John C. Merchant

Partner

Depth and variation describe the public finance practice of John over the past 30 years. He has participated in traditional issue, economic development, and health care transactions and served as bond, underwriter, disclosure, and bank counsel for the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, notes and lease obligations in transactions throughout Ohio and Kentucky.

He has served as bond and/or disclosure counsel for every general obligation, economic development revenue, and water revenue bond issue of the City of Cincinnati since 2006. He also has served as bond and disclosure counsel for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for every general obligation issue since 2008. In 2017, he led the Dinsmore team which was selected as bond and disclosure counsel for the City of Dayton.

Additionally, he has served as bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for traditional issue financings related to schools and universities, transportation, and water and sewer projects. These include bond and lease structures for new money transactions, advance refundings (including crossover structures), and current refundings. These financings have included features such as governmental master trust agreements and subordinated debt.

As bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for health care & other 501(c)(3) conduit transactions, John has experience with financing structures involving master trust indentures, leases, and financing agreements for private placements.

Prior to entering into private practice, John participated in public finance transactions in various positions with the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Credentials

Education

University of Kentucky College of Law (J.D., 1982)

Morehead State University (B.A., cum laude, 1979)

Bar admissions

  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • Georgia
  • District of Columbia

Affiliations and memberships

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Association for Governmental Leasing & Finance
  • Cincinnati Bar Association
  • Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati
  • Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), board member
  • Thelma Merchant Scholarship Foundation, Inc., founder

Distinctions

  • American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow and Treasurer
  • Ohio Super Lawyers®
  • Savoy 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers

Career Highlights
  • Bond Counsel to Kentucky’s Gateway

    As gateway to the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport is the primary air transportation provider for central Kentucky. The facility supports commercial flights, private aviation, cargo and, of course, horse transportation. Committed to a quality traveler experience, the airport continually updates amenities and facilities to provide passengers with the most modern and convenient services possible.

    For nearly a decade, Dinsmore has served as the airport’s bond counsel, helping them secure low interest financing for growth and improvements such as runways, hangars, parking facilities, baggage belt system, car rental maintenance facility and more. 

    “Dinsmore works extremely well with our financial analyst and underwriter and is now helping us with compliance/reporting issues,” said Don Sever, Director of Finance and Administration for the airport. “I really have nothing but good things to say about Dinsmore.”

    The airport, which is a catalyst for economic growth in the region, is owned and operated by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board and celebrated its 70 year anniversary in 2016.  Since 1946, the airport has grown to serving over 1.2 million passengers annually.

    “I have full confidence in the firm,” Sever said. “They are technically sound and provide great customer service.”

    United by a passion for customer service, Dinsmore looks forward to the opportunity for a continued relationship with Blue Grass Airport as they grow and service passengers from all over the world.

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • June 6, 2025

    Dinsmore Earns Top Honors in 2025 Chambers USA Rankings

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • March 1, 2021

    Dinsmore among Top State, National Counsel in Bond Buyer Rankings

  • November 24, 2020

    Crafting Distinctive Careers: Debra Merchant & John Merchant

  • September 8, 2020

    Refinancing in a Pandemic: Dinsmore Deal Helps Save Rupp Arena Renovation

  • February 13, 2020

    Dinsmore Among Top State, National Counsel in Bond Buyer Rankings