No person best defines the firm as its founder, John Stevens Berry. He is a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran, a driving force of the criminal defense bar - not only Nebraska, but also the nation,- a successful author, a father of military officers, a doting grandfather,
a radio talk show host, a noted lecturer and story teller, and most importantly the guiding spirit of the law firm.
Having appeared as legal counsel in 27 states, as well as defense counsel in more than 100 homicide, as well as Special Prosecutor in extraordinarily high-profile cases, his experience is invaluable.
- BA Stanford University [1960]
- JD Northwestern University [1965]
- Combat Veteran [Vietnam]
- US Army Captain
- Bronze Star
- Vietnamese Medal of Honor [Gold]
- Cross of Gallantry with Palm
- Graduate: Infantry Officers' Course
[Fort Benning GA]
- Graduate: Judge Advocate Generals
[Charlottesville VA]
- Author: Those Gallant Men - On Trial
in Vietnam [Presidio Press 1984]
[Book of the Month - Military Book
Club Award Winner]
- Radio Talk Show Host: KZUM-FM
- Fellow: American Board of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Past President: Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys
Association
- Past President: Robert Van Pelt Chapter, Inns of
Court [Lincoln NE]
- Chief Defense Counsel:
- II Field Force, Vietnam [1968-69]
- The Presidio, San Francisco [1969-70]
- Special Counsel, Nebraska Unicameral / Legislature
[Franklin Committee 1990]
- Fellow: American Academy of Forensic Science
- Fellow: American Board of Criminal Lawyers
- Member - National Organization of Veterans Advocates
FIRM PROFILES
John Stevens Berry, Jr.
The person who coined the expression, "Like father, like son", certainly had John Berry in mind.
- BA, College of William & Mary [1997]
- JD, Creighton University [2003]
- Combat Veteran
- US Army Captain
- Airborne School
[Parachutist Badge]
- Ranger School
[Ranger Tab]
- Iraq [Operation Iraqi Freedom]
- Company Commander
[HHC 67th ASG]
- Bosnia [Operation Joint Forge]
____________________________
- Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation (3), Army Achievement Medal (2), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon.
____________________________________________
John on Patrol, Al Anbar Province
Iraq, September 2005
James M. Kelley
- BA & BS, University of Iowa [1963]
- JD, Georgetown University [1968]
- Director: Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney
General, Office of the Attorney General, MN
[1968-71]
- Licenses: Minnesota [1969], Nebraska [1970]
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota
- United States District Court, District of Nebraska
- Member: Minnesota & Nebraska State Bar Associations
- Member: American Bar Association
- Member: The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Member: Nebraska Association of Trial Lawyers
___________________________________________
Professional Practice:
- Civil Litigation & Appeals
Professional Practice:
- Litigation & Appeals [Civil & Criminal]
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims [Washington DC]
- United States District Court, District of Nebraska
Chad J. Wythers
- BA, University of Nebraska [1996]
- JD, University of Nebraska [2001]
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims
- United States District Court, District of Nebraska
- Member: Nebraska State Bar Association
________________________________________
Professional Practice:
- Litigation & Appeals [Civil & Criminal]
Margie Phillipson-Bailey
- BS, University of Nebraska [Summa cum laude] [1991]
- Non-Attorney Advocate: United States Court of
Appeals for Veterans' Claims [Washington DC]
- Board Member: National Organization for Veterans Advocates
[Fort Benning GA]
