Shawn is an accomplished white-collar and investigations attorney with more than two decades of experience. His practice focuses on criminal defense, government and internal investigations, False Claims Act (FCA), regulatory enforcement actions, securities litigation and enforcement, appeals, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), blockchain technology and digital currency, and related areas. He was named one of the country’s top “Rising Stars” for white-collar practice by Law360.

Shawn advises and defends corporations, executives, public officials, and other individuals and entities in matters implicating or involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other government agencies and regulators. He also has extensive experience conducting internal and government-facing investigations on behalf of corporate clients to examine, and potentially defend against, allegations of improper conduct by employees. 

In his legal work and beyond, Shawn is a natural problem-solver. He takes great pride in relentlessly seeking the best answer, argument, approach, or solution to any situation. Over his career, Shawn has counseled and defended clients in a variety of high-profile matters, including: Enron; the BP oil spill (Deepwater Horizon); Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate”; the Blackwater security incident in Iraq; investigations surrounding the mortgage-backed securities fallout; and other confidential internal, congressional, and SEC investigations. Shawn recognizes, however, that no matter the scale or notoriety, every case is important to the client – and it should be treated as such by their counsel.

Shawn also believes strongly in volunteer and pro bono work, and is routinely named with high honors to the D.C. Bar’s pro bono honor roll. In recent years, he has frequently represented veterans in cases involving benefits claims and appeals. Shawn was also appointed by the D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility to serve in a judicial capacity on the Board’s Hearing Committees, which conduct hearings on, adjudicate, and oversee resolution of formal charges of attorney misconduct.