James Shea, Venable's chair, maintains an active practice, focusing on corporate litigation and related issues. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he tries cases in both federal and state systems throughout the country.
Mr. Shea offers aggressive, thorough corporate counseling, litigation management and trial work in federal and state courts nationally. Supported by a highly efficient staff, he regularly handles very large, complex matters.
Representative Clients
Mr. Shea's clients include:
· Marriott International, Inc.
· Joseph A. Bank Clothiers
· CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
· Verizon Maryland
· Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland
· Johns Hopkins University
He has also represented professional sports franchises, and a number of professional service firms and large pharmaceutical companies in various commercial matters.
Significant Matters
Mr. Shea handles complex commercial litigation Mr. Shea has both prosecuted and defended financial institutions and major corporations in securities class actions, contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and products liability causes of action. Particular cases have involved the ownership of professional sports franchises, software disputes, executive duties and compensation, contract claims, and alleged personal injury, and a number have required emergency injunctive relief.
Activities
Active in the community, Mr. Shea is a member of the Boards of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Empower Baltimore Management Corporation, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the Equal Justice Council, and is a Regent of the University System of Maryland. He is Chairman of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance. He is a recent past member of the Boards of Mercantile Bankshares and Mercantile Bank and Trust, and past Chairman of the Board of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and the Empower Baltimore Management Corporation, and past Trustee of the Hippodrome Foundation and the Calvert School. He is a current fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, and the Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel.
Industries
Education
Financial Services
Hospitality and Lodging
Transportation and Transportation Infrastructure
Government Experience
Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Maryland Attorney General
Judicial Clerkships
Honorable Joseph H. Young, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1977 - 1978
Memberships
Defense Research Institute
Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel
News
March 27, 2012, The Daily Record features Venable's victory on behalf of New York Law School
March 22, 2012, Multiple publications prominently feature Venable's victory on behalf of New York Law School
March 21, 2012, Venable obtains complete dismissal of all tort and fraud-based claims aimed at New York Law School
February 13, 2012, Venable Announces Management Changes
December 15, 2011, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2012 honors 38 Venable attorneys
November 21, 2011, Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 11 Venable Attorneys in 2012 Edition
November 17, 2011, Benchmark Litigation recognizes 11 Venable attorneys
November 2, 2011, Ralph Tyler, Former Chief Counsel FDA, Joins Venable
September 14, 2011, 75 Venable attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012
December 30, 2010, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2011 honors 37 Venable attorneys
September 16, 2010, Venable secures 5 national, 36 local "Best Law Firms" rankings from US News and World Report
August 23, 2010, 65 Venable attorneys receive 2011 Best Lawyers honors
April 5, 2010, Michael Schatzow Elected Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
March 29, 2010, Michael Schatzow elected to American College of Trial Lawyers
January 6, 2010, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2010 honors 38 Venable attorneys
November 10, 2009, Daily Record covers Jim Shea's medical malpractice cap arguments before Maryland Court of Appeals
November 2, 2009, Brian Schwalb Elected Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
February 10, 2009, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2009 list honors 40 Venable attorneys
August 25, 2008, Fifty-nine Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
June 24, 2008, Karl Racine and James Shea named in Lawdragon's "100 Managing Partners You Need to Know"
May 28, 2008, Venable honored for its contributions to the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau and Equal Justice Council
September 12, 2007, Fifty-five Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
July 18, 2007, 31 Venable Attorneys Recognized By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Field in Latest Chambers U.S. Rankings
October 2, 2006, Forty-Seven Venable Lawyers Cited Among The Best Lawyers in America
May 3, 2006, Venable Announces Senior Management Changes: Managing Partner Jim Shea Becomes Firm Chair; Longtime Chair Benjamin Civiletti to Focus on Investigations/Governance Practice; Karl Racine Named Managing Partner
October 5, 2005, Forty Venable Lawyers Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America"
June 10, 2005, Venable Makes Impressive Gains on Latest Chambers USA Rankings
December 13, 2004, 23 Venable Partners Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America" in Bi-Annual Peer-Reviewed Survey
April 26, 2004, Venable Lawyers and Practice Groups Score On Latest Chambers USA Rankings
October 23, 2002, Venable Creates Multidisciplinary Practice Group Dedicated to Homeland Security
December 13, 2001, James Shea Elected to American College of Trial Lawyers
January 24, 2001, Shea Elected New Chair of Downtown Partnership
January 26, 1999, Venable's James Wright Named to Regional and National Best Lawyers Lists
Honors
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Power 50: The Men and Women Who Rule, Baltimore Magazine, 2007, 2003
Leadership in Law Award, The Daily Record
Listed for more than ten years in The Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company and Commercial Litigation (Woodward and White)
Listed as a The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer of the Year, Bet-the-Company-Litigation, 2010
Listed as one of the leading Commercial Litigation lawyers in the United States in multiple editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
Selected for inclusion in Maryland Super Lawyers, 2008 - 2012
AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
(Also at Baltimore, Maryland Office)