University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1988 | J.D. | California, University of Berkeley, CA, 1985 | B.A. | Honors: Anthropology

Was voted by peers as a Top Lawyer in Coastal Virginia., 2023 | Was named by Virginia Business Magazine as a member of the Virginia Business Legal Elite., 2022 | Recognized by Coastal Virginia Magazine for personal injury, 2022 | Recognized by Coastal Virginia Magazine for personal injury, 2021 | CoVa BIZ’s Top Lawyers peer-to-peer survey conducts polls in the legal field to identify the attorneys who exemplify excellence in their various fields. Cova Biz lists the top rated legal professionals in the Coastal Virginia area., 2021 | CoVa BIZ’s Top Lawyers peer-to-peer survey conducts polls in the legal field to identify the attorneys who exemplify excellence in their various fields. Cova Biz lists the top rated legal professionals in the Coastal Virginia area., 2020 | This awards program recognizes the lawyers across the commonwealth who are setting the standard for other Virginia lawyers. “Leaders” are recognized for changing the law, serving the community, changing practice or improving Virginia’s justice system, among other accomplishments., 2019 | The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is an invitation-only organization composed of the leading trial lawyers in every state., 2019 | Highest rating (AV) granted to attorneys from Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rating Service, meaning John has a reputation among other lawyers and judges as being highly ethical and of very high to pre-eminent legal ability, 2019 | Ranked 10 of 10 (“Superb”) by AVVO, a national lawyer assessment service, 2019 | CoVa BIZ’s Top Lawyers peer-to-peer survey conducts polls in the legal field to identify the attorneys who exemplify excellence in their various fields. Cova Biz lists the top rated legal professionals in the Coastal Virginia area., 2019 | Elected Governor at Large for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2015, 2019 | Attorney reputation assessment system, showing the highest level of skill and ethics., 2018 | Chair of the Railroad Law Section of the AAJ (2008-2014), 2014 | “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in VA”, 2011, 2011 | Member since 2011 in the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Roundtable, 2011 | Law clerk to the Honorable Rebecca Beach Smith (currently chief federal judge in the United States District Court, Norfolk Division), drafting memoranda, opinions, and orders in civil and criminal cases, 1988 | Elected in 2010 and Re-elected again every year through 2015 as a District Governor from the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area to the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Governors | Phi Beta Kappa (undergraduate academic honor society) University of California, Berkley Chapter | Designated Legal Counsel for the Transportation Communications International Union (TCIU) (railroad workers’ union) | Featured speaker at the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association Annual Conference Panel. Shared expertise as plaintiff's attorney with approximately 100 local attorneys., 2023 | Featured speaker at the National Business Institute's Mini Med School for Attorneys, 2021 | The American Association for Justice, 2021 | Chair of CLE Committee, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2019 | Virginia Beach Bar Association, 2019 | American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA). Railroad Section Executive Committee member and Secretary/Treasurer of the FELA Litigation Group, 2019 | Elected Governor at Large for Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2019 | Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association. Past member of the Attorney Referral System Committee, 2019 | District Governor of the Second District, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2011-2015, 2015 | Co-Chair of Litigation Support Committee, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2011 | Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Membership Committee (2009). Underinsured Motorist Coverage Law Sub-Committee (2009), 2009 | 2002 - Present, West Virginia State Bar, 2002 | 2001 - Present, North Carolina State Bar, 2001 | 1988 - Present Virginia State Bar, 1988