ALTON, Ill. – Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms and a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is proud to announce that three firm attorneys have been selected as 2026 Illinois Legal Leaders by Missouri Lawyers Media.
Partners Perry J. Browder, Jo Anna Pollock, and Jenny Paulson were recognized in the Icons, Leaders in the Law, and Up & Coming Lawyers categories, respectively. In its inaugural year, the Illinois Legal Leaders Awards recognize southern Illinois attorneys who have demonstrated notable and sustained success in their practice areas while helping shape their communities and advance the practice of law.
“We are proud to see Perry, Jo Anna, and Jenny recognized among this year’s Illinois Legal Leaders,” said Simmons Hanly Conroy Managing Partner Laurence V. Nassif. “Each has made a meaningful impact through their work on behalf of our clients and the legal profession. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.”
Perry J. Browder was recognized in the Icons category, which honors senior leaders with 30 years or more of legal practice. A longtime advocate for families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, Browder is a senior partner and former chair of the firm’s asbestos department who has played a key role in building the firm’s national reputation. He secured a $250 million asbestos verdict against U.S. Steel, which is the largest asbestos verdict for a single plaintiff. Browder currently serves as president of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Jo Anna Pollock was recognized in the Leaders in the Law category, which honors members of the bar who have made important contributions to the practice of law in the state and to the local legal community or community at large. A partner in the firm’s Complex Litigation Department, Pollock has spent 25 years working in trial and appellate courts across the country. Her practice spans environmental, class action, public nuisance, and sexual abuse litigation. She also serves as vice chair of Lindenwood University’s Board of Trustees and first vice president of the Illinois Bar Foundation.
Jenny Paulson was recognized in the Up & Coming Lawyers category, which honors attorneys with 10 years or less of legal practice. Paulson joined Simmons Hanly Conroy in 2022 and was elevated to partner in 2026. She focuses on complex litigation and consumer class actions, representing individuals in product liability, consumer fraud, and data privacy matters. She has successfully argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in a health data privacy case and contributes to major litigation involving Uber passenger sexual assault and Meta Pixel health care data privacy claims.
Illinois Legal Leaders honorees are selected by an in-house committee from nominations, applications, and letters of recommendation.
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the Illinois Legal Leaders Awards on Sept. 29, 2026, at the Downtown Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. Simmons Hanly Conroy will also support this year’s program as a Celebration Sponsor.
