code disputes, assignments for the benefit of creditors, commercial litigation, contract analysis and negotiation, corporate director and officer liability litigation, financial institution and mortgage servicer defense under various federal and state consumer protection statutes, and trust reformation and litigation.

John is committed to improving the lives of those in our community. He is the chair of Thompson Hine’s Pro Bono Committee in Cleveland and a member of the Board of Directors for Towards Employment. He is also a member of the American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project, and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Best Lawyers 2025
Super Lawyers Rising Star 2021

Focus Areas

  • Representation of multibillion dollar heavy construction equipment financier with respect to various state and federal creditor rights litigation matters.
  • Defense of some of the largest residential mortgage lenders and servicers in the country with respect to various state and federal claims asserted against them.
  • Representation of multistate real estate holding and property management companies in Chapter 11 proceedings styled In re Berger Properties of Texas, LLC, et al. (Texas).
  • Defense of large chemical manufacturer with respect to bankruptcy issues involved in class action antitrust litigation.
  • Representation of Fortune 500 lender with respect to Uniform Commercial Code litigation.
  • Defense of officers and directors of large bankrupt solar panel manufacturer with respect to breach of fiduciary duty and other claims asserted by chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee.
  • Representation of chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee of bankrupt oil and gas company.
  • Representation of large and mid-sized companies with respect to contract negotiation and disputes.
  • Representation of large and mid-sized companies with respect to various bankruptcy issues, including preference claim litigation.
  • Representation of senior secured lender of bankrupt technology manufacturing company with respect to repayment of senior secured debt.
  • Representation of secured lender with respect to collection of secured debt and initiation and administration of receivership proceedings.
  • Representation of corporate trustees with respect to resignation of trusteeship duties.
  • Representation of secured lenders in various bankruptcy proceedings with respect to use of cash collateral, preservation of security interests, and collection of secured debt through bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Representation of prepetition secured lender with respect to efforts to purchase coal mines from bankrupt coal mine operator.
  • Representation of officers and directors of bankrupt air-crane operator with respect to breach of fiduciary and other claims asserted by the trustee of the bankrupt’s litigation trust.
  • Representation of the operator of Sears Optical with respect to numerous issues arising from its pre- and post-bankruptcy business relationship with Sears, Roebuck & Co. and the purchaser of Sears’ ongoing business operations.
  • Representation of 150+ oil and gas lessors with respect to pre- and post-bankruptcy disputes with large bankrupt oil and gas operator and renegotiation of operating leases with purchaser of the bankrupt’s assets.
  • Inducted into The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Time Well Spent Honor Society, 2024
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Received a 2023 and 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognition for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2014, 2016-2021
  • Recipient of the Access to Justice Award from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, 2015
  • Recipient of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (11th Congressional District), November 30, 2015
  • Recipient of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and Achievement from Rep. David P. Joyce (14th Congressional District), November 30, 2015
  • Recipient of a Letter of Commendation from Commander Paul T. Markland, Ninth Coast Guard District, December 2, 2013
  • Recipient of the ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award from the American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project, 2012
  • Selected for the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society by Baldwin-Wallace College, 2007

Professional Associations

  • Towards Employment, Board of Directors; Chair of the Fund Development & Marketing Committee
  • Turnaround Management Association, Member
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association William J. O’Neill Great Lakes Regional Bankruptcy Institute, Faculty Committee Member, 2015
  • United Way Loaned Executive Program, 2012

Education

  • University of Michigan, J.D., 2010,

    associate editor, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

  • Baldwin-Wallace College, B.A., 2007,
    summa cum laude
  • Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), A.A., 2003

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • Georgia
  • Florida

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit