John Mark Hongs has a sophisticated business law practice. His clients include Fortune 100 and 500 companies, other leading public corporations, banks and financial institutions, municipalities and closely held corporate entities, as well as individuals. Mr. Hongs’s transactions practice focuses on commercial and business ventures such as the acquisition and disposition of real estate, leasing, development and financing, regulatory compliance, corporate formation and governance, shareholder and partnership disputes and the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property rights.

Mr. Hongs is also a trial attorney experienced in complex litigation in both state and federal courts. His litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation and primarily involve cases relating to contractual disputes, municipal and land disputes, construction, unfair trade practices, unlawful competition, employment issues, and state and federal consumer protection laws. Mr. Hongs joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in January 2006. He is a partner in the firm’s Commercial Transactions Practice Group.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Hongs worked in the banking industry as a consumer loan officer and bank officer for Bank One Corporation in Wisconsin.

Mr. Hongs is a member of the Missouri Asian American Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers. He is also a founding member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) of St. Louis and serves as its general counsel.

He speaks Korean and Spanish. Mr. Hongs is a lecturer in continuing legal education classes for attorneys in the State of Missouri. His presentations include:

• “Chapter 11 Essentials,” part seven in an 11-part live teleconference series, National Business Institute, July 2009.
• “Foundational Drafting Knowledge,” and “Tips for Successful Drafting,” National Business Institute seminar “Drafting LLC Agreements: Essential Skills and Hands-On Training, Draft Documents That Protect Everyone’s Interests,” Clayton, Missouri, September 2008.
• “The Anti-Contact Rule for Business Lawyers and Litigators – When Can You Speak to Adversaries or Their Current and Former Employees and Agents?” WestLegalEdcenter live webcast, July 2008.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Hongs judges moot court competitions and counsels several non-profit, charitable and civic organizations in the Greater Metropolitan St. Louis area. Korean
Spanish