Lynn R. Johnson

Lynn R. Johnson is an experienced trial lawyer and Senior Partner at Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd. At the firm, he represents clients in complex serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

Lynn joined the firm as an associate in 1970 and became a partner in 1974. In his practice, he is driven by his passion for helping ordinary people, as well as his desire to establish responsibility for the conduct of others. Lynn believes that anyone who is negligent or causes harm—whether it’s an individual person, a healthcare provider, or even a product manufacturer—must be held responsible. To that end, Lynn believes that the firm’s successes not only help individual people but also help prevent others from having the same thing happen to them.

As a trial attorney, Lynn has devoted his career to representing the injured and fighting for everyone’s right to safe products, safe health care, and safe lives. His goal is to make the world a safer, better place for other people.

Raised on a family farm in western Kansas, Lynn learned early on the importance of individual responsibility. His formal education, which began in a one-room country schoolhouse in Kanona, Kansas, includes an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, obtained in 1967, and a Juris Doctor degree, obtained with honors from Washburn University School of Law in 1970. Currently, Lynn is a lifetime member of both universities’ respective alumni associations and, in the past, has served as President of the Washburn Law School Association.

Lynn has been nationally recognized for his work as a trial attorney and has been named among the best trial lawyers in the United States. Currently, he is AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and has been since 1976. The AV® Rating is the organization’s highest possible peer-review rating, indicating a notable level of legal skill and strong commitment to ethical practice. In addition to earning this prestigious honor, Lynn has been recognized by his peers and numerous legal organizations alike for his experience, skill, and results.

Lynn frequently shares his vast legal knowledge by presenting at various trial attorney continuing education events across the country. He is married to Jacqueline Lovelace Johnson, who has served for many years as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the second largest respirators research institute in the U.S. Together, Lynn and Jackie have one son, William Randolph (Randy) Johnson Lovelace.

Areas of Practice

• Safe Products
• Safe Health Care
• Safe Lives
• Civil Justice

Bar Admissions

• Kansas, 1970
• Missouri, 1991

Education

• Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas
  • D. – June, 1970
  • Honors: With Honors
• Kansas State University
  • S. – June, 1967
  • Major: Accounting

Honors & Awards

• Top 100 Lawyers Lifetime Achievement, 2023
• Who's Who, The Influential Leaders of 2023, 2023
• Lawyers of Distinction, 2023
• Power 30 in Personal Injury Law 2020 & 2021
  • The inaugural edition of THE POWER LIST, focusing on personal injury lawyers who lead and influence various parts of the Missouri legal community
• Martindale-Hubbell
  • Rated AV Preeminent (5.0 out of 5)
  • Rated AV since 1976
• Best Lawyers in America
  • Listed for 24 years
  • 2nd Edition, 1987 through 16th Edition, 2010
• Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers
  • 2005 – 2009
• Super Lawyers
  • Top 10 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers 2020
  • Top 50 Kansas City Area Super Lawyers 2020
  • Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers 2006
  • Top 50 Kansas City Area Super Lawyers 2007
  • Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers 2007
  • Top 50 Kansas City Area Super Lawyers 2008
  • Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers 2008
  • Top 50 Kansas City Area Super Lawyers 2009
  • Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers 2009
• Kansas City Business Journal, Best of the Bar
  • 2002 – 2009
• The Inner Circle of Advocates, Member, 1997 present
  • Invitation Only
  • Membership limited to 100 plaintiffs trial attorneys in the United States
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 1994 present
  • Invitation Only
  • Board of Directors (2010-2013)
  • Membership limited to 500 trial attorneys in the United States
  • Admissions Committee (1998-2001; 2004 2007)
  • Budget and Finance Committee (2007 2010)
  • International Relations Committee (2008 2011)
  • State Chair Committee (2001 present)
• American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow, 1995 present
  • Invitation only
  • Membership limited to top 1% of attorneys within each individual state
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat, 1987 present
  • Invitation only
• American Association for Justice, Member, 2008 present
  • Invitation only
  • Membership limited to top 100 plaintiffs trial attorneys within each state,
  • Executive Committee (2009 present)
• Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission,
  • Chair, July 1, 1993 – June 30, 2001
  • Elected Chair by Kansas attorneys
• KTLA / KSAJ Arthur C. Hodgson Award, 1999
  • Kansas Trial Lawyers Association / Kansas Association for Justice Highest Award
• Washburn Law School Association Distinguished Service Award, 2001
• Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLAmerica),
  • Member, 2009 present
  • National Advisory Board, 2009 – Present

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Brain Injury Association of Kansas & Greater KC, Life Member 
• Washburn Law School Association, Life Member
• Washburn Law School Association, Board of Governors, 1987 – 1998
• Washburn Law School Association, Vice President, 1990 – 1992
• Washburn Law School Association, President-Elect, 1992 – 1994
• Washburn Law School Association, President, 1994 – 1996
• Kansas Bar Association, Member, 1970 – Present
• Kansas Bar Association, Board of Governors, 1995 – 2001
• Kansas Bar Association, Legislative Committee, 1986 – 1994
• Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, Board of Editors, 1977 – 1988
• Kansas Bar Association, Nominating Committee, 1985 – 1988
• Kansas Bar Association, Litigation Section, Chairman, 1982 – 1983
• Missouri Bar Association, Member, 1991 – Present
• Kansas Association for Justice, Member/Eagle Member, 1970 – Present
• Kansas Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 1975 – Present
• Kansas Association for Justice, President Elect, 1977 – 1978
• Kansas Association for Justice, President, 1978 – 1979
• Kansas Association for Justice, Crown Center Seminar Chair, 1973 – 1977
• Kansas Association for Justice, Crown Center Seminar Chair, 2006 – 2010
• Kansas Association for Justice Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2002 – Present
• Kansas Association for Justice Foundation, Treasurer, Board of Trustees, 2002 – 2006
• Kansas Association for Justice Foundation, Chair, Board of Trustees, 2006 – 2010
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Member, 1991 – Present
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Board of Governors, 2004 – Present
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Amicus Curiae Committee, 2006 – Present
• American Association for Justice, Member/Sustaining Member, 1970 – Present
• American Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 1987 – 1991
• American Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Committee, 1991 – 1993
• American Association for Justice, Ethical Conduct Committee, 1989 – 1992
• American Association for Justice, Chair, 1991 – 1992
• American Association for Justice, Federal Rules Jurisdiction and Venue Committee, 1990 – 1993
• American Association for Justice, Co-Chair, Federal Rules, Jurisdiction and Venue Committee, 1989 – 1990
• American Association for Justice, Chair, American Inns of Court Committee, 1988 – 1991
• American Bar Association, Member, 1970 – Present
• Johnson County Bar Association, Member, 1970 – Present
• Wyandotte County Bar Association, Member, 1970 – Present
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member/Sustaining Member, 1970 – Present
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Member, 1992 – Present
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Member, 1992 – Present
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Board of Directors, 2000 – Present
• Kansas Legal Services Corporation, Board of Directors, 1976 – 1985
• National Center for State Courts, Sustaining Associate, 1998 – Present
• National Judicial College, Board of Visitors, 2004 – 2008
• Thomas E. Lambert, Jr. Endowed Chair Trust, Gold Chair Trustee
• Tenth Circuit Historical Society, Life Member
• Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Inc., Board of Directors

Pro Bono Activities

• Life Member / President’s Club, Kansas State University Alumni Association
• Calvin Club Partner, Kansas State University Alumni Association
• Mike Ahearn Scholarship Fund (Champions Club), Kansas State University Alumni Association
• Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City
• Center for Justice and Democracy
• Midwest Innocence Project
• Legal Aid of Western Missouri
• Kansas City Zoo Learning Fund
• Public Citizen
• Sierra Club
• The Wilderness Society
• American Royal Association
• The Nature Conservancy
• Medical Missions Foundation
• Alumni Association, Kansas State Chapter of Acacia Fraternity, 1967 – Present