Chris Johnson is a Partner at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel in the firm’s Dallas office. Chris represents plaintiffs involved in toxic tort and complex civil matters. He focuses on helping victims who have been catastrophically injured by dangerous products and toxic substances, including people dealing with mesothelioma resulting from asbestos exposure. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin. He was awarded his Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Chris served as the editor of the SMU International Law Review and was a Dean’s Scholar throughout law school. After law school, Chris was named Prosecutor of the Year in the Misdemeanor Division for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. He has taught as an affiliate professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, where he also contributed his time mentoring first-year law students through the school’s Bedford Mentor program. Chris formerly served on the Board of Management for the T. Boone Pickens YMCA. He is currently a member of the American Association for Justice and serves as the Minority Caucus Board of Governors Representative. Chris is also a member of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, and the Dallas Bar Association. For the past four years, Chris has been selected for recognition on the Super Lawyers Texas Rising Stars lists, published by Thomson Reuters. He is an AV® Preeminent™ ranked lawyer with a peer review rating of 5.0 out of 5.0, ranking and peer review surveys are conducted by Martindale-Hubbell. Chris is licensed to practice law by the State Bars of Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Highlights Four Firm Attorneys Recognized on 2020 Texas Rising Stars List Victory for Assault Victim of Anti-Muslim Hate Group Leader Dallas Attorneys Honored on Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars List Clarity in the Evolving World of E-Discovery Family of Boston Letter Carrier Receives $6.8M Asbestos Verdict Mesothelioma Victim Receives $7.55M Verdict Areas of Practice Asbestos Litigation Personal Injury Product Liability Sexual Abuse Toxic Tort Pro Bono & Community Service Board of Management for the T. Boone Pickens YMCA, 2015-2018 Bedford Mentor, University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, Dallas, Texas 2015 Bar Admissions Texas, 2009 Oregon, 2019 Washington, 2020 Hawaii, 2021 U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2023 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2020 U.S. District Court, Hawaii, 2020 U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2020 U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 2012 U.S. Supreme Court, 2018 Education Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas, J.D., 2009 University of Texas at Austin, B.A., with honors, 2006 Professional Associations & Memberships American Association for Justice Minority Caucus, Board of Governors Representative, 2021-2022 Committee Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Minority Caucus, 2020-21 Member, Voter Protection Committee, 2021-2023 Dallas Asian American Bar Association Connections Committee member, 2015 Dallas Association of Young Trial Lawyers Dallas Bar Association Hawaii Association for Justice Honors & Awards American Association for Justice, Leadership Academy Graduate, 2018 AV® Preeminent ™ 5.0 out of 5.0, Martindale-Hubbell Featured Peer Review Rated Lawyer Selected for recognition on the Super Lawyers Texas Rising Stars list, published by Thomson Reuters, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Prosecutor of the Year (Misdemeanor Division), Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, 2013 SMU International Law Review Association, SMU, Dedman School of Law, 2008-2009 Dean’s Scholarship Recipient, SMU, Dedman School of Law, 2006-2009 Phi Theta Kappa, 2002-2004 Other Appointments Affiliate Professor, University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, Dallas, Texas 2016 Publications & Speeches Presenter, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Law Symposium, 2014
