John Simmons

John Simmons: Experienced Mass Tort Litigation and Product Liability Attorney in St. Louis

John Simmons founded Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP in 1999 with seven employees and a focus on asbestos litigation. Over the years, under his leadership, the firm has grown to more than 250 employees, including over 80 attorneys across five offices: Alton, St. Louis, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Practice Areas

• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
• Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Simmons has overseen some of the biggest verdicts and settlements in the history of asbestos litigation. The firm’s first trial involved a roofer and former Shell Oil employee diagnosed with mesothelioma, where John helped secure a $34.1 million jury verdict—a record at the time. Since then, the firm has continued to excel in various areas including dangerous drugs and devices, prescription opioid litigation, sexual abuse litigation, environmental litigation, personal injury, and other mass torts and class actions.

Awards

• Lawyer of the Year: Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (St. Louis)
• Recognized: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
• Recognized: Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
• Special Focus: Asbestos
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyer (2012-2016)
• Chosen One of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under the Age of 40 to Watch, St. Louis Business Journal 40 Under 40 (2006)

Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP has recovered more than $9.6 billion in settlements and verdicts for thousands of clients nationwide under John Simmons' leadership.

Education & Credentials

• B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1987
• J.D., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1992
• Not admitted to practice in any state or country outside of the United States.
• Recognized Since: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2018

Cities Attended: St. Louis, IL and CA; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, MS.

Firms

• Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP, Founder (1999-present)

Affiliations

• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• St. Louis Bar Association
• Southern Illinois Defense Council

Languages: English (native), Spanish.

Bar Admissions: State of Illinois, U.S.A., and any federal court within the United States. Not admitted to practice in any state or country outside of the United States.