Bio
John (Jack) Tanner’s singular dedication to helping his clients solve their troubled-company and complex commercial disputes has made him a sought-after resource for receivers and corporate counsel throughout Colorado. Jack’s pragmatic approach to receiverships and other civil litigation matters always begin with an end in mind—to learn the realities about his clients’ businesses so that he can provide meaningful solutions aimed at meeting their particular needs.
A problem solver at heart, Jack’s passion for his work carries across industries, from counseling real estate development and construction companies on breach of contract claims to representing receivers and minority investors in insolvency and receivership matters. Jack excels at juggling the many moving parts that multi-million-dollar disputes entail, and he focuses on securing the best outcomes for his clients because he knows results impact their bottom lines.
As one of Colorado’s leading receivership attorneys, Jack has represented the leading receivers in Colorado as well as hundreds of companies, investors, secured interest holders, and other parties, helping them navigate the complex process and get back on track. Because commercial finance issues impact every business, Jack has developed knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries, but always welcomes the opportunity to learn about new companies and sectors at every turn.
Jack works closely with clients to understand how a given dispute impacts their business goals, and when needed he coaches them to pursue resolutions outside the courtroom. He employs many tools, including negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, and traditional and atypical litigation tactics. Having clerked for Chief Justice Luis Rovira, he also regularly represents clients on appeals.
Jack’s experience includes handling scores of receiverships, including a decade-long receivership for Indian Motorcycle involving dozens of parties throughout the United States. He has also represented receivers involving a real estate developer in a dispute over a private golf course and a ranching business in a dispute with one of its lenders. Jack’s work at times entails working alongside regulatory agencies. As one example, he worked with the Attorney General of Colorado’s Office of Consumer Fraud to save a no-kill animal shelter on the brink of financial collapse.
In a commercial dispute context, Jack represents innovative organizations like Microsoft, Noble Energy, Kinder Morgan, the University of Denver, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. He also represents some of the leading receivers in Colorado, including Alliance Management, The Receiver Group, High Ridge Partners, and Sterling Consulting Corporation. Regardless of the underlying dispute, Jack offers counsel that is rooted in the day-to-day business realities his clients face.
In addition to his commercial practice, Jack is a frequent lecturer and author regarding legal ethics, particularly ethics for in-house counsel. He has served on the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee since 1995, and he provides an annual continuing legal education course on legal ethics for in-house counsel.