Lawyer specializing in Franchise Law and Legal Malpractice

John J. Allan

4931 Lindell Boulevard

Suite 1 East

St. Louis, Missouri 63108

Phone 314-361-7100

e-mail jja@allanlaw.com

Professional Practice

Lawyers do one thing that no other professional person can do. That one thing is to speak for another in a court of law; the only place that can resolve a dispute in a binding fashion. This is true whether the party in the dispute is a person, a government, or another legal entity such as a corporation. Outside of some special statute, no other person or professional can do that. That privilege is what is called the practice of law. To exercise that privilege well takes many skills and many virtues: it takes wisdom, intellect, experience, education, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, understanding, empathy, discipline, psychology, nerve, strength, ethical values, leadership, morals, patience, and, simply hard work.

No lawyer has all the skills and all the virtues or does all the right things all of the time. Most lawyers have the required skills and virtues most of the time and carry out their duties in an honorable and professional manner. That is as it should be. That is what can and should be expected from a lawyer, your lawyer.

A lawyer is your agent, your employee, your counselor. The lawyer works for you. It is important to understand this.

John J. Allan is a lawyer--an attorney. He has been in the private general practice of law in St. Louis , MO since 1974.

This lawyers practice is described as a general civil trial practice. As a civil trial lawyer the John Allan has represented persons, and legal entities, usually as a plaintiff, in damage claims stemming from professional negligence, lawyers negligence, legal malpractice, accidents, personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, contract disputes, medical malpractice, real estate matters, business disputes, and eminent domain or condemnation cases. The practice has included divorces, adoption, wills, and real estate transactions. His career has involved him in an average of 4-5 jury trials a year for the past 25 or so years. This is important because trying cases gives a lawyer a wealth of experience in the art and politics of life, an essential skill for a good lawyer. In 1981 he began to take on an unpopular cause of representing clients who were damaged by the negligent conduct of other lawyers. He now specializes in civil trial practice of legal malpractice or lawyers negligence. In 1985 he began to represent people in franchising, buying, selling, developing, and litigating franchise issues. He has become an expert in this field. This includes business formation, shareholder/partnership agreements, financing, capital formation, copyrights and trademarks, sales and acquisitions, copyrights and trademarks, valuations, and litigation, jury and non-jury, trials, arbitrations and mediations.
Mr. Allan's educational background is traditional. He graduated from St. Louis University Law School in 1974 and became qualified to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, all federal courts, the Supreme and Appellate Courts of the State of Missouri , and all courts of general jurisdiction in the State of Missouri .

Areas of Special Emphasis: There are two areas of special emphasis:

a) Entrepreneurial Law: franchising, small business development, acquisitions and sales of businesses and venture capital activities; consultation and litigation.

b) Professional Negligence: litigation (legal, medical, accountant, engineering malpractice). Mr. Allan has tried over 100 jury trials to conclusion.

c) General Practice: Domestic relations, real estate, estate planning, small corporation business law.

Teaching Experience: Mr. Allan has lectured on trial civil practice in university and business settings at seminars. From 1976-1984 he was an associate professor of business law at the University of Missouri St. Louis . Part-time professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis School of Business from 1976-1984; lecturer on occasion at the St. Louis University Center of Entrepreneurial Studies and Washington University .

Professional Associations: At various times Mr. Allan has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, International Franchise Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, American Franchisee Association, Missouri Trial Lawyers Association, and the Lawyers Association of St. Louis.

Business Activity: Outside of the practice, he is a member of the Rotary Club of St. Louis, and has at various times been involved with the Small Business Coalition of St. Louis, Regional Commerce and Growth Association, Optimist Club, Adult Literacy Council.

Military Career: Captain, USMC, Decorated with Naval Achievement Medal for combat as a Vietnam Veteran, 26th Marines, 1 Marine Division Infantry Platoon Commander; 1968-1974.

HUMOR: It is hard to get interested in a case until I get paid. Once I get paid, I is hard to get interested in the case.

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