Firm Profile

Established in 1949, Johnson & Ward was the first and best personal injury plaintiffs’ specialty law firm in Atlanta. The firm’s founders — Inslee Johnson (1911-1996) and Cullen Ward (1921-1979) — were among the founders of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Firm alumni have served as judges of state trial and appellate courts.

Current members of the firm include past presidents of the State Bar of Georgia and Atlanta Bar Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and a past chair of the American Association for Justice Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section.

The current personal injury and wrongful death litigation team includes:

Kenneth L. Shigley

• Past President, State Bar of Georgia.
• Lead author, Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation & Practice (2010-2021 editions).
• First Georgia lawyer to earn three board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
• Past chair, Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia.
• “Tradition of Excellence Award” from State Bar of Georgia General Practice & Trial Section.
• Past chair, American Association for Justice Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway & Premises Liability Section.
• Included in Georgia Super Lawyers and Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

William C. Lanham.

• Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
• Fellow, International Society of Barristers.
• Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
• Included in Best Lawyers in America and Georgia Super Lawyers.
• Mr. Lanham is a trial attorney with nearly a half century of experience specializing in professional negligence, wrongful death, aviation, railroad, product liability and related plaintiffs’ tort litigation. During the Vietnam War, he was an Army JAG officer assigned to represent two defendants in the infamous My Lai Massacre case.

Clark H. McGehee

• Georgia Super Lawyer
• “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.”
• He has written and lectured extensively in all aspects of civil litigation. More than four decades’ experience as a trial attorney specializing in all aspects of personal injury/wrongful death civil litigation, including automotive/trucking, aviation, railroad, product liability, medical/professional negligence, highway design, architectural/engineering negligence and related Plaintiffs’ tort litigation.

John W. Adkins

Trial attorney specializing in personal injury, wrongful death, auto insurance, premises liability claims, dangerous and defective products, medical malpractice cases.

Ed G. Stone. Trial attorney specializing in personal injury, wrongful death, auto insurance, premises liability claims, dangerous and defective products, medical malpractice and workers compensation cases.

Christopher Farmer is a graduate of Furman University and Emory University School of Law, where he was a Moot Court Special Team Member and Coach. Mr. Farmer was an insurance defense lawyer at a prominent firm in Atlanta for many years where he was a partner. Since 2003, Mr. Farmer’s practice has been strictly limited to serious personal injury and wrongful death actions. He has tried dozens of personal injury cases. He was a partner at Davis, Zipperman, Kirschenbaum & Lotito, LLP before accepting a partnership offer at Johnson & Ward, LLC. Mr. Farmer has spoken and presented written publications at a variety of Continuing Legal Education Seminars. He is a graduate of the world renowned Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College, an honor bestowed on a small fraction of the country’s finest trial lawyers. He has been an Atlanta Magazine Georgia Superlawyer for over 10 years ( www.SuperLawyers.com ). He is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum having met the stringent qualifications for such distinction. Memberships: Atlanta Bar Association; the State Bar of Georgia; the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; as well as the American Association of Justice.

Other firm members include:

William D. DeGolian. Past president, Atlanta Bar Association. Wide-ranging civil litigation practice. Also practices separately in Washington, Georgia, where he serves as mayor.

Baxter T. Jones. Practice specialized in trademark and copyright law.

Stanley E. Kreimer. More than 40 years broad civil litigation experience.

Johnson & Ward, LLC is an Association of Individuals, Limited Liability Companies and Professional Corporations.

Ken Shigley is the Only Georgia Attorney With this Combination of Credentials

Professional leadership

• Past President, State Bar of Georgia
• Past Chair of largest practice area section of national organization of trial lawyers.
• “Short list” of nominees for appointment to Georgia Court of Appeals (2012)

Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys – Board of Governors Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

• Based on numerous verdicts and settlements in the millions of dollars

Triple board certification:

• Civil Trial Advocacy (1995)
• Civil Pretrial Advocacy (2012)
• Truck Accident law (2019)

Diplomate, National College of Advocacy Highest peer ratings:

• “AV”
• “Super Lawyer”
• “Legal Elite”
• Avvo 10.0

Author & Teacher

• Lead author – Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation & Practice
• Chapter author – Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases
• Numerous articles in legal periodicals
• Has taught law students at Emory and other lawyers in continuing legal education programs throughout the US

If not the “right lawyer” for your case, we have access to a broad network of legal talent across Georgia and the United States, and may be able to find the right fit for you.