Brian P. Shaw
Main image for Brian P. Shaw

Brian P. Shaw

As a very well-rounded attorney, I draw on a wide range of skills to lift people out of difficult situations and help solve their problems. I genuinely enjoy serving my clients by being the rock they can lean on. While I’m very collegial, I also approach everything with honesty and directness.

Combining his litigation prowess with solid business acumen, trial lawyer Brian Shaw advocates vigorously to get optimal results for his clients. Brian adeptly represents both plaintiffs and defendants, and this dual-perspective experience helps him anticipate and prepare for opposing counsel’s next moves. He has successfully tried high-profile, high-stakes lawsuits and arbitrations in front of judges, juries, and arbitrators in state and federal courts and before various arbitration organizations.

Brian handles disputes involving businesses and partnerships, shareholder rights, contracts, energy, employment, significant personal injury, insurance coverage, construction, probate, real estate, car dealerships, collections, and bankruptcy adversary matters, among others.

Frequently serving as lead counsel, Brian represents clients on appeals to state and federal appellate courts. He has led appeals on a wide range of commercial and other appellate matters in both state and federal forums. Some of Brian’s cases have garnered local and national media attention in The Wall Street Journal, Institutional Investor, and The Dallas Morning News.

In addition to his litigation practice, Brian also counsels organizations and individuals on a full spectrum of legal and business matters. He approaches all interactions with a strong sense of integrity, a straightforward style, and the belief that having fun is possible even in serious situations. Clients appreciate his excellent communication abilities, including his strong writing and oral advocacy skills and his knack for tailoring information to the preferences and legal sophistication levels of his audiences.

Whether he’s giving preemptive advice and devising strategies, litigating in a trial, or negotiating a settlement, Brian works diligently and strategically to maximize recoveries for plaintiff clients and minimize expenses for defendant clients. One client put it this way: “Good litigators are HARD to find. While everyone says they’re one, you’re the real deal.”

One client put it this way: “Good litigators are HARD to find. While everyone says they’re one, you’re the real deal.”

Significant Matters

Trial Experience

Successful state court trial in Dallas County; obtained ~$1 million judgment, later settled during appeal.

Obtained ~$8 million arbitration award, later confirmed to a judgment, in complex proceedings against the structured credit arm of Highland Capital Management, LP.

Conducted voir dire of panel that included former President George W. Bush; obtained complete defense verdict.

Bankruptcy adversary trial defending against allegations of fraud and fraudulent transfers; obtained complete defense verdict.

Successful AAA arbitration against national brewery.

Successful bankruptcy adversary trial; obtained judgment in excess of $1 million, including exemplary damages.

JAMS arbitration against national auction house.

Oil and gas bench trial in Denton County; obtained relief requested and ultimately succeeded on appeal.

Successful multi-day divorce decree enforcement action.

Bench trial in Harris County; obtained complete defense verdict for national lender.

Jury trial regarding landlord-tenant dispute in Dallas County; obtained complete defense verdict; also obtained dismissal of eight other nearly- identical cases filed by the same plaintiff’s attorney against the same clients.

Appellate Experience

 Lead trial and appellate counsel in oil and gas dispute; obtained complete reversal of trial court’s judgment, as well as partial render.  Allegiance Expl., LLC v. Davis, 02-13-00349-CV, 2016 WL 1164331 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar. 24, 2016, pet. denied).

Lead trial and appellate counsel for plaintiffs in high-profile case involving novel 4th Amendment issues; obtained affirmance of trial court ruling and denial of rehearing en banc. Trent v. Wade, 776 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2015).

Lead brief writer for plaintiffs in complex breach of fiduciary duty and partnership dispute; obtained affirmance of trial court judgment. Mullen v. Jones, 445 B.R. 677 (N.D. Tex. Bankr. 2011).

Lead trial and appellate counsel for defendant regarding bankruptcy jurisdictional issue; obtained affirmance of trial court judgment.  Marable v. Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford of Lewisville, Ltd., 529 B.R. 676 (N.D. Tex. 2015).

Lead trial and appellate counsel in guardianship dispute; obtained affirmance of trial court judgment and denial of petition for review.  Glad v. Ramseur, No. 05-12-01166-CV, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 12423 (Tex. App.–Dallas Oct. 3, 2013, pet. denied).

Obtained reversal of trial court judgment in construction case.  All Metals Fabricating, Inc. v. Foster General Contracting, Inc., 338 S.W.3d 615 (Tex.App.–Dallas 2011, no pet.).

Obtained affirmance of trial court judgment in employment case.  Scarbrough, Medlin & Ass., Inc. v. McCullough, 435 S.W.3d 871 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2014, pet. denied).

Areas of Focus

Education

Education

  • Baylor Law School (J.D., 2006)
  • University of Georgia (B.B.A., 2002)

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • Texas, 2006
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Texas

Leadership

  • State Bar of Texas, Member
  • Dallas Bar Association, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Eagle Scout: Troop 35 (Dallas, Texas)

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, 2024, Commercial Litigation
  • Lawdragon 500, Leading Litigators in America, Business/Financial Litigation, 2023-2024
  • Selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation (a Thomson Reuters service) by Texas Monthly, 2021
  • Selected as a Texas “Rising Star” (a Thomson Reuters service) by Texas Monthly, 2015 – 2019
  • Selected as “Appellate Lawyer of the Week” by the Texas Lawyer (an ALM publication), 2015
  • Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
  • Treasurer, William “Mac” Taylor Inn of court

Brian-Shaw-SL2021

Outside of Work

Brian's favorite things are “the three f’s”: family, food, and fishing. His strong culinary skills fit right in with these interests.