John Rainwater
Arkansas Injury Attorney
John Rainwater is a personal injury lawyer based in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he has practiced since 2009. His primary focus is representing individuals and families in complex personal injury matters, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. In addition to his personal injury practice, John has handled a wide range of litigation, including bankruptcy matters, disability claims, class actions against large corporations, and civil rights defense under Section 1983 – in both state and federal courts and the Arkansas Claims Commission.
John earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 2009. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for those districts. Prior to law school, John received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accountancy from the Sam Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas. His background in accounting informs his analytical, practical approach to litigation and case strategy.
John is actively engaged in leadership and service within both the legal profession and the broader community. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA). He previously served as Chair of the Volunteer Organization of the Center for Arkansas Legal Services (VOCALS) from 2023 to 2025, supporting access to justice initiatives across the state. John also serves on the Board of Trustees for Little Rock Christian Academy and the Board of Trustees for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.
Earlier in his career, John was involved in the Arkansas Bar Association, including service in the House of Delegates and on multiple committees, as well as leadership roles within the Young Lawyers’ Section. He also served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas.
John has been recognized for his professional excellence and service throughout his career. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2020 for both Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. He has also been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and received Awards of Excellence from the Arkansas Bar Association, including the Judith Ryan Gray Outstanding Young Lawyer Service Award.
In addition to his legal practice, John has been a CLE speaker for the Arkansas Bar Association, and on topics at the intersection of personal injury and bankruptcy law, including presentations at the Arkansas Debtor/Creditor Law Institute and the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Annual Seminar.
John is a lifelong Arkansan and lives in Little Rock with his wife, Sarah, and their three children. He is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, coaches youth sports, and enjoys the outdoors.
Born: Little Rock, Arkansas
Education:
University of Arkansas, B.S., 2005
University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, J.D., 2009
Memberships and Service:
Arkansas Bar, 2009
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 2009
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 2011
Arkansas Bar Association
- Legal Forms Committee, Member, 2014-2015
- House of Delegates, Member, District B, 2015-2018
- Young Lawyers’ Section
- Executive Council, Member, 2014-2018
- Citizenship Education Committee, Chair, 2014-2015, 2016-2017
- Legal Education Committee, Chair, 2015-2016
- Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee, Member, 2015-2016
- Continuing Education Committee, Member, 2016-2017
- Leadership Academy Alumni Section
- Free Estate Planning Clinic, Co-Chair, 2015
- Professional Ethics Committee, 2017-2018
- Forms Committee, Member, 2014-2015
Volunteers’ Organization Center for Arkansas Legal Services (VOCALS), Board Member
Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas, Member
- Treasurer, 2014-2015
- Vice-President, 2015-2016
- President, 2016-2017
Immanuel Baptist Church, Member
Junior Deputy Astro League Yankees, Coach, 2015
Junior Deputy Rookie League Yankees, Coach, 2016, 2017
Awards and Peer Reviews:
Arkansas Bar Association Leadership Academy, 2014
Best Lawyers in Little Rock for Bankruptcy, Little Rock Soiree, 2015, 2016, 2017
National Trial Lawyers
Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Award of Excellence, Arkansas Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017
Judith Ryan Gray Outstanding Young Lawyer Service Award recipient, 2016-2017
The Best Lawyers in America®, recognized since 2020
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Presentations:
“The Intersection of Personal Injury and Bankruptcy Law,” 20th Annual Arkansas Debtor/Creditor Law Institute, 2016
“Student Loans,” 21st Annual Arkansas Debtor/Creditor Law Institute, 2017
“Plans Lasting Longer than 60 Months,” 52nd National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Annual Seminar, 2017
