Founding partner, John Simmons, started The Simmons Firm in 1999 with eight employees and a focus on asbestos litigation. John's vision was to provide clients with a high level of service and care.

Today that vision has been realized. Now known as SimmonsCooper, the firm has over 60 attorneys and nearly 300 employees, as well as a firm-wide dedication to giving clients personal attention. John has overseen some of the firm's biggest verdicts and settlements, including some of the largest asbestos injury awards in U.S. history.*

John's commitment to the victims of mesothelioma runs deep. He and SimmonsCooper jointly pledged $10.2 million to establish the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University in Springfield. The Cancer Institute is a community-based patient care, research, education and outreach program created to improve cancer care for the citizens of Central and Southern Illinois.