Atty. John Simmons

Atty. John Simmons

John Simmons founded the firm in 1999 with seven employees and a focus on asbestos litigation. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded to more than 250 employees, including more than 80 attorneys, spread between five offices in Alton, St.

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Profile Summary

About John Simmons at a glance

John Simmons is a class action and product liability attorney based in Alton, Illinois, practicing at Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP. Admitted to practice in Georgia, Georgia Bar Association, Illinois, IL Bar Association, and Florida, Florida Bar Association. Educated at Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1994) and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (B.A.). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Alton, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • John Simmons founded the firm in 1999 with seven employees and a focus on asbestos litigation
  • Under his leadership, the firm has expanded to more than 250 employees, including more than 80 attorneys, spread between five offices in Alton, St. Louis, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles
  • John 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
  • John helped secure a $34.1 million jury verdict, then considered one of the largest jury verdicts in the history of the litigation
  • That record stood for only a short while before the firm obtained a $250 million verdict on behalf of an Indiana steelworker
  • The firm’s track record of success continues today, not only in mesothelioma litigation, but also in other areas of complex litigation including dangerous drugs and devices, prescription opioid litigation, sexual abuse litigation, environmental litigation, personal injury and other mass torts and class actions
  • Since that first case, the firm has recovered more than $9.6 billion in settlements and verdicts for thousands of clients nationwide under John’s leadership

Practice Areas Explained

John Simmons's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John Simmons handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Class Action

John Simmons is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in Illinois →

Product Liability

John Simmons is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Illinois →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Illinois

Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Alton are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Alton or all attorneys in Illinois.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about John Simmons

Where is John Simmons's law office located?
John Simmons's law practice is located in Alton, Illinois. The firm is Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does John Simmons handle?
John Simmons focuses on class action, product liability. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Illinois.
Where did John Simmons go to law school?
John Simmons earned their education at (J.D., 1994); (B.A.).
How can I contact John Simmons for a consultation?
You can contact John Simmons directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has John Simmons received?
John Simmons's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs; Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:.

Education

J.D.
Southern Methodist University
- 1994
B.A.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- In Progress

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Asbestos
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Illinois Super Lawyer, 2012-2016
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Chosen One of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under the Age of 40 to Watch
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — St. Louis Business Journal 40 Under 40, 2006
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (St. Louis)
- 2023

Bar Admissions

Georgia, Georgia Bar Association
Illinois, IL Bar Association
Florida, Florida Bar Association

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