Atty. John W. Bilby
John is a seasoned litigator and a member of Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Business Litigation practice. He also co-chairs the Trust & Estate Litigation practice.
Profile Summary
About John W. Bilby at a glance
John W. Bilby is a Member based in Louisville, Kentucky, practicing at Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC. They have 51+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1975. Their practice focuses on trusts, business, estate litigation, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Kentucky (1975) and Indiana U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit U.S. District Co (1989). Educated at University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (J.D., 1975) and University of Kentucky (B.B.A. University, 1971). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of American Bar Association Indiana Bar Association Kentucky Bar Association Ethics Committee member, 2005 Citizens for Better Judges, 1989 - present Advisory Board member, 2017-present. Serands clients in Louisville, KY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- John is a seasoned litigator and a member of Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Business Litigation practice
- He also co-chairs the Trust & Estate Litigation practice
- John’s career is highlighted by numerous successes in courts, recovering assets and resolving claims for the benefit of his clients
- Recognition • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® • Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, 2014, 2017, 2018 • Best Lawyers®, Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Litigation, Trusts & Estates Litigation, 2007-present • Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honoree, 2011-2020 • Trust & Estate Attorney of the Year in Kentucky, Global Law Experts, 2015 • Best in Technology Transfer Disputes in Kentucky, Corporate America Awards, 2015 • Trust & Estate Attorney of the Year in Kentucky, Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award, 2014, 2015 • Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer, Business/Commercial Law, 2012-2014
- Business Litigation, 2013 and 2014 Legal Practice In my practice, I litigate business, estate and trust, and fiduciary disputes
- I focus on contract disputes involving technology transfers and fiduciary disputes involving banks, trust companies and brokerages
- I also represent fiduciaries in disputes with trust beneficiaries over the management of trust assets
- My trial experience includes significant cases involving business disputes over computer software and fiduciary matters
- Recent highlights of my career include the following: • SKO successfully defended a bank against 36 claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and negligence brought by seven beneficiaries of two trusts, with an initial demand ranging from $450 million to $1.2 billion
- Before trial, SKO obtained a summary judgment, dismissing 10 of the beneficiaries’ claims and reducing their demand to $162 million
- Following a three-week trial, the court entered judgment in favor of the bank against the remaining claims
- The bank also sought recovery of costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees under the fee-shifting statute of Kentucky’s Uniform Trust Code
- The court awarded $2.6 million, more than 95 percent of the amount in the bank’s motion, in one of the first awards rendered by a Kentucky appellate court under the fee-shifting statute
- Looking Ahead Estate, trust, fiduciary and securities litigation have become a much larger part of our trial practice
- The generation now reaching retirement age has accumulated wealth
- with it comes claims against fiduciaries, among beneficiaries and against brokerages
- Work Highlights Estate Litigation After a 2 ½ week trial in the Bourbon Circuit Court in 2013, obtained a favorable jury verdict setting aside an estate plan on the basis of undue influence and unsound mind and awarding damages exceeding $550,000 for misappropriation of Trust funds
Related Practices
- Trust & Estate Litigation Abuse of Power of Attorney & Joint Account SKO successfully represented a trust company appointed as conservator for an individual diagnosed with dementia who had millions of dollars taken from him by his attorney-in-fact (power of attorney) who also fraudulently created joint survivorship accounts
- The individual also generated a will in his favor
- SKO successfully voided the will and recovered more than $16 million in assets
Related Practices
- Trust & Estate Litigation, Business Litigation, Business Torts Suitability Claims SKO successfully represented a bank acting in a fiduciary capacity in pursuing suitability claims against a securities firm
- The amount recovered for our client was approximately $10,000,000
Related Practices
- Banking, Securities Litigation, Business Litigation News 118 SKO Attorneys Named to “2023 U.S
- News Best Lawyers® in America”, Aug. 18, 2022 77 STOLL KEENON OGDEN ATTORNEYS HONORED IN “BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA” 2022 Edition, Aug. 19, 2021 73 Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC attorneys are recognized in the 2021 edition of the Best Lawyers in America®, one of the most respected legal peer-review guides in the world., Aug. 20, 2020 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 47 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 27, 2019 SKO Attorneys Recognized Among 2020 Best Lawyers in America®, Aug. 15, 2019 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 52 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Dec. 11, 2018 SKO Attorneys Recognized Among 2019 Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 15, 2018 SKO Named Litigation Firm of the Year for the 5th Time, Feb. 16, 2018 SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 16, 2017 Trustee Awarded $2.6 Million From Beneficiaries Who Sued For $1.2 Billion, Mar. 1, 2017 Five SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 18, 2016 Best Lawyers in America Chooses 61 SKO Attorneys for 2017 Publication, Aug. 30, 2016 Twelve SKO Attorneys Named 2017 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers®, Aug. 29, 2016 30 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 2, 2016 SKO Honored as Kentucky’s Litigation Law Firm of the Year
- M&A Practice Named State’s Best, Dec. 22, 2015 Lea Pauley Goff and Richard G. Griffith named among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 30, 2015 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2016, Aug. 17, 2015 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 57 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 24, 2014 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2015, Aug. 18, 2014 33 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 25, 2014 Six SKO Attorneys Receive “Attorney of the Year” Status by Corp INTL, Jan. 27, 2014 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 42 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 26, 2013 SKO Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, Sep. 24, 2013 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2014, Aug. 19, 2013 34 SKO Attorneys Names “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 5, 2013 61 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2013, Sep. 7, 2012 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 31 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, July 20, 2012 53 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2012, Sep. 6, 2011 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 25 SKO Attorneys, July 25, 2011 53 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2011, Aug. 6, 2010 49 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 6, 2009 Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 41 SKO Attorneys, June 19, 2008 39 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Sep. 19, 2007 Affiliations • American Bar Association • Indiana Bar Association • Kentucky Bar Association
- Ethics Committee member, 2005 • Citizens for Better Judges, 1989 - present
- Advisory Board member, 2017-present
Practice Areas Explained
John W. Bilby's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John W. Bilby handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
John W. Bilby is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Kentucky →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
John W. Bilby is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Kentucky →
John W. Bilby is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Kentucky →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
John W. Bilby is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Kentucky →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Kentucky
Practicing law in Kentucky. Legal matters in Kentucky are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Louisville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Kentucky state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Kentucky 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 Kentucky courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Kentucky attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Louisville or all attorneys in Kentucky.
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