Biography

John Lord joined Williams Venker & Sanders from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, at which he served as a trial attorney for almost 12 years. He successfully litigated personal injury, fatality and property damage cases filed against the company by employees and third parties in state and federal courts. While he was with Union Pacific, John also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Saint Louis University. He taught a course in Trial Advocacy to third-year law students.

Prior to joining Union Pacific, John served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Louis County for 14 years. He prosecuted high-profile criminal cases including homicides, narcotics cases, white-collar crime and political corruption cases. During that time, John was appointed to serve as a Special Assistant Attorney General and he taught at the Trial Advocacy School for Prosecuting Attorneys at the University of Missouri School of Law. He began his career as a Law Clerk for all of the Circuit Judges in St. Louis County, and has tried over 75 jury trials to completion.

Education

• University of Colorado School of Law, J.D., 1977
• University of Missouri - Columbia, B.J., 1974
  • University Scholar
  • Journalism Honor Society

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Municipal Judge, City of Warson Woods, MO
• Alumni Association of John Burrough School
• Member, Villa Duchesne - Oak Hill School Board of Trustees
• Member, Villa Duchesne Advancement Committee
• Muscular Dystrophy Association

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar
• Illinois State Bar Association
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
• American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
  • General Counsel Committee
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Bar Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals
  • Eighth Circuit
• United States District Court
  • Eastern District of Missouri
• Missouri
• Illinois

Publications & Lectures

• Contributing Editor, Railroad Litigator’s Notebook, Fourth Edition National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (2010)
• Author,“Federal Railroad Preemption: Past, Present and Future.” American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's Legal Tracks (October 2008)
• Speaker, Defense of Railroad Grade Crossing Cases, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Meeting (2007)
• Speaker, The Successful Defense of a Federal Employer's Liability Lawsuit, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Meeting (1999)