About Don Downing
Don’s tireless advocacy and negotiating skills have resulted in verdicts and settlements of over $3 billion on behalf of many thousands of injured persons and businesses.
Don has forty years of experience representing interests of his clients. Don’s practice has focused on complex commercial litigation, including class actions and mass tort actions. A native of Kennett, Missouri, Don grew up around farming. He has been appointed by multiple federal judges as lead plaintiffs’ counsel to represent tens of thousands of farmers in cases involving defective seed, market disruption based on premature release of genetically modified seed, herbicide drift resulting in crop loss, and government mistakes in loan program payments. Don also has represented thousands of injured parties against large companies alleged to have engaged in consumer fraud, health care overcharges, and selling defective products.
Don also is highly experienced in individual disputes, including fraud, breach of contract, negligence, securities, antitrust, and professional malpractice. After clerking for a federal judge, Don began his legal career at a large defense firm, where he was managing partner of its St. Louis office. He understands defense thinking and business concerns, valuable assets when advising and advocating for clients injured in commercial dealings. Don also served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Missouri, a position that allowed him to try many high-profile cases and argue in front of multiple appellate courts, include the U.S. Supreme Court. He succeeded in having the photo ID requirement declared unconstitutional in Missouri (Weinschenk v. State of Missouri) and can navigate regulatory and administrative challenges.
Don has been consistently recognized as among the top litigators in this state and the country, receiving numerous prestigious awards including being admitted as a Fellow in both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He has also been honored by, and elected to leadership positions in, numerous organizations including such influential positions as Chair of the University of Missouri’s Board of Curators.
Don earned a degree in economics from the University of Missouri in 1979 (cum laude), and a law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1982, where he served as an editor on the Missouri Law Review. He served as law clerk for the Honorable Edward L. Filippine, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Don is licensed in Missouri and Illinois, before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Eighth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
Gray Ritter Graham, Director (2004-present); Stinson Morrison Hecker, St. Louis Managing Partner (1996-2003); Missouri Chief Deputy Attorney General (1993-1995); Stinson Mag & Fizzell, partner (1990-1992), associate (1984-1989).
Notable Results
Representative Matters
Professional Accolades
Best Lawyers In America
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance (2025)
Bet-the-Company Litigation (2025)
St. Louis Litigation – Commercial (2025)
St. Louis Litigation – Antitrust (2025)
St. Louis Litigation – Commercial Litigation (2025)
St. Louis Litigation – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action – Plaintiffs’ (2025)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2024)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2022)
St. Louis Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action – Plaintiffs’ Lawyer of the Year (2021)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2020)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2018)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2016)
St. Louis Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs’ Lawyer of the Year (2015)
St. Louis Litigation – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year (2014)
St. Louis Litigation – Antitrust Lawyer of the Year (2013)
Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Commercial & Consumer Litigation “Power 30 Attorney” (2020-2022)
ICON Award (2020)
Influential Lawyer Award (2018)
Top Plaintiff’s Settlement Award (2018)
Legal Champion Award (2011)
Chambers and Partners, Band 1 rating (highest), Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (2021 - Present)
American Agricultural Law Association, Excellence in Agricultural Law Award (2020)
Faculty-Alumni Award, Mizzou Alumni Association (2015)
Merit Selection Panel Member, U.S. Magistrate Judge (2013)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2012)
University of Missouri Law School Citation of Merit (2011)
American Lawyer Litigation Daily, National Litigator of the Week (July 7, 2011)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2006 – present)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers – Top 50 in St. Louis and Top 100 in Missouri and Kansas
Best Lawyers in America (2005 – present)
AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Professional Associations
Professional
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Missouri Bar Task Force on Complex Litigation, Member
University of Missouri, Board of Curators (2009-2014); Chairman (2014)
University of Missouri Law School Foundation, Board of Trustees
University of Missouri Law Library Campaign Committee
University of Missouri Jefferson Club; Chairman, St. Louis Regional Dinner
National Benevolent Association: Chair, Board of Directors, Legal Committee
News & Publications
News
Publications
GRG Farm Litigation
Bar Admissions & Education
Clerkship
- Honorable Edward L. Filippine, District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Education
University of Missouri Columbia School of Law, Columbia, Missouri
J.D., 1982
Law Review: Missouri Law Review, Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
B.S. cum laude, 1979
Major: Economics
Admissions
- Missouri, 1982
- Illinois, 1983
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
