Janklow firm merging with Johnson Abdallah

Two Sioux Falls law firms are combining to create the state’s largest firm focused exclusively on civil litigation. On Sept. 1, four attorneys from The Janklow Law Firm will join six attorneys at Johnson Abdallah LLP to create a firm known as Johnson Janklow Abdallah LLP. The full name of the firm will be Johnson, Janklow, Abdallah, Bollweg & Parsons LLP. It will be located in the Johnson Abdallah office in the Security National Bank Building at 9th Street and Main Avenue.

The former Janklow office building on Russell Street was bought recently by Chuck Brennan as part of his Badlands Pawn project.

The merger reunites Russ Janklow with his former law partners. Janklow left the firm in 2008 to practice law with his father and former governor, Bill Janklow. “I’m excited about the opportunity,” Russ Janklow said.  “I couldn’t be more proud of working with my dad in his last years with the great legal team that we built here.  This merger will allow us to continue that work, help an even broader range of clients, and work on all sorts of personal injury, insurance, and complex litigation matters with some very talented lawyers who also happen to be good friends.”

The timing was perfect, said Scott Abdallah, managing partner at Johnson Abdallah. “We all missed Russ from the moment he left," he said. "We have kidded each other ever since about reuniting and things finally started coming together several months ago.”

Both firms focus almost exclusively on civil litigation, including personal injury, business and commercial litigation, workers’ compensation, employment disputes, constitutional law, and appeals of all kinds. “This is a perfect blending of very similar law practices,” said Steve Johnson, founding partner of Johnson Abdallah. “We’re delighted and eager to get to work.” Attorneys joining the new firm from the Janklow law firm are Russ Janklow, Kimberly Lanham, Andrew Damgaard, and Jami Bishop.  Attorneys joining the firm from Johnson Abdallah are Steve Johnson, Scott Abdallah, Pamela Bollweg, Ron Parsons, Shannon Falon, and Delia Druley.

The new firm will continue to grow an already burgeoning practice in trust and estate litigation led by partner Pamela Bollweg, who was recently recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of the top two female litigators in South Dakota.

The attorneys in both firms have been recognized extensively for their excellent trial and appellate skills.  Both firms currently have the highest rating possible by Martindale Hubbell.  In addition, Johnson Abdallah is one of four law firms in the state of South Dakota to receive the highest ranking possible by Chambers USA, an international rating entity for attorneys, and one of seven firms in the state to receive the highest ranking possible by Benchmark Litigation, a national rating entity for attorneys.