John Keeling Baker

John Keeling Baker is a Member of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., where he concentrates his practice on commercial litigation, real estate litigation, trust and estate disputes, class action defense, tax controversy, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. With a reputation for excellence built over decades of trial and appellate practice, he has represented clients before state and federal trial courts, Arkansas appellate courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Baker also frequently advises and litigates cases under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, counseling governmental clients on compliance and protecting access to public records for non-governmental clients.

Mr. Baker earned his B.A. from Saint Louis University in 1994 and his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996, where he was First Place Winner and “Outstanding Oralist” in the Moot Court Prize Competition before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and members of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice in Arkansas and has since established himself as a trusted litigator in high-stakes matters.

Mr. Baker’s litigation experience includes winning a 52-page judgment in a 12-year lawsuit restoring church property to a displaced congregation, securing property tax exemptions for hospitals, obtaining injunctions on prescriptive easements, defending class settlements, and serving as federal court-appointed liaison counsel in multidistrict litigation. He has also successfully handled election law disputes, franchise practice claims, fiduciary duty litigation, and appeals involving complex commercial matters.

John Keeling Baker has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America®, Mid-South Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation. He holds the AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has earned “Lawyer of the Year” honors multiple times in real estate and tax litigation. Active in professional associations, nonprofit boards, and community organizations, he continues to provide clients with highly skilled advocacy in complex and precedent-setting cases.

Law Office Affiliations

• Member, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
• Member, Pulaski County Bar Association
• Member, Arkansas Bar Association
• Member, Eighth Circuit Bar Association
• Member, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• Court-Appointed Member, Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Civil Practice
• Member, Arkansas Farm Bureau

Licensed State

• Arkansas

Education

• University of Arkansas School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Saint Louis University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges