Hidden Gems: Meet Ven Johnson of Ven Johnson Law

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ven Johnson.

Hi Ven, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a trial lawyer for about 40 years now, and like many lawyers, I started my career learning the ropes as a defense attorney. After graduating from Kalamazoo College and earning my law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, I worked for a civil defense firm representing corporations and insurance companies for nearly ten years. This experience gave me a strong foundation and insight into how the other side thinks, which proved invaluable once I shifted my focus to representing everyday people.

In 1995, I joined Fieger, Fieger & Schwartz, where I spent 16 years trying major cases with Geoffrey Fieger and learning what it truly means to fight for people who’ve been wronged. I became a law partner there in 2001. I opened my own practice, Ven Johnson Law, in 2011.

Since then, my firm has expanded to Flint and Kalamazoo to better serve clients across Michigan. As a Saginaw native, being near my hometown means the world to me. And now, we’re preparing to move our Detroit office to the new Hudson’s Detroit building on Woodward – a major investment in the city’s future and in the next chapter of our story. I couldn’t be more proud of how far we’ve come.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Not even close. If you’re doing real trial work, if you’re taking on insurance companies, police departments, major corporations or the government, you’re not choosing an easy road. I’ve been called every name in the book. I’ve lost cases I believed in with everything I had. And I’ve watched laws like governmental immunity make it harder and harder for everyday people to get justice and hold parties accountable.

But here’s the thing: I won’t back down, and neither will those who work at Ven Johnson Law. The fight is what keeps us going. Every case, every verdict and every appeal is how we push for systemic change.

As you know, we’re big fans of Ven Johnson Law. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Ven Johnson Law is a plaintiff’s personal injury firm that fights for people who’ve been wronged, whether it be by insurance companies, big corporations, by the government, by law enforcement or by other parties who have been negligent. We handle cases in both state and federal courts nationwide, and our practice areas span everything from civil rights, police misconduct, product liability, trucking and auto negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice and more.

What sets us apart? We actually try cases and we win them. We’ve earned over $1 billion total in verdicts and settlements, including a $100 million verdict in 2022 in Edwards/Blasingame v. Grubbs – the largest police excessive force jury verdict in U.S. history.

But beyond the numbers, our firm is built on the belief that no one is above the law. That’s not a slogan, that’s what we live by. I’m proud that we’ve assembled a strong team that fights for real people and fights hard.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Tenacity. You have to be relentless to be successful in this business. The system isn’t built for victims, it’s built to protect the powerful. Winning takes grit: outwork them, outthink them and outlast them.

I also believe deeply in preparation and integrity. You can’t fake either. Judges, juries and clients all know when you’re being real and when you’re not. I tell young lawyers all the time: be honest, be prepared and fight like hell for your clients. Do those three things, and the rest will take care of itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://venjohnsonlaw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venfights
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/venfights
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venfights