John Bruzina concentrates his practice in the area of real estate finance, representing lenders in a variety of financing transactions involving complex construction loans and permanent financing with respect to multi-family complexes, mixed-use properties, commercial properties, hotels, and office complexes.

“I truly enjoy the challenge of addressing the complexity of legal issues and the level of detail involved in every transaction,” he said. “Each transaction comes with a different twist. The most enjoyable aspect of the work I do comes from the opportunity to learn something new on every deal, which makes closing my deals that much more rewarding.”

At MSU College of Law, John joined the student body as a non-traditional law student with ten years of prior professional business experience. Still, he never took for granted the talent of the younger traditional law students. "I always felt challenged by my fellow students, who came from diverse backgrounds whether it be professional, geographic, or otherwise," he said. "This experience translated well to practicing law among highly skilled attorneys of varying backgrounds and experiences in New York City during my first several years of practice and, more recently, here in Dallas, where the skill level among fellow attorneys is no less sophisticated.”

During his own academic experience, the MSU College of Law Externship Program gave John the opportunity to extern for a Judge at the Michigan Court of Appeals and a Judge at the 55B District Court of Michigan. For the former externship, he worked directly on the disposition of legal issues and, among other things, prepared two judicial opinions for cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals. “Both of my externships provided invaluable experience and considerably enhanced my resume at the beginning of my legal career,” he said.

He advises current students to consider the conversations they have with professors when called on in class like practice for the exchanges they will have as a practicing attorney with attorneys. “To a great extent, they are really no different, except that the conversations you have as a practicing attorney count,” he said. “Imagine being unprepared for a phone discussion with a client or with another attorney when your client's interests are on the line. Work hard in law school, and get ready to work harder when you're practicing.”