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Overview

Shannon advocates for small and large businesses facing complex product liability, toxic tort or intellectual property issues.

With experience as an engineer and small business owner in the automotive industry, Shannon frequently taps into his passion for technical matters based on mechanical or product complexities. He enjoys breaking down the issues, then constructing strategies and arguments that produce favorable client outcomes. International corporations in the automotive, specialty chemical and petrochemical industries rely on Shannon to defend them against toxic tort and product liability claims. He also represents a growing list of clients in the consumer products and firearms industries. Shannon has appeared in cases pending in state and federal jurisdictions in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Texas, and led a five-person trial team that gained a favorable verdict before a federal jury.

Shannon has resolved complex intellectual property disputes involving patents, trade secrets and non-compete agreements. As a member of the firm's Cortex team, Shannon also collaborates with early-stage businesses and those on the forefront of technology. He advises them on negotiations, risk management, discovery issues and litigation strategies so they can focus on their businesses.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
    • Intellectual Property Law, 2021-2025
    • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2023-2025
  • Association of Corporate Counsel, Value Champion, 2018
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Volunteer Lawyer of the Month
  • St. Louis Small Business Monthly
    • Top Small Business Lawyers, 2016
  • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, "For the Common Good" John R. Essner Young Lawyer of the Year Award

Education

  • J.D., University of Illinois College of Law
    • cum laude
    • Intellectual Property Legal Society, President
  • M.S., Kettering University
    • Operations Management
  • B.S., Southern Illinois University
    • magna cum laude
    • Advanced Technical Studies in Automotive Technology
    • Automotive Technology Organization, Vice President

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Bar Association
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Pro Bono Committee
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar
  • Mound City Bar Association
  • Society of Automotive Engineers
  • Transportation Lawyers Association


*Contact Shannon to set up an in-person consultation by appointment in the St. Louis office.
Experience
  • Advised neuroscientist-founded robotics corporations focusing on operating systems, computer vision systems and machine learning regarding product liability issues.
  • Guided municipal client in scaling automated management and digital hosting.
  • Counseled product manufacturer distributing directly to 50 countries regarding product liability matters.
  • Prepared and filed trademark application for 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
  • Navigated national association representing ~$75 billion product and sales distribution industry in national bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Secured dismissal of Chinese tire manufacturer in product liability lawsuit filed in Hidalgo County, Texas.
News Releases | November 07, 2022
Husch Blackwell Elects 29 to 2023 New Partner Class
News Releases | May 28, 2020
Husch Blackwell Named CLOC's Inaugural Legal Innovation in Operations Project Award Winner

Husch Blackwell is believed to be the only law firm to date to be recognized by both the CLOC LIO Project and ACC Value Champion award series for its ability to implement legal solutions that cut spending, improve predictability and achieve better outcomes.

Outside the Office

A professional musician, Shannon remains passionate about singing, songwriting and playing guitar.

He serves as a worship leader of his church and occasionally plays at venues around St. Louis. He devotes the bulk of his time, though, to traveling, watching Cardinal’s games and enjoying the outdoors with his wife and daughters.

A former owner of a hot rod shop, Shannon also is a car and motorcycle enthusiast. He has participated several times in the Hot Rod Power Tour, an annual cross-country journey that includes car shows and drag racing events (at sanctioned race tracks, of course) in multiple cities along the way. He also lovingly maintains a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda that has been in his family since it rolled off the showroom floor.

Community Leadership

Throughout his career, Shannon has handled numerous pro bono matters.

He was a member of a trial team responsible for defending and ultimately vindicating a young man who was incarcerated for over a year after being wrongfully accused of a crime as part of the Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel’s Public Defender Volunteer Lawyer Program. He has served as chair of the governance committee and vice chair of the board for Room at the Inn, an organization that provides immediate, temporary shelter to homeless women and families in the St. Louis region.

Follow Shannon on Twitter