PLAINTIFF’S PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH - Aviation Disasters, Dram Shop/Bar, Drug and Medical Device Litigation, Fire and Explosions, Fraud and Commercial Torts, Government Liability, Insurance and Bad Faith, Legal and Other Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle/Motorcycle/Commercial Trucking Collisions, Negligence, Nursing Home/Elder Abuse, Products Liability, Sexual Misconduct
As co-leader of the firm’s Plaintiff’s Personal Injury & Wrongful Death practice group, Shannon serves as a tireless advocate for victims of negligent and wrongful conduct throughout Arizona and across the United States.
Throughout his decades-long career, Shannon has been drawn to legal matters that compelled him to advocate for individuals who were harmed in some way through the fault of others. Shannon’s passion for justice and resolute dedication to defending the rights of injured or wronged individuals has garnered in excess of $250,000,000 in jury verdicts, arbitration awards, mediation results, and negotiated settlements for personal injury, wrongful death, and legal and medical malpractice. Beyond helping his clients obtain compensation for devastating injuries and personal tragedy, Shannon also supports those he serves regarding the many often non-legal details of putting their lives back together and moving forward.
Shannon is deeply committed to his clients, and his effort extends beyond the intricacies of any given lawsuit to champion consumer safety issues for greater social impact. While commanding the fortitude, experience, resources, and overall “fire in the belly” needed to take on major manufacturers and institutional defendants, Shannon remains ultra-sensitive to the human element of each case he handles. He approaches his clients as people first, which makes him broadly effective in understanding the challenges they face while advocating their causes.
Notably, Shannon is a member of the firm’s board of directors.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Plaintiffs’ Leadership Committee and trial team member for mass tort claims against Bard for defective IVC filters.
Helped defrauded family resolve settlement fraud claims relating to defective truck tire.
Helped secure important Arizona Supreme Court ruling that Arizona hospitals can be subject to liability for abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.
Successfully resolved case for victims of failed (and later recalled) telescoping aerial ladder unit on fire engine.
Helped secure compensation from and government investigation of a major automobile manufacturer that failed to recall a dangerous stuck throttle defect on a popular SUV.
Resolved legal and accounting malpractice claims against major accounting firm on behalf of heirs to high profile businessman and entrepreneur.
Successfully represented dozens of tread separation and/or rollover accident victims in product liability cases against Ford Motor Company, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Bridgestone Corporation, Dunlop Tire Company, Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, Kuhmo Tire Company, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Michelin North America, Yokohama, Sailun, Falken, and most tire manufacturers.
Member of team representing victims of fuel-fed fires caused by rear-impact collisions in Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors; helped cause Ford to spend $350,000,000 to improve safety of police vehicles.
After a two-month trial, recovered record settlement for victims of elder abuse at a nursing home.
Member of trial team for victims of Mexican Hat, Utah ski bus accident.
Represented family of man who died in Sedona Sweat Lodge tragedy.
$1,225,000 settlement for parents of teen killed in intersection accident.
Represented child pedestrian catastrophically impaired by inattentive police officer.
Confidential settlement for man paralyzed using unstable golf cart.
Confidential settlements against auto manufacturers for defects causing seatback failure, unwanted acceleration, rollovers, airbag failures, and seatbelt malfunction.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Practice in all areas of litigation and trial work, including personal injury, commercial litigation and appellate advocacy.
Handled virtually all varieties of personal injury cases, including product liability, motor vehicle accidents, Dram Shop actions, premises liability, elder abuse, medical malpractice, commercial trucking, sexual assault, and insurance bad faith.
Represented clients throughout Arizona and in California, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS
Arizona, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1999
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 2001
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Lawyers Associated Worldwide, Firm Representative
State Bar of Arizona, Member
The American Association for Justice, Member
Arizona Association for Justice, Member and Board of Directors, 2020-Present
The National Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Member, 2021-Present
100 Club of Arizona, Member
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Member
International Society of Barristers, North American Fellow
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
HONORS & AWARDS
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, 2016-2022; Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, 2012-2022; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, 2020-2022; Professional Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, 2020-2022
Best Lawyers in America®, Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Products Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, 2022
Southwest Super Lawyers®, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, 2014-2021
Southwest Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Arizona, 2016
Southwest Super Lawyers® Rising Stars, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, 2012-2013
The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2012-2017
The National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2012-2013
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Sustaining Member, 2013-Present
Litigation Counsel of America, Order of Veritas
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (AFLSE), Top Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, 2018
Phoenix Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2013
Phi Beta Kappa, Cornell University, 1996
Phi Kappa Phi, Cornell University, 1996
Gold Key National Honor Societies, Cornell University, 1996
Cornell National Scholarship, Cornell University, 1996
COMMUNITY & PHILANTHROPY
Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Board of Directors, 2005-2011, 2013-Present
(Chairman 2010-2011)
Valley of the Sun United Way, Bench and Bar Donor Circle Founding Member
100 Club of Arizona Board of Directors, 2015-2017
ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth, Fund Development Committee Member, 2018-Present; Board of Directors, 2020-Present
Cayley Manor Homeowners Association Board of Directors, 2008-2011
(President 2009-2011)
PUBLISHED WORKS
Demonstrative Evidence, Facts & Findings, March 1, 2013
The Evolution of Products Liability, A Historical Accounting, Arizona Tort Law Handbook (Co-Author), 2012
Wrongful Death, Arizona Tort Law Handbook (Co-Author), 2012
E-Sign of the Times, Newsletter, February, 2001
PRESS RELEASES
Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Recognizes 37 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys, August 19, 2021
Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 36 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys, August 21, 2020
Fourteen Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers 2020, April 6, 2020
Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 33 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys as Leaders in Their Field, August 15, 2019
Sixteen Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers 2019, April 15, 2019
Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 35 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys as Leaders in Their Field, August 15, 2018
Two Gallagher & Kennedy Shareholders Recognized by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, July 2, 2018
Twenty-Two Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers 2018, April 24, 2018
35 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Recognized as 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America®’, August 16, 2017
24 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Named 2017 Southwest Super Lawyers, April 10, 2017
33 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Named 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America®’, August 17, 2016
Twenty-Six G&K Attorneys Selected to 2016 Southwest Super Lawyers’ List, April 11, 2016
G&K Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘The Best Lawyers in America®’ List, August 17, 2015
Super Lawyers 2015 Recognizes 18 Attorneys, April 10, 2015
G&K Attorneys Named to 2015 ‘The Best Lawyers in America®’ List, August 18, 2014
G&K Attorneys Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers 2014, April 11, 2014
G&K Elects Shareholder Shannon Clark to the Firm’s Board of Directors, February 13, 2014
36 G&K Attorneys Named to 2014 Best Lawyers in America® List, August 15, 2013
Shareholder Shannon Clark Honored in Phoenix Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” Class of 2013, June 11, 2013
Twenty Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers 2013 and an Additional Nine Attorneys Named Southwest Rising Stars 2013, April 12, 2013
Nearly Two-Thirds of G&K’s Shareholders Named “Best Lawyers in America”, August 22, 2012
G&K Leads Effort to Recall Ford Escape, July 19, 2012
Nineteen G&K Attorneys Named “Super Lawyers”, April 16, 2012
More Than Half of G&K’s Shareholders Named “The Best Lawyers in America”, August 31, 2011
RELATED NEWS
The Men of Chandler 2021, June 1, 2021
The Laws of Giving, October 1, 2018
Gallagher & Kennedy Shareholders Honored by AFLSE, July 12, 2018
Supreme Court Rules Arizona Hospitals Can be Sued Under State’s Elder Abuse Laws, June 30, 2014
40 Under 40 – 2013 Honorees, June 28, 2013
LIVE MEDIA
Gallagher & Kennedy Participates in the 2018 Channel 12 Turkey Tuesday Challenge, November 20, 2018
Old Tires Pose Tread Separation Risk, October 22, 2014
Ford Recalls ’01-’04 Escapes After Deadly Arizona Crash, May 13, 2012
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
APA Seminar, Managing Success Through the Art of Preparation and Presentation, 2012
NALA Seminar, Demonstrative Evidence – How to Do It Right, 2011
State Bar Association, Motor Vehicle Accident Cases: Winning Presentation with the Use of Expert Witnesses and Graphic Illustrations, 2011
NBI Plaintiff Personal Injury Seminar, Personal Injury Damages, 2006
State Bar of Arizona, CLE in The Red Rocks, An Advanced Personal Injury Conference, Product Liability Update; Use of Videos, Infographics and Technology in Mediation and Trial
LANGUAGES
Spanish
OTHER
Judicial Clerkships
Judicial Clerk, Honorable Mary M. Schroeder, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1999-2000
Academic Appointments
Phoenix School of Law, Phoenix, AZ, Adjunct Professor, 2012-2013
Arizona Summit Law School, Phoenix, AZ, Adjunct Professor, 2013-2015
Study Abroad
Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain, 1994-1995
