John D Kershman

John D. Kershman is a founding partner at The Kershman Law Firm, LLC in Clayton, Missouri. John focuses his practice on family law litigation and mediation in Missouri. He has assisted clients in collaborative family law matters and mediation as well as cases involving divorce, modification, paternity, child custody, adoption, contempt, international child custody (Hague Convention), and appeals. John is a member of the Hague Convention Attorney Network through the U.S. Department of State.

John received his Juris Doctorate from Washington University Law School in St. Louis. He earned his B.S. from St. John’s University in New York, and his Master’s Degree in Business from Webster University in St. Louis. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, including the Eastern and Western Federal Districts of Missouri as well as the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

He is a member of the IACP – International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, as well as, the AMM – Association of Missouri Mediators, and the APFM – Academy of Professional Family Mediators. He has been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel as a Member of the Top One Percent Attorneys since 2015 and has maintained an AVVO Superb 10.0/10.0 Rating since 2014.
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Family Law. Similarly, the Firm is ranked amongst the Best Law Firms® in America for Family Law.

John has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington University Law School since 2007 in their Trial and Advocacy Program and the Law School’s LLM program. He is currently an instructor for the LLM program in Constitutional Law and Corporations. He previously was an instructor for Introduction to U.S. Law and Methods. Additionally, he teaches Education Law in the Law School’s Master’s Program.

Note: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. John Kershman is responsible for the content.

• Missouri – 2004
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit – 2007
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri – 2004
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri – 2007
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri – 2007

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois – 2025

• Washington University School of Law – J.D., 2004
• Webster University – M.A., Business Management, 1995
• Saint John’s University – B.S., Economics & Political Science, 1990

• Missouri Public Defender, Intern
• Washington University’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, Student Attorney, September 1, 2003 – December 31, 2003
• Brown & James Law Firm, P.C., Senior Associate Attorney, September 1, 2004 – March 31, 2009
• The Stange Law Firm, P.C., Partner, February 2013 – May 2020
• Ahearn Kershman Law Firm, Founding Partner, May 2020 – October 2025
• Washington University Law School, Adjunct Professor of Law – Coach of the National Appellate Advocacy Team, November 1, 2007 – 2011
• Washington University Law School, Adjunct Professor of Law – LLM Programs – Constitutional Law, Corporations, and Fundamentals of US Law – current-

• Super Lawyers – 2010 Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
• Super Lawyers – 2011 Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
• Super Lawyers – 2012 Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
• Super Lawyers – 2013 Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
• Super Lawyers – 2014 Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
• Lead Counsel Rated for Divorce/Family Law – 2014 Lead Counsel
• AVVO Superb 10.0/10.0 Rating, 2014 – 2015
• Top One Percent, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, 2015
• Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Family Law. Similarly, the Firm is ranked amongst the Best Law Firms® in America for Family Law.

• Missouri Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
• Mediator
• Collaborative Law Attorney

• NBI National Webcast: E-Discovery in Divorce, National Business Institute (4/28/15)
• Telephone Seminar: Adoptions and Name Changes, Missouri Bar (4/15/15)