John Morgan is a man who grew up with nothing and is now a force for positive change in law, politics, business, philanthropy, and social activism. Many people recognize his face from commercials, but few people know the life experiences that forged his character.
Childhood and Family
John Morgan was the oldest of five children in a home where he was often the acting head of the household starting from when he was in junior high. His parents struggled, and there were times when the lights or phone service would get cut off. From a young age, he was already forced into the role of looking out for and protecting his three brothers and sister.
When they moved from Kentucky to Florida, John embraced his entrepreneurial side starting several businesses and finding part-time work. He knew early on that he had to build wealth in order to protect those he loved. He also maintained excellent grades in school and encouraged his siblings to do the same, determined to improve their lot in the world.
A Life Changing Moment
When John was a sophom*ore in college, his younger brother Tim suffered a horrific accident working as a lifeguard at Walt Disney World. John was devastated at how their lawyer and Tim’s employer all turned their backs on them. With ambitions of law school already in mind, John was set on an unalterable path - to become a personal injury lawyer. His mantra and brand, “For the People” was born from experiencing these injustices that wreaked havoc upon his family.
An Unwavering Belief in His Purpose
Morgan & Morgan are known for their expertise in personal injury law and their prominent advertising strategy, but in 1988, advertising in the legal industry was shunned. John pioneered the unknowns of attorney advertising despite the backlash it brought him, because he knew it was the only way he could have an outsized impact. You can’t change the world if no one knows about you.
One of his earliest major causes when the firm was operating out of their six offices in Central Florida was that of nursing home abuse. John raised awareness of the national crisis that was occurring and took on the biggest offenders. Much of society likes to forget about the elderly, the poor, the disabled, but John proved that his signature, “For the People” was not just idle lip service.
A Family Practice and Approach
John’s wife Ultima, an accomplished lawyer in her own right, is an integral part of Morgan & Morgan and actively involved in their philanthropic efforts of giving back to their community. Raising their children, they instilled a deep sense of ethics and responsibility in them. Their son Daniel worked in the Morgan & Morgan call center during his high school and college summers and was exposed first hand to the injuries and challenges their clients were facing. All three of their sons now work at the firm and continue the family tradition of defending the rights of others.
John’s ideals have been imparted to his children and the rest of his firm and allowed Morgan & Morgan to offer a unique experience to their clients—a national law firm with the resources and experience to truly defend their rights but one where they are also treated like family. The Morgan family knows all too well what it feels like to see the legal system fail to protect a loved one who needs it. In creating Morgan & Morgan, John vowed never to be powerless again when other’s needed protection and he has held true to his word.
A Reputation for Excellence
John has a track record of winning, not just in legal cases, but in politics and public issues as well. He is always advocating for what is best for the people, and he puts his money where his mouth is. He takes a thoughtful approach where he evaluates every issue on a case by case basis and creates a well formed opinion based on his analysis. This is why clients and politicians alike trust him for his candor and insight.
Recognized for the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent award in 2021 for achieving the highest peer rated level of professional excellence, he is as fierce an advocate in his legal work as he is for improving society as a whole. Receiving the Silver Client Champion rating in 2021, he is respected by both his peers and clients for his professionalism and expertise.
You can tell a lot about a person by their demeanor and if it changes when they improve their lot in life. John has remained true to his roots, continuing to this day to fight for the rights of the people both in his legal practice, philanthropy, and activism within his community.
