John D. Kershman is a founding partner at Ahearn Kershman, LLC in Clayton, Missouri.  John focuses his practice on family law litigation and mediation in Missouri. He has assisted clients in collaborative family law matters and mediation as well as cases involving divorce, modification, paternity, child custody, adoption, contempt, international child custody (Hague Convention), and appeals. John is a member of the Hague Convention Attorney Network through the U.S. Department of State.

John received his Juris Doctorate from Washington University Law School in St. Louis. He earned his B.S. from St. John's University in New York, and his Master's Degree in Business from Webster University in St. Louis. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, including the Eastern and Western Federal Districts of Missouri as well as the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  

He is a member of the IACP - International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, as well as, the AMM - Association of Missouri Mediators, and the APFM - Academy of Professional Family Mediators. He has been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel as a Member of the Top One Percent Attorneys since 2015 and has maintained an AVVO Superb 10.0/10.0 Rating since 2014. Recognized in 2025 for inclusion in the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.for Family Law

John has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington University Law School since 2007 in their Trial and Advocacy Program and the Law School's LLM program. He is currently an instructor for the LLM program in Constitutional Law and Corporations. He previously was an instructor for Introduction to U.S. Law and Methods.  Additionally, he is an Introduction to Education Law instructor Education Law in the Law School's Master's Program. 

Born in the St. Louis area and raised in New York City, in his spare time, John and his wife Kim enjoy outdoor activities with their rescue pup children Layla and Stitch.