Howard Shapiro > WilmerHale > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

WilmerHale Offices

WilmerHale
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20036
United States
Visit website 1 202 663 6000 1 202 663 6363

Howard Shapiro

Howard Shapiro photo
1 202 663 6606 HOWARD.SHAPIRO@WILMERHALE.COM

Work Department

Antitrust Litigation ; Commercial Litigation ; Crisis Management and Strategic Response ; False Claims Act ; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Corruption ; Government and Regulatory Litigation ; Government Contracts ; Life Sciences ; Litigation ; National Security ; Public Policy and Legislative Affairs ; Securities Enforcement ; Securities Litigation ; State Attorneys General ; Trials ; White Collar Defense and Investigations

Position

Partner

 

Career

Howard Shapiro, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has 35 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer in civil and criminal matters, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of Washington’s leading lawyers. He has been singled out by Chambers USA as a Star Individual for white-collar criminal defense; and he is listed in the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers. Best Lawyers in America lists him as a leading lawyer for business litigation.

Clients have observed that Mr. Shapiro “is a masterful strategist, trial attorney and adviser”; that “he is aggressive, but in a very measured and controlled way. He really works hard to push the government on behalf of his clients in a way that is successful for his clients. He is a really ambidextrous white-collar lawyer and is extremely skillful in the courtroom”; and that “he is very thoughtful and strategic in his representations. He really looks at each case individually and figures out the best approach to recommend to clients.”

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Shapiro served as the General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, Mr. Shapiro was awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal by the Director of Central Intelligence. He was previously a much-decorated Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he tried numerous cases ranging from bank fraud and political corruption to organized crime and narcotics. During his tenure as an AUSA, Mr. Shapiro was specially assigned by the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute the notorious mail bombing assassinations of former United States Circuit Judge Robert Vance and former civil rights attorney Robert Robinson.

Memberships

  • District of Columbia
  • New York

Education

JD, Yale Law School, 1985

BA, Williams College, 1982

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

(Leading lawyers: Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates)

Howard Shapiro – WilmerHale

Sporting a team of ‘trial-ready lawyers who think three steps ahead’, WilmerHale merges in-depth white-collar expertise with extensive litigation skills, allowing the firm to advise clients on the full range of related issues, such as internal investigations and government enforcement actions. The firm advises both corporate and individual clients, though it is particularly noted for representing high-profile global companies in white-collar matter and bet-the-company litigation. Working closely with other departments, the practice also excels at matters spanning several practice areas. In New York, Howard Shapiro, Ronald Machen, both of whom have extensive experience in previous government roles, form part of the leadership team together with Kimberly Parker in Washington DC. Further names to note are DC-based William McLucas and New York’s Anjan Sahni. Former co-chair of the practice Stephen Jonas, as well as Robert Mueller, retired.

United States > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes

WilmerHale litigates a wide array of commercial disputes ranging from unfair practices lawsuits to Native American tribal sovereignty cases. In Washington DC, litigation department chair Howard Shapiro is a white-collar crime specialist who is currently representing DISH Network in a major False Claims Act lawsuit. Los Angeles-based practice vice chair Noah Levine ‘s practice extends to litigated data breach matters. John Butts chairs the commercial litigation group from the firm’s Boston office, and recently represented T-Mobile in a lawsuit that successfully prevented Cox Communications from launching a wireless service with a rival company. In New York, Hallie Levin’s broad practice extends to government investigations; the seasoned trial lawyer recently represented Reckitt Benckiser in a major trade secrets lawsuit. Boston-based Felicia Ellsworth is a trial and appellate litigator who recently argued on behalf of Harvard University at the U.S. Supreme Court in a racial discrimination suit. Further recommended is patent dispute specialist Sonal Mehta who practices from the firm’s Palo Alto office.

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