Lebanon, NH

John L. Ward

Attorney Ward is the founder and managing partner of Ward Law Group, PLLC and his areas of concentration are Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Social Security Disability claims. He graduated Cum Laude from UNH and Franklin Pierce Law Center (now UNH School of Law). He is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, New Hampshire Bar Association’s Legal Committee, New Hampshire Association for Justice, National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He serves on the board of directors for the North Manchester Hooksett Little League and the Manchester City Library Foundation, and is a Trustee for the Polaris Charter School. He is the former Chair, President, and Vice President of the NHBA’s Workers’ Compensation Section, and a former member of the NHBA’s New Lawyers Committee. He has been recognized as one of the top ten Personal Injury attorneys under 40 in New Hampshire by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, named in the New Hampshire Union Leaders Top 40 under 40 (2022), a Top 40 Under 40 civil plaintiff attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association (2014-2021), awarded the Client’s Choice Award by AVVO (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), and featured in Super Lawyers Magazine for ten consecutive years (2015-2024 as rising star, 2025 as super lawyer). He regularly speaks at seminars and coaches youth baseball and flag football.

Kristin Ross

Kristin Ross is a partner at the firm. She focuses her practice on guiding clients through insurance claims and all stages of litigation. She represents injured individuals in Vermont and New Hampshire in personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and insurance coverage disputes. She has experience and success in trial as well as all stages of litigation including depositions of witnesses and experts, motion practice, and conducting mediations. Kristin has had enormous success negotiating large, confidential settlements for her clients. She was also a critical member of the appellate team in Dzemila Heco v. Johnson Controls, Inc., playing an important role in the Vermont Supreme Court brief and appeal for the firm's client who received a 43-million-dollar verdict in a product's liability case.

Cristina Rousseau

Cristina is a partner at the firm. Her passion for her work is evident to anyone who talks to her and most important to all the clients she represents. Cristina is dedicated to serving the needs of her clients and her expertise has resulted in many outstanding personal injury settlements. She is skilled in navigating the complex waters of insurance coverage, workers compensation law and personal injury law. She has worked closely with the Multicultural Center in Manchester, NH to provide legal access to the Spanish speaking community. She is also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children) and strives to provide a voice for abused and neglected children and youth. Cristina also traveled to Texas in 2018 to the Dilley Detention Center as a volunteer to work with women and children asylum seekers.

Dana K. Smith

Attorney Smith is the Senior Associate Attorney at Ward Law Group, PLLC, concentrating on Workers’ Compensation law. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Justice Studies and English/Journalism, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 2013. He interned as a private investigator and Rule 36 Attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender, mediated small claims cases, and completed a legal residency at Normand Higham. He is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service, and the USA500 Club’s New Hampshire division. He served on the Kreiva Academy’s Board of Trustees from 2020-2022. He regularly appears at the New Hampshire Department of Labor and before the Compensation Appeals Board. He is a 5-year recipient (2021-2025) of Super Lawyers Magazine's 'Rising Stars' award, recognized in Workers’ Compensation, and selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a 'Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney' for five consecutive years, in addition to 'Top 25 Workers’ Compensation Attorney' in 2024 and 2025. He is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire.

Shawn J. Tennis

Shawn J. Tennis is an associate attorney at Ward Law Group, PLLC, concentrating in Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation and Civil Litigation. He previously worked for an Injury Law Firm in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He attended Mt. Washington College for his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and graduated Cum Laude from Massachusetts School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Attorney Tennis is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, New Hampshire Association for Justice, Greater Salem Contractors Association, Milford Rotary Club, and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. In 2024 and 2025, he was selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney.

Kira Botting

Kira Botting is an associate at the firm. She proudly represents individuals in Vermont personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Kira joined the firm in 2016 as a paralegal. She has worked on numerous injury cases through every step of the process, including insurance claim negotiation, litigation, mediation, arbitration, and trial. Kira acquired her legal education the old-fashioned way: by apprenticeship! She completed Vermont’s Law Office Study Program, where she “read the law” for four years under the mentorship of the firm’s experienced and knowledgeable partners, Cristina Rousseau and Kristin Ross. She worked closely with Cristina and Kristin on a wide array of injury cases, including car accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, and workers’ compensation. Kira went on to pass the bar exam with flying colors and become admitted to practice in Vermont.

Thomas P. Colantuono

Attorney Colantuono is an attorney at Ward Law Group, PLLC concentrating in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Workers’ Compensation, and Criminal Defense law, with a primary focus on Personal Injury. He has over 40 years of experience, including working for the U.S. Attorney’s office. He graduated cum laude and with Distinction in History from Duke University and earned his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. He taught legal subjects as an adjunct professor at Rivier College, New Hampshire College, and Nashua Regional Vocational Technical College. He began his career as an Assistant Attorney General, founded his own private practice in 1981, served as a representative in the New Hampshire Senate (1990-1996) and on the New Hampshire Executive Council (1998-2001). He was appointed by George W. Bush as a United States Attorney for 8 years. He is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association and the New Hampshire Association for Justice, and has served on the Ethics Committee and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee of the Bar Association.