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Kimberly Priest Johnson

Kimberly Priest Johnson

Partner

3333 Lee Parkway
Suite 750
Dallas, TX 75219
T 469.484.6049
kimberly.priestjohnson@nelsonmullins.com
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Kimberly focuses her practice on complex litigation and strategic counseling, advising clients on mass torts, multidistrict litigation, intellectual property disputes, and white collar and government investigations. Drawing on her experience as a former U.S. Magistrate Judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and civil trial attorney, she brings a unique perspective to navigating complex civil and criminal matters.

During...

Kimberly focuses her practice on complex litigation and strategic counseling, advising clients on mass torts, multidistrict litigation, intellectual property disputes, and white collar and government investigations. Drawing on her experience as a former U.S. Magistrate Judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and civil trial attorney, she brings a unique perspective to navigating complex civil and criminal matters.

During her nearly decade-long tenure as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Kimberly presided over a broad range of civil and criminal matters and authored more than 1,300 substantive opinions. Her judicial experience spans complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, product liability, class actions, and employment disputes, among other matters. She also developed extensive experience handling electronic discovery issues in both civil and criminal proceedings.

Kimberly's background as a federal judge, prosecutor, and litigator informs her strategic approach to complex disputes and investigations. She also has significant mediation experience, having helped resolve more than 100 civil cases across a range of industries and legal matters. She works closely with clients to develop practical strategies that address litigation risks and achieve favorable resolutions.

Kimberly Priest Johnson

her nearly decade-long tenure as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Kimberly presided over a broad range of civil and criminal matters and authored more than 1,300 substantive opinions. Her judicial experience spans complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, product liability, class actions, and employment disputes, among other matters. She also developed extensive experience handling electronic discovery issues in both civil and criminal proceedings.

Kimberly's background as a federal judge, prosecutor, and litigator informs her strategic approach to complex disputes and investigations. She also has significant mediation experience, having helped resolve more than 100 civil cases across a range of industries and legal matters. She works closely with clients to develop practical strategies that address litigation risks and achieve favorable resolutions.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management (2025-2026)
  • Judicial Leadership Award, Leadership Summit, Electronic Discovery Institute (2022)
  • Sergeant-of-the-Inn Award, Paul Brown Inn of Court (2021)

Professional Activities

  • Electronic Discovery Institute
    • Faculty and Instructor (2018-Present)
      • Direct and teach training program on electronic discovery and date privacy issues for federal circuit, district, and magistrate judges.
    • Faculty Member and Speaker, EDI Leadership Summit (2016-Present)
    • Judicial Co-Chair and Instructor (2023)
    • Judicial Patent Summit (2019)
    • Faculty Development Program (2019)
  • Federal Magistrate Judges Association
    • Fifth Circuit Director (2022-2024)
    • Diversity, Community Outreach, and Civics Education Committee, Co-Chair (2020-2024)
    • MJSTAR Committee Member (2020-2024)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Fellow
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association Foundation
    • Advisory Board Member (2017-Present)
  • Women’s White Collar Defense Association in White Collar, Member
    • Sarah T. Hughes Inn of Court, Master
  • Paul Brown Inn of Court, Master
  • Roadways to the Bench
    • North Texas Co-Chair of National Event (2023)

Community

  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
  • Children’s Medical Center Foundation Auxiliary Board
  • Broadway Dallas
  • Highland Park United Methodist Church
  • Reclaim 611
  • The Family Place

Kimberly focuses her practice on complex litigation and strategic counseling, advising clients on mass torts, multidistrict litigation, intellectual property disputes, and white collar and government investigations. Drawing on her experience as a former U.S. Magistrate Judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and civil trial attorney, she brings a unique perspective to navigating complex civil and criminal matters.

During... her nearly decade-long tenure as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Kimberly presided over a broad range of civil and criminal matters and authored more than 1,300 substantive opinions. Her judicial experience spans complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, product liability, class actions, and employment disputes, among other matters. She also developed extensive experience handling electronic discovery issues in both civil and criminal proceedings.

Kimberly's background as a federal judge, prosecutor, and litigator informs her strategic approach to complex disputes and investigations. She also has significant mediation experience, having helped resolve more than 100 civil cases across a range of industries and legal matters. She works closely with clients to develop practical strategies that address litigation risks and achieve favorable resolutions.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Education

  • Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, JD, cum laude (2000)
    • Order of the Coif
    • SMU Law Review Association
  • University of North Texas, MS, Counseling Psychology, cum laude (1997)
  • University of North Texas, BA, Counseling Psychology, cum laude (1995)
  • University of North Texas, BBA, cum laude (1994)

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Clerkships

  • Judicial Law Clerk, the Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (2000 - 2001)

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management (2025-2026)
  • Judicial Leadership Award, Leadership Summit, Electronic Discovery Institute (2022)
  • Sergeant-of-the-Inn Award, Paul Brown Inn of Court (2021)
  • Electronic Discovery Institute
    • Faculty and Instructor (2018-Present)
      • Direct and teach training program on electronic discovery and date privacy issues for federal circuit, district, and magistrate judges.
    • Faculty Member and Speaker, EDI Leadership Summit (2016-Present)
    • Judicial Co-Chair and Instructor (2023)
    • Judicial Patent Summit (2019)
    • Faculty Development Program (2019)
  • Federal Magistrate Judges Association
    • Fifth Circuit Director (2022-2024)
    • Diversity, Community Outreach, and Civics Education Committee, Co-Chair (2020-2024)
    • MJSTAR Committee Member (2020-2024)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Fellow
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association Foundation
    • Advisory Board Member (2017-Present)
  • Women’s White Collar Defense Association in White Collar, Member
    • Sarah T. Hughes Inn of Court, Master
  • Paul Brown Inn of Court, Master
  • Roadways to the Bench
    • North Texas Co-Chair of National Event (2023)
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
  • Children’s Medical Center Foundation Auxiliary Board
  • Broadway Dallas
  • Highland Park United Methodist Church
  • Reclaim 611
  • The Family Place