Shawn brings to the firm a depth of experience handling a diverse array of civil litigation ranging from commercial contract and corporate governance disputes for small to medium-sized businesses, to complex “bet the company” toxic tort and environmental lawsuits for multinational corporations.  He concentrates his practice on business and commercial litigation and tort claims (including business torts, premises liability and personal injury claims).  He is a 1990 cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University, and a 1995 cum laude graduate of the Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association.  Shawn has served as a staff aide to a United States senator, a law clerk to a federal judge, and a litigation associate for a national law firm.  In 2000, he was selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Virginia State Bar.  He is admitted to practice before state and federal courts in North Carolina and Virginia, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.