Missouri

Benjamin Gideon

Auburn, ME

Ben is a founding partner of Gideon Asen LLC. He has recovered over $300 million in verdicts and settlements for his clients, including the highest medical malpractice jury verdict in Maine history ($25 million) and one of the highest overall jury verdicts in Vermont history ($22.5 million). He has achieved success in a wide range of cases including trucking, personal injury, medical malpractice, utility, product liability, and civil rights. Ben is recognized by his peers, having been listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers every year since 2013, and three times named 'Lawyer of the Year' for Maine. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

John G. Simon

St. Louis, MO

John G. Simon’s work as Managing Partner at the firm has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for past clients. Well-respected in his field, John’s career includes several published works, frequent community involvement, and the role of adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law. During more than three decades of practicing law, John Simon has built a remarkable record of courtroom victories and incredible settlements for thousands of clients - oftentimes when the odds are not in his favor. The National Law Journal named the firm he founded in 2001 as one of the “winningest firms” in the U.S. In 20 recent months alone, John’s firm achieved four nine-figure verdicts totaling nearly $2 billion. The firm now has more than 50 dedicated professionals, with a focus on plaintiff’s litigation including personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, business litigation and class action cases. John’s approach is simple: The client always comes first and prepare every case as if it’s headed to trial. These principles have driven unparalleled success in the courtroom including record setting verdicts in multiple states. It has also inspired meaningful change across multiple industries and has helped Simon Law become known as the firm where cases become causes. John’s verdicts have held some of the largest corporations in the world accountable for their misconduct and shined a national spotlight on critical, often ignored industry safety issues. That’s what John means when he says his firm is where cases become causes. John’s honors and awards reveal what John’s clients already know - he stands among the best litigators in the United States.

Gary Patterson

Wichita, KS

Gary Patterson is the managing member of Patterson Legal Group, L.C., representing injured people for over 20 years. He earned his J.D. from Washburn University (1989), an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Central Missouri (1981), and a B.S. in Psychology from Missouri Western State University (1976). He previously worked as a probation and parole officer for the State of Missouri and clerked for the Kansas Department of Administration and Shawnee County District Court Judges. He is recognized as a Super Lawyer and one of the Top 100 Kansas Trial Lawyers (2009-2020), having successfully litigated wrongful death, medical malpractice, and automotive product liability cases, recovering millions for clients.

Matthew L. Bretz

Hutchinson, KS

Matthew L. Bretz is a trial lawyer whose life's mission was shaped by the tragic loss of his sister. He grew up with a single mother and three sisters, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and graduating college by 20. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law and worked at Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack, learning trial law. The death of his sister in 1992 profoundly influenced his dedication to helping seriously injured individuals and families who have lost loved ones. He is a faculty member of the Keenan Trial College, teaching other lawyers, and serves on the MADD National Board. He also volunteers with United Way, Red Cross, Interfaith Housing, ABATE, and the Training and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson. He handles motor vehicle, premises liability, dangerous and defective products, and nursing home cases. He has an 'AV' rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible for professional ability and ethics, and has won over 98% of his cases since 1991, recovering over $300 million for clients.

Tad Thomas

Louisville, KY

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation. He founded Thomas Law Offices in 2011 and has expanded it to multiple locations. He is a frequent lecturer on trial skills, ethics, and technology. He has secured millions of dollars in settlements and is a past President of the American Association for Justice.

Peter F. Langrock

Burlington, VT

Peter founded the firm in 1960. He is a trial lawyer and a counselor to all. He is also a farmer, an author, a painter, a world traveler, and a chef. Peter handles matters from traffic cases to arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was elected State’s Attorney of Addison County in 1960, just months after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School. Since then he has been involved in virtually every type of trial, in every county and every Federal courthouse in Vermont, and as far away as Sitka, Alaska. He twice argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and four of his cases were carried on Court TV.