John C. Selbach

Partner, Co-Chair of Business and Corporate Law Section
blank image John C. Selbach

John C. Selbach

Partner, Co-Chair of Business and Corporate Law Section
Richmond T: 804.343.4388 F: 804.799.7861
download bio
download vcard
John C. Selbach

John C. Selbach

PARTNER, CO-CHAIR OF BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LAW SECTION
jselbach@whitefordlaw.com
RICHMOND
T: 804.343.4388
F: 804.799.7861
Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Selbach is an experienced advisor on business and corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, commercial real estate and public finance.  He regularly serves as outside general counsel to privately held companies, overseeing legal strategy and advising owners and senior management on all aspects of their legal needs.

With extensive experience leading M&A transactions, Mr. Selbach counsels clients on a wide range of business and corporate matters, including entity formation, capital structuring, acquisitions and divestitures, financings, shareholder and management issues and general business counseling.  He is experienced representing investors, developers and companies in buying, developing, leasing, financing and selling improved and unimproved real property, as well as advising borrowers and issuers in tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions.  He represents government contractors in M&A transactions and various corporate matters. He represents local government bodies on a range of matters, including economic development projects.

Mr. Selbach’s industry experience extends to manufacturing, distribution, retail, waste services, government contracting, IT, staffing, financial services and medical practices.  He has particular experience representing public, semi-private and private golf courses and country clubs, as well as golf industry associations, in all aspects of their businesses and operations, including acquisitions, divestitures, financings, restructuring, governance, membership plan structuring, employment matters and litigation strategy.


Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Virginia (2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2018–Present), Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law (2024-Present)
  • Virginia Business magazine, Richmond Business Law "Legal Elite" (2019-2024)
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Awards: Sale and Lease of Goods; Estate Planning


Memberships and Activities

  • Virginia State Golf Association: General Counsel
  • Hermitage Country Club: Former Vice President and Director
  • Richmond Bar Association: Business Law Section, Former Executive Committee Member
  • Virginia State Bar Association: Business Law Section; Corporate Counsel Section; Real Property Section
  • American Bar Association
  • Chambers and Partners Designation
INSIGHTS

Panelist: The Business Clock: Have you optimized the most important value-drivers for your business?, Webinar, The Colony Group, The Right Time to Sell Your Business Three-Part Series, June 22, 2021

Co-Host: Prepare Well to Exit Well: A Primer for Business Owners, Webinar, December 3, 2020

Co-Presenter: Impact on Employers as Virginia Returns to Work, Webinar, SIMA Client Meeting, May 15, 2020

Co-Presenter: Playing Through: COVID-Related Challenges for the Golf Industry, Webinar, Virginia State Golf Association, May 4, 2020

Co-Presenter: Limited Liability Companies and Operating Agreements (A Webinar), January 10, 2020

ARTICLES

December 9, 2024

Client Alert: U.S. Government Appeals National Injunction Against Corporate Transparency Act

Following a Texas federal district court’s issuance of a nationwide injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), the U.S. government has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, challenging the district court’s findings (found here). In response to both the national injunction and the appeal, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), the agency responsible for enforcing the CTA, issued guidance (found here) clarifying that reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reports and will not face liability for noncompliance “while the preliminary injunction remains in effect.”
December 4, 2024

Client Alert: Federal Court Grants Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Against Corporate Transparency Act

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Merrick Garland (Civil Action No. 4:24-CV-478), issued a memorandum opinion and order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) and its implementing regulations and staying the compliance deadline for reporting companies pending further order of the court.
April 1, 2024

Corporate Transparency Act Guidelines

The Corporate Transparency Act’s (the “CTA”) reporting requirements are effective as of January 1, 2024. The one-pager linked in this article provides information on reporting requirements and deadlines.
March 4, 2024

Client Alert: Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Found Unconstitutional by Federal District Court

On March 1, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in National Small Business United et al.  v. Janet Yellen et. al., Case No. 5:22-cv-1448-LCB,  held the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) to be unconstitutional. In this surprising decision, U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke ruled “The CTA is unconstitutional because it cannot be justified as exercise of Congress’ enumerated powers.”
January 2, 2024

Client Alert: Corporate Transparency Act Update: FinCEN Reporting and Compliance Begins in 2024

The Corporate Transparency Act’s (the “CTA”) reporting requirements are effective as of January 1, 2024. As a result, many companies in the United States will have to report information about their beneficial owners, i.e., the individuals who ultimately own or control the company. They will have to report the information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
March 25, 2020

Client Advisory: Coronavirus and Contract Enforcement in Virginia

While governments throughout the world, including the federal government and state governments in the United States, are implementing strategies for controlling the spread and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the economic fallout from the pandemic is being felt on a global scale as well as locally in Virginia.  Forced closings of businesses and schools, employees working remotely and general concerns and uncertainty about the pandemic combine to create novel challenges for businesses.
 

PRESENTATIONS

May 4, 2020

Webinar: Playing Through: COVID-Related Challenges for the Golf Industry

A panel presentation by the Virginia State Golf Association (“VSGA”) and Whiteford, Taylor & Preston on the leading operational, business and legal challenges facing the golf industry during the COVID pandemic.  Insights and strategies from VSGA leadership and Whiteford lawyers experienced in advising on key employment, financial and management issues.
August 9, 2024 - News

Whiteford Advises on Major Golf Course Transaction

Whiteford attorneys John Selbach and Ross Allen represented long-time client Pros, Incorporated and Giff Breed, in a partnership with Henrico County’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Sports & Entertainment Authority (SEA).
August 17, 2023 - Honors & Awards

A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.
August 18, 2022 - Honors & Awards

73 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023, Six Selected as “Lawyer of the Year”

73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
December 1, 2021 - Honors & Awards

Nine Whiteford Attorneys Named Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that nine of its attorneys have been recognized as Legal Elite-Virginia’s Best Lawyers by Virginia Business Magazine in 2021 including the additional area of Legislative, Regulatory and Administrative. 
August 19, 2021 - Honors & Awards

75 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2022, Eight Named “Ones to Watch”

A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
August 20, 2020 - Honors & Awards

71 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.
January 15, 2019 - News

Whiteford Adds Eminent Corporate and Real Estate Practices in Richmond

Whiteford Taylor & Preston today announced continued expansion in Richmond with the addition of a highly regarded group of corporate and real estate attorneys, including partners Katja H. Hill and John C. Selbach, and associates Jonathan Jones and Nicole K. Scott.