Ohio

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.

Brian J. McKeen

Detroit, MI

Brian McKeen began practicing law in 1982. During his career, he has become a powerful advocate for his clients and one of the foremost medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan. He has tried cases throughout the United States. He currently sits on the executive boards of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Mr. McKeen formerly served as chair of the AAJ Professional Negligence Section, Medical Negligence Exchange Group and Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG). Since 2001, McKeen & Associates has generated the year's top verdict in Michigan four times, including securing the state's largest medical malpractice verdict on record in 2001, when a jury rendered a verdict award of $55 million in the case of Hall v Henry Ford Health System. McKeen & Associates also topped all Michigan verdict awards in 2002, with an award of $22.5 million in the case of Blazo v McLaren Regional Medical Center, et al; in 2006 with an award of $16 million in the case of Lowe v Henry Ford Health System; and in 2007, with an award of $35 million in the case of Oppenheim v Aeneas C. Guiney. Mr. McKeen was recently inducted to The Inner Circle of Advocates and named Top Attorneys in Michigan as published by The New York Times in September 2012.

Lawrence J. Buckfire is the President and Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., specializing in child lead paint poisoning, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and other serious injury cases. He earned his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University School of Law in 1989. He is highly awarded, including 'Super Lawyer,' 'Best Lawyer in America,' and 'Lawyer of the Year' for Product Liability Litigation.

Hans Poppe is the CEO & Lead Attorney at Poppe Law Firm, licensed in Kentucky and Indiana. He has a national reputation for handling catastrophic injury and death cases and contingency fee business-to-business litigation. Since 1998, he has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, including the largest FELA verdict in Kentucky history and significant medical malpractice verdicts. He has been recognized as Peter Perlman Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year and Kentucky Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the Year, and consistently named a Super Lawyer and Best Lawyer in America.

James E. Arnold

Columbus, OH

James E. Arnold is recognized as one of Ohio's top trial lawyers. He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2005, which is limited to the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States. He was inducted into the International College of Trial Lawyers in 2016, which is limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the United States under the age of 70. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in six different fields (Securities Litigation, Bet-The-Company Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation (both plaintiffs and defense). Best Lawyers recognized him as the Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2012, Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year in 2014, and Bet-The Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and 2021. In addition, Mr. Arnold has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers continuously from 2004-2023, frequently naming him among the top 10 trial lawyers in the State (ranked first in 2012). Columbus' Business First has consistently ranked him among the top 5 lawyers in the City of Columbus.

Michael J. Rourke

Columbus, OH

Michael J. Rourke is recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Ohio, having successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in medical malpractice, truck and car litigation, and product liability cases. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been consistently honored by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America since 2002.