Overview
Knut S. Johnson, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a member of our Fire Litigation and Environmental Litigation practice groups who brings over 30 years of experience as a trial attorney to Singleton Schreiber. Representing clients in federal and state courts across the nation, he has handled complex criminal trials, appeals, and habeas corpus proceedings and litigated cases alleging violations of environmental laws, including under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
Mr. Johnson’s diverse and sophisticated criminal litigation practice has included the representation of many clients, from large corporations to small business owners, and from judges to doctors. Together with his many trials and appeals, he has represented clients before the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol and the Mueller Special Counsel’s Office investigation.
Mr. Johnson has been recognized with many awards and honors, including the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, unanimous “Well Qualified” rating (the highest ABA rating) after nomination to U.S. District Court, 2020; Top 50 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2020 and 2019; University of San Diego, School of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018; America’s Top 100 Attorneys
Lifetime Achievement Selection, 2018; Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017; Lawyer of the Year, White Collar Criminal Defense, San Diego, Best Lawyers in America, 2016; and the E. Stanley Conant Award, Defenders Organizations of San Diego, 2005 and 2013.
He graduated cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law and before his legal career, Mr. Johnson studied petroleum engineering and geology as an undergraduate and graduate student at Tulane University, where he received the W.A. Tarr Award for outstanding Earth Sciences Graduate. He then worked as a petroleum geologist for a major oil company, where he mapped oil reserves and worked on
production estimates and on rigs during the final stages of drilling. He also received a significant amount of professional training in areas like well completion, exploration, and related topics.
Mr. Johnson is licensed to practice in the state courts of California, New Mexico, and New York. In addition, he is admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits, as well as many different U.S. District Courts. He is also admitted to practice before the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands. He has served as the Chair of the Practitioners Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission and testified before the Commission on several occasions. He presently serves on the Ethics Committee for the San Diego County Bar Association, on the Steering Committee for the San Diego ESI Forum, and Advisory Board for the San Diego Federal Bar Association.
Honors & Awards
American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Unanimous “Well Qualified” rating (the highest ABA rating) after nomination to U.S. District Court, 2020
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2020
Top 50 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2020
Top 50 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2019
University of San Diego, School of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018
America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Selection, 2018
Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017
Lawyer of the Year, White Collar Criminal Defense, San Diego, Best Lawyers in America, 2016
E. Stanley Conant Award, Defenders Organizations of San Diego, 2013
Marquis Who’s Who in the World, 2012 - present
Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2012 - present
Top 10 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2011
Top 10 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2010
San Diego’s Top 25 Lawyers, San Diego Metro, 2010
Top 50 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2009 - 2012; 2017 - 2019
San Diego County Top Attorneys, 2009
Southern California Super Lawyers, 2007 - present
E. Stanley Conant Award, Defenders Organizations of San Diego, 2005
The Best Lawyers in America, 2005 - present
State Bar of California, California Board of Specialization, Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, 2002
Certificate of Commendation, United States Marine Corps, 2001 [for Pro Bono work]
Martindale Hubble AV rating, 2000 - present
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, 2002 - present
Professional Affiliations
Membership
Practitioners Advisory Group, Unites States Sentencing Commission, Chair
San Diego Federal Bar Association, Advisory Board
San Diego County Bar Association, Ethics Committee
San Diego ESI Forum, Steering Committee
Practice Areas
Education
University of Tulane, B.S. in Earth Science, with honors, 1980
University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1986
Admissions
- State of California
- State of New Mexico
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California, the District of Arizona, the District of Colorado, the District of Nevada, the Western District of New York, and the Western District of Tennessee
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Eighth, and Ninth Circuit
- International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands
Languages
- English