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John Kieran Powers
About John
Biography
John Powers has represented the interests of catastrophically injured individuals for more than 45 years. For more than 30 consecutive years, he has been selected by a nationwide vote as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" for his representation of plaintiffs in three separate areas of practice: “medical malpractice law”; “product liability litigation”; and “personal injury litigation”.
In 2013, John was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America" in the field of medical malpractice law - Plaintiffs.
In 2012, the New York State Legislature recognized John’s lifetime of professional and community service by a Legislative Resolution which declared: “Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others that John K. Powers has displayed throughout his life”.
For more than a decade, his firm, Powers & Santola, has repeatedly been selected by US News and World Report as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” for its representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice, product liability and personal injury cases. He is listed in the “Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers”. For more than a decade: John has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers; named one of the New York Area’s Top Lawyers in New York Magazine; and selected as one of The Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York State by The National Trial Lawyers Association.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Albany Law School, John is a nationally recognized authority on the medical and legal aspects of catastrophic injury. He is the Co-Founder and a former President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers; a former President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association; a former President of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association; a former Chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association and has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the NYSBA. John is a Past-President of the prestigious Melvin M. Belli Society. He served as a member of the national Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice [AAJ] (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America [ATLA]) for fifteen years and served two terms as a member of the association's Executive Committee. He is one of only 43 lawyers in the nation to be granted the status of "Life Member" in AAJ. John is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Trial Advocacy, has been awarded the rank of Advocate by the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a Charter Senior Life Fellow of the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
In addition to his service to the legal profession, John served as First Vice-President and General Counsel of the New York State Brain Injury Association and has been granted Life Membership in both that organization and the National Brain Injury Association. A Co-Founder of the National College of Advocacy and former President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, John is in frequent demand as a speaker, particularly in the area of advocating on behalf of individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries. In the past, he has served as a chairperson or lecturer at more than 450 programs throughout the United States and Canada. John has published many books, chapters and articles on legal issues, including a chapter in The National Head Injury Foundation Guide to the: Analysis, Understanding and Presentation of Cases Involving Traumatic Brain Injury.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Brain Injury
29%
54 years
Birth Injury
24%
54 years
Medical Malpractice
24%
54 years
Personal Injury
9%
54 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Contingency
10%-33%
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in New York for 53 years
State: New York
Acquired: 1973
No misconduct found
Location
Powers & Santola, LLP
39 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY, 12207
Powers & Santola, LLP
407 S. Warren Street, Syracuse, NY, 13202
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John Kieran Powers's Reviews
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John Kieran Powers's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse John. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"John has the unique ability to take a complex set of facts, strip away the non-decisive issues, and present the case in a way that makes it simple and easy to understand for a jury. In 21 years of practice, I have never seen anyone do this better than John Powers, Esq."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mr. Powers is a consummate professional. My old firm, Schneider, Kleinick, Weitz, Damashek & Shoot had extensive dealings with John, and our experiences were always more than just positive. I endorse John Powers as a personal injury lawyer and as a lobbyist."
"I have been fortunate to have known John Powers for over 20 years, and equally fortunate to have collaborated with him on cases, and while members of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (for which he served as President), and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA, now called the American Association for Justice, or AAJ). Few attorneys anywhere enjoy the respect and admiration for skill and superb results that John does among his peers. It is a pleasure to endorse him."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Adam Powers
Personal injury lawyer
Michael Friedman
Divorce and separation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2014
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
New York Super Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine
2009
100 Top Trial Lawyers, The American Trial Lawyers Association
2009
President's Award, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
2009
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2008
President's Award, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
2008
New York Super Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine
2008
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2007
New York Super Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine
2007
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2007
President's Award, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
2006
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2005
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2004
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2003
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2002
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2002
President's Award,
2001
President’s Award of Excellence,
2001
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2000
President's Service Award,
2000
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
1999
President's Achievement Award,
1999
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
1998
President's Award,
1998
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
1997
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
1997
Distinguished Service Award,,
1996
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
1996
President's Award,
1996
Wiedeman-Wysocki Citation of Excellence,
1995
President's Award,
1995
Best Lawyers in America,
1994
Wiedeman-Wysocki Citation of Excellence,
1994
Award of Merit,
1994
Best Lawyers in America,
1993
Best Lawyers in America,
1992
Best Lawyers in America,
1991
Award of Excellence,
1991
Best Lawyers in America,
1990
Award of Merit,
1990
Best Lawyers in America,
1989
Best Lawyers in America,
1988
Best Lawyers in America,
1987
Best Lawyers in America,
1986
Best Lawyers in America,
1985
Best Lawyers in America,
Work Experience
1987 - Present
Founding Partner, Powers & Santola, LLP
1978 - 1987
President, John K. Powers, P.C.
1976 - 1978
Partner, Medwin & Powers
1970 - 1976
Associate, Medwin & McMahon
Associations
2009 - Present
Melvin M. Belli SocietyBoard of Directors
2004 - Present
New York State Academy of Trial LawyersCo-Founder
2004 - Present
Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar AssociationMember
2004 - Present
Academy of Trial AdvocacyMember
2001 - Present
Onondaga County Bar AssociationSustaining Member
1996 - Present
Foundation of the American Board of Trial AdvocatesCharter Senior Life Fellow
1992 - Present
National College of AdvocacyCo-Founder
1992 - Present
American Board of Trial AdvocatesVice-President
1983 - Present
National Brain Injury AssociationLife Member
1979 - Present
American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA)Life Member
1972 - Present
Albany County Bar AssociationSustaining Member
2006 - 2009
New York State Bar AssociationHouse of Delegates
2005 - 2006
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers SectionChairman
2004 - 2006
New York State Academy of Trial LawyersPresident
1995 - 1998
Association of Trial Lawyers of America - Political Action CommitteeTrustee
1993 - 2003
New York State Lawyers Political Action CommitteeChair
1992 - 1993
New York State Trial Lawyers AssociationPresident
1992 - 1993
New York State Trial Lawyers InstitutePresident
1989 - 2004
American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA)Board of Governors
1985 - 1986
Capital District Trial Lawyers AssociationPresident
1983 - 2004
New York State Lawyers Political Action CommitteeTrustee
Education
1972
Albany Law School of Union University
JD - Juris Doctor
1969
University of Notre Dame
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Publications
1994
Understanding and Presentation of Cases Involving Traumatic Brain Injury
"Direct Examination of Plaintiff's Treating Physicians and Experts,"
1994
Trial Lawyers Quarterly, Vol. 24
"The Seat Belt Defense In New York State,"
1993
Trial Magazine
"The New York Experience,"
1993
Trial Lawyers Quarterly, Vol. 23
"The Big Lie,"
1989
New York Negligence Guide
"Construction Accidents,"
1989
Unknown
"Construction Accidents, How To Be a Winner,"
1989
Unknown
"Compensation the Catastrophically Injured,"
Languages
English