Profile: John W Bell

Product Liability

Biography: Product Liability

John W Bell is co-founder and vice president of Johnson & Bell, as well as one of the firm's managing partners. He concentrates his practice in product liability and defence of complex or catastrophic litigation, or both, with a focus on defence of personal injury litigation. Mr Bell's extensive experience includes numerous high-profile cases, which have led him to be featured in many reputable law journals. He has been named one of the top 20 tort defence lawyers in Chicago by Chicago Lawyer magazine, named 'Member of the Month' by DRI magazine and has also been featured in the National Law Journal for successful defence verdicts, most notably in the case of Catron v Grove.

Mr Bell is a member of a number of legal associations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois, and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the Illinois Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the Society of Trial Lawyers, the International Association of Insurance Defense Counsel, and the Federal Trial Bar; and he is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mr Bell received a BS from Northwestern University in 1968 and a JD from Loyola University in 1971.

Mr Bell frequently lectures for a variety of associations and institutes, including: Chicago Bar Association, City of Chicago - Department of Law, Defense Research Institute, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Illinois Defense Council, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association and SAE International.