“I listen carefully. I research thoroughly. I communicate with you regularly, and I aggressively fight for your success.”
Courtrooms are battlegrounds. Because of the high stakes involved, you need a skilled, quality attorney who is tough enough to insure your success. After 23 years of practice, Jenna is known for her innovative approaches to your legal issues, working together with you to implement the options you require to protect your wealth, to solve your case, and to navigate the legal process.
Jenna has been in practice since 1997 and helped to form what is now Villani Johnson Law Group in 2011. She has concentrated her practice in the primary areas of business litigation and family law. She brings extensive experience handling contested and uncontested divorce; child custody and visitation; child support establishment, modification, and enforcement; and complex commercial litigation including contract disputes, property law, and employment law.
Jenna is a native of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, graduating as Valedictorian from Mt. Vernon Township High School before obtaining her undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in 1994, and her Juris Doctorate from Baylor School of Law in 1997. Before coming back to Southern Illinois, she served as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk for Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and as an associate attorney for the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she focused on complex civil litigation. Upon her return to Southern Illinois, she was appointed to serve as Special Master to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Jenna describes herself as an avid reader, a passionate musician, and a gardening buff.
A persuasive and successful litigator, Jenna captures the respect of clients and the judiciary alike.
“Jenna's presence in the courtroom is nothing short of amazing. I have never experienced an attorney of this caliber. She commands respect every time she enters a courtroom.” ~K.C., client
PRACTICE AREAS:
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Custody Disputes
- Child Support Modification
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Guardianship
- Commercial Litigation
- Contract Disputes
- Property Law
- Employment Law
EDUCATION:
- University of South Dakota, B.S., Magna Cum Laude, 1994,
Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Alpha Theta
- Baylor School of Law, J.D., Cum Laude, 1997,
Editor of Baylor Review, National ATLA Mock Trial Team, Order of Barristers
ADMISSIONS:
- Texas Bar 1998
- Minnesota Bar 1999
- California Bar 2000
- Illinois Bar 2003
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
- Texas State Bar Association member
- Minnesota State Bar Association past-member
- California State Bar Association past-member
- Illinois State Bar Association member
- Jefferson County Bar Association member
- Member of St. Mary Catholic Church and musical ministry
- Former vice president of St. Mary's School Board
- Current secretary of St. Mary's Endowment Board
- Former past president of Southern Illinois Cerebral Palsy Board
- Mentor for young professionals of the Bar