Complex commercial litigation, particularly consumer class action litigation, is the primary focus of John Shope's dispute resolution practice, in which he defends national corporations such as American Honda, Dell Computer, Fidelity Investments, Wal-Mart and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.
John's energy industry litigation is on behalf of a wide range of public and private industry clients. He has handled constitutional challenges to the deregulation and taxation of electric utilities, and represents both independent power producers and public utilities in energy-related disputes resolved through litigation and commercial arbitration.
Corporate governance is a third main area of John's practice. He represents shareholders, directors, and management in claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and violation of the state and federal securities laws in the Delaware Court of Chancery and other courts.
As a Special Assistant District Attorney, John conducted one dozen criminal jury trials. He has won civil fraud trials in both state and federal court as well as state and federal appeals. John attended the University of Chicago Law School, where he served on the law review and as a research assistant to U.S. Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner. After graduation, he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge José A. Cabranes in New Haven, Connecticut.
Representative Experience
The following is a brief summary of John's experience and accomplishments:
· Obtained dismissals of two consumer class actions in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court based on argument for change in governing law
· Successfully tried defense of a suit seeking to invalidate a power purchase agreement valued in excess of $40 million due to long term gas supply restructurings
· Represented the State of New Hampshire in a constitutional challenge to the deregulation of the electric utility industry
· Obtained $2 million arbitration award from the American Arbitration Association Centre for International Dispute Resolution over mismanagement of a power plant in Guyana
· Represented private equity fund in successful international arbitration over power plant in North Africa
· Arbitrated successor gas indices in power purchase agreement
· Represented power plant in challenge and successful settlement of pipeline repair cost allocation dispute at Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
· Represented a generation company in a constitutional challenge to taxation of hydroelectric generating units
Professional / Civic Involvement
· Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
· New England Legal Foundation, Board Member
· Frank J. Murray Inn of Court, Board Member and Past President
· Class Action Committee, Boston Bar Association, Member and Past Co-Chair
· Northeast Energy and Commerce Association, Member
· Energy Bar Association, Member
· Bay Village Neighborhood Association, Board Member and Past President
· Union Club of Boston, Member
· Boston Redevelopment Authority Impact Advisory Group, Member
Speeches and Conferences
· Class Actions and the Bankruptcy Code (Defense Research Institute, August 2002)
Publications
· Trends in Massachusetts Class Actions (Boston Bar Association 2003)
· Class Action Practice in Massachusetts State and Federal Court (MCLE 2001)
Industries
Energy and Regulated Industries
Energy Technology and Renewables
Honors/Awards
Named by BOSTON MAGAZINE as a "New England Super Lawyer" (2009)
Named by BOSTON MAGAZINE as a "Massachusetts Super Lawyer" (2008)
Named by BOSTON MAGAZINE as one of the "40 Bostonians to Watch" (June 2002)
Named by the BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL as one of the forty outstanding business and community leaders under age forty in the greater Boston area (November 2001)
BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER'S Community Service Award (August 2001)