John G. Simon

I founded Simon Law with my former partners in 2001 on a simple but powerful principle: the client always comes first, and every case is prepared as if it's headed to trial. Today, the firm has more than 50 dedicated professionals focused on plaintiff's litigation — personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, business litigation, and class action cases. What truly sets us apart is that we don't just win cases — we turn them into causes. Our verdicts have held some of the largest corporations in the world accountable and sparked meaningful change across entire industries. The National Law Journal recognized us as one of the "winningest firms" in the country, and in just 20 recent months we achieved four nine-figure verdicts totaling nearly $2 billion.

The question I hear most often is, "Do I really have a case?" My answer is always the same: let us dig in and find out. Some of our most significant verdicts came from cases where the odds appeared stacked against us at the outset. Clients also frequently ask how long a case will take and whether it will go to trial. I'm honest with them — litigation takes time, and we prepare every single case as though a jury will decide it. That preparation is exactly why we get the results we do.

One case that stands out involved a 13-year-old girl who was raped at a behavioral health facility that was supposed to keep her safe. Our investigation revealed the facility was dangerously understaffed and had made the deliberate choice not to monitor its own safety cameras. The jury agreed that this attack was entirely preventable and awarded $535 million — the largest such verdict in Illinois history. Beyond the result for our client, that case shined a spotlight on how vulnerable people can be exploited when institutions prioritize cost-cutting over safety.

I always say juries don’t give money, they take it. From the beginning, jurors are skeptical of personal injury litigation. It is a challenge for us to prove to juries that our cases are causes that they, too, can get behind and bring justice to our clients.

My father is my greatest inspiration. He immigrated to this country and built a life through extraordinary hard work, running a produce stand at the Soulard Market in St. Louis — where I was up at 4 a.m. helping him as a child. He raised 10 children, ran a successful business, and still found time to donate food to those in need. He taught me that hard work and looking out for others are not in conflict — they go hand in hand. That lesson drives everything I do in the courtroom on behalf of people who are taking on powerful opponents.

Giving back to the community is deeply important to me. I serve on the boards of St. Mary's High School and Access Academies, which works to improve education in underserved communities. My siblings and I also founded Giddo Simon Ministries in memory of our father, a non-profit that provides fresh produce to those most in need — a direct reflection of the values he instilled in all of us. Outside of that, my greatest joy is my family. 

I've had the privilege of teaching Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor at St. Louis University School of Law for more than 25 years. Mentoring the next generation of lawyers is something I take seriously — the legal profession needs advocates who are fearless, prepared, and genuinely committed to their clients. I'd also say this: the recognition — being ranked in Chambers USA, named the #1 lawyer in Missouri Super Lawyers seven consecutive years, being inducted into the Inner Circle of the Top 100 plaintiffs' attorneys, being awarded the Award of Honor in 2026 by the Lawyers Association of St. Louis — means something only because of the clients behind every one of those cases. They trusted us with some of the worst moments of their lives, and that is never something I take lightly.