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Missouri Lawyers Awards 2026: James F. Bennett
Staff Report//February 12, 2026//
Partner
Dowd Bennett
St. Louis
Jim Bennett’s practice is litigation and trials in state and federal court, split approximately evenly between Missouri and other states. His cases include product liability, commercial disputes, class actions and multiple appellate arguments each year. He usually represents defendants. In 2025, he had multi-week trials or arbitrations in Indiana, Florida, California and Louisiana.
In 2025, Bennett obtained a jury verdict for an oil refiner in Baton Rouge state court related to a fire that took place at the refinery. The challenging case lasted three weeks and involved very skilled lawyers on the opposing side. The firm also successfully expanded to Denver, Dallas and Chicago with high-quality lawyers.
Dowd Bennett has been selected as the most philanthropic small business by the St. Louis Business Journal for seven consecutive years. In 2025, particular emphasis was placed on supporting the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis food program given the reduction in government support. The firm also supported tornado relief and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Attorney of the Year
Influential Appellate Attorney
Legal Champion
Influential Lawyer
Law Firm Leader
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