Singleton Schreiber Attorney Knut S. Johnson Promoted to Partner
Singleton Schreiber is proud to announce the promotion of Knut S. Johnson to Partner. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers with over 30 years of trial experience, Knut serves as the practice group leader for the firm's Environmental Litigation & Policy practice group and brings exceptional expertise in complex federal and state litigation to his new role.
At the firm, Knut plays a key role in holding powerful corporations accountable for environmental misconduct. He currently represents victims of the 2025 Moss Landing Battery Plant Fire, teaming up with renowned consumer advocate Erin Brockovich to demand justice for the affected community and hold PG&E and Vistra accountable for their negligence that led to the explosion. Knut also represents residents of Imperial Beach in their fight against Veolia who is responsible for the ongoing water contamination crisis impacting their community.
Prior to joining Singleton Schreiber, Knut built a distinguished career representing diverse clients in high-stakes litigation, from large corporations to entire communities, and from judges to doctors. His sophisticated practice has encompassed complex trials, appeals, and habeas corpus proceedings, with particular focus on cases alleging violations of environmental laws under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. His unique background includes representation of clients before the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol and the Mueller Special Counsel's Office investigation.
Knut's credentials are unparalleled in the legal community. He received the American Bar Association's unanimous "Well Qualified" rating—the highest possible rating—following his nomination to U.S. District Court in 2020. His extensive honors include recognition as a Top 50 Attorney by San Diego Super Lawyers, the University of San Diego School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award, and America's Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Selection. He has been consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2005 and was named Lawyer of the Year for White Collar Criminal Defense in San Diego in 2016.
Beyond his legal expertise, Knut brings a unique scientific perspective to environmental litigation. Before his legal career, he studied petroleum engineering and geology at Tulane University, where he received the W.A. Tarr Award for outstanding Earth
Sciences Graduate, and worked as a petroleum geologist for a major oil company mapping oil reserves and working on production estimates.
"Knut's combination of scientific expertise, trial mastery, and unwavering commitment to justice makes him an invaluable leader in our environmental practice," said Gerald Singleton, managing partner of Singleton Schreiber. "His three decades of experience in the most complex litigation matters, coupled with his deep understanding of environmental science, positions him perfectly to lead our growing environmental practice and serve our clients facing increasingly complex environmental challenges."
"I'm honored to take on this expanded role at Singleton Schreiber and continue fighting for communities and individuals harmed by environmental violations," said Knut. "The firm's commitment to holding polluters accountable and protecting our environment aligns perfectly with my passion for this work. I look forward to continuing to lead our environmental practice as we tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time."
Knut is licensed to practice in six states and numerous federal courts, including the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee for the San Diego County Bar Association and previously chaired the Practitioners Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission.
About Singleton Schreiber
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, environmental law, insurance bad faith, and sex abuse/trafficking. The firm represents numerous environmental damages cases, including the 2025 Moss Landing Battery Plant fire in Monterey County and the Imperial Beach sewage spill in San Diego. They also lead the largest fire litigation practice in the nation, representing over 30,000 wildfire victims and plaintiffs in utility-caused fires including the 2025 Eaton and Hurst fires, 2023 Lahaina fires, Colorado's Marshall fire, Washington’s Gray fire, and many other utility fires in California and beyond.
