Shannon Z. Petersen

Shannon Z. Petersen is a senior associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's San Diego office.

Areas of Practice

Dr. Petersen practices general business litigation.  He has substantial lead counsel trial experience, and is familiar with all aspects of litigation, arbitration, and mediation.  He has successfully represented business clients in claims, including class action claims, involving breach of contract, unfair business practices, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business torts and causes of action.  Dr. Petersen has represented clients in a variety of industries, including banking and finance, insurance, health care, and others.

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Dr. Petersen was with the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP.

Education

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 2000
• J.D., Stanford Law School, 2000, with Distinction
• M.A., University of Montana, 1995
• Fulbright Fellow, Université de Saint-Louis, Sénégal, 1994
• B.A., University of Montana, 1993, with High Honors

Admissions

• California
• Various Federal district courts

Languages

• French
• Russian

Representative Clients

Financial institution clients include Union Bank, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and Douglas P. Wilson Companies in receivership matters.

Insurance company and insurance broker clients include Lockton Companies, John Burnham & Company, Union Bank Insurance Services, Integrity Life Insurance Company, and State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Healthcare clients include Temecula Valley Emergency Medical Associates, Oasis Radiology Medical Group, and Valley Radiology Consultants Medical Group.

Recent Litigation Successes

As lead trial counsel in a pro bono case, obtained a favorable judgment after a bench trial.

As lead trial counsel, successfully defended a national insurance brokerage firm in a two-week arbitration.

As lead trial counsel, succeeded in dismissing an appeal of a favorable ruling on behalf a national insurance brokerage firm.

As lead counsel in three separate cases, convinced the plaintiffs to voluntarily dismiss their claims prior to significant discovery and motion practice, resulting in substantial savings to the clients.

As lead counsel on behalf of a national retail client, succeeded on a motion for a writ of attachment, leading immediately to a favorable settlement.

As second-chair trial counsel on behalf of a healthcare client, succeeded in settling a breach of partnership agreement claim on very favorable terms on the eve of a scheduled three-week arbitration.

As lead counsel in one case and second-chair counsel in another, succeeded in settling two separate cases against insurance clients on very favorable terms after filing motions for summary judgment.

On behalf of a national bank, after winning critical motions in limine at the beginning of trial, succeeded in settling a rbeach of contract and unfair competition class action on favorable terms.

Successfully demurred five times in four separate cases, leading to favorable settlement.

Successfully moved to dimiss two federal cases for lack of jurisdiction, which cases were never re-filed in an appropriate jurisdiction.

Successfully moved to quash the service of a complaint against a non-U.S. defendant corporation, immediately leading to a favorable settlement.

Honors

• 2007, 2003, 2002, California Bar Association Wiley Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services
• 2003, Nominee, California Bar Association President's Pro Bono Service Award, Recently Admitted Category
• 2002-2003, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program Distinguished Service Award

Memberships

• Member, State Bar of California
• Member, Editorial Board and Leadership Development Committee, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
• Barrister, Louis M. Welsh Chapter of the American Inns of Court
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association

Articles

• "Receivers: How They Can Help Your Client In Business Litigation," 16 Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, San Diego, Summer 2008
• "Writs of Attachment: What They Are, How To Get One, And How To Protect Your Client Against One," 14 Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, San Diego, Winter 2007.
• "The Honorable Dana Sabraw: A View From Both Benches," 12 Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, San Diego, Summer 2005.
• "California Proposition 64 Requires That Pending Actions Based On The Unfair Competition Or False Advertising Laws Be Dismissed," 10 Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance, June 2005.
• "Proposition 64 Requires That Pending Actions Based On The Unfair Competition Laws Be Dismissed," 12 Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, San Diego, Winter 2005.
• Note, "Endangered Species in the Urban Jungle: How the ESA Will Reshape American Cities," 19 Stanford Environmental Law Journal (May 2000): 423.
• "Yellow Justice: Media Portrayal of Criminal Trials in the Progressive Era," 1 Stanford Journal of Legal Studies (Fall 1999).
• "Bison to Blue Whales: Protecting Endangered Species Before the Endangered Species Act," 22 Environs: Environmental Law and Policy Journal (Spring 1999): 71.
• Comment, "Congress and Charismatic Megafauna: A Legislative History of the Endangered Species Act," 29 Environmental Law (Summer 1999): 463.

Books

• Author, Acting for Endangered Species: The Statutory Ark, Development of Western Resources Series, Kansas University Press, 2002 (hardcover) and 2007 (paperback).  Favorably reviewed by The Journal of American History (June 2003); History: Reviews of New Books (Summer 2003); Perspectives on Political Science (Summer 2003); Environmental History (April 2003); Stanford Environmental Law Journal (Jan. 2003); Animal Keeper's Forum (2003); and Choice (Dec. 2002).
• Contributor, Dictionary of American History, 3rd Edition, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. Contributed essays on the Clean Air Act of 1990, the Clean Water Act of 1987, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sierra Club, and the Highway Beautification Act.
• Co-Author, The Endangered Species Act, Stanford University Press, 2001.

Speeches

• Dr. Petersen has taught courses at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the University of Montana, Missoula.