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Booker Shaw

Partner

St. Louis
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Retired Judge Booker Shaw is a skilled litigator and appellate advocate who brings valuable insight and perspective gained from his more than 25 years on the bench.

His knowledge of current judicial thinking at the trial and appellate levels on a wide range of issues enhances his ability to argue a client's case more persuasively and to craft the most effective strategy. He co-chairs the Firm's Tort Litigation Practice Group.

Judge Shaw served on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, for seven years, including one year as Chief Judge. While on the appellate bench, he participated in more than 1,000 cases and authored 141 appellate opinions on a variety of cases, from medical negligence and nuisance/sovereign immunity to commercial transactions, contracts and personal injury. He also served as a Special Visiting Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court. As a former trial judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit, from 1983 until 2002, Judge Shaw presided over more than 500 trials.

Prior to his judicial posts, Judge Shaw worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted over 50 jury trials. In addition to his decades of public service as a distinguished jurist, Judge Shaw continues to give back to the legal profession as a mentor and teacher. He also co-chairs the Firm's Diversity Committee.

Notable cases

Judge Shaw has briefed and argued numerous cases before the U.S. Circuit and District Courts, the Missouri Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals and Circuit Courts. He served as a member of the trial team representing Lorillard Tobacco in the defense of a $500 million cost-recovery lawsuit brought by Missouri hospitals in the City of St. Louis. After a three-month trial, the jury returned defense verdicts on all claims.

Judge Shaw helped Philip Morris defeat a $1.5 billion class action case in a jury trial in the City of St. Louis, where he was a trial team member. After just 30 minutes of deliberation, a trial that lasted 39 days ended with a total defense verdict.  

He helped secure a critical defense win in St. Louis for Pfizer in Pesante v. Pfizer, the first of several trials over birth defects allegedly caused by Zoloft. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before siding with Pfizer by a vote of 11-1.

Judge Shaw successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Missouri on behalf of a utility company in a case that impacts utilities across the state.

In an automotive product liability case, Judge Shaw successfully argued to the Missouri Court of Appeals that the trial court properly limited plaintiff's proffer of claimed similar incidents.

Judge Shaw was a trial team member in a five-week multi-plaintiff trial where three plaintiffs alleged that the use of an herbicide caused their non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The jury rejected these claims and returned a complete defense verdict.

Judge Shaw's oral argument helped secure a Missouri Supreme Court reversal in a UCC post-sale notice case. Missouri creditors would likely have faced significant class action exposure if the lower court decisions had been affirmed.

Thompson Coburn Publications

Supreme Court to decide limits of attorney client privilege: Why the Ninth Circuit decision spells disaster for the sanctity of legal advice

From emergency medical products to chicken nuggets: What manufacturers and distributors need to know during COVID-19

Blogs

Thompson Coburn releases free Title IX training series for institutions of Higher Education

TCLEs

Title IX Module 6: Title IX Appeals

Title IX Module 4: Title IX Hearings

Presentations

"Tough Evidence Issues at Trial";
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, May 2014

"Mastering Appellate Advocacy: Oral Argument";
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, February 2014

"Game Plan For Effective Voir Dire";
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, April 2012

"Civil Trial and Appellate Practice";
The Missouri Bar Association, May 2011, May 2012, May 2013, May 2014

News

Booker Shaw Named as Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigator

Thompson Coburn Defends Monsanto in Upholding Trial Win

Booker Shaw Explores Innocence Claims on 'St. Louis on the Air’

Booker Shaw Named to Appellate Law 2024 Power List

Thompson Coburn Attorneys Named to Missouri Top 100 Power List

ACI Drug and Medical Device Litigation Conference

Booker Shaw Named as National Law Journal General Litigation Trailblazer

​​​Eagleton Scholarships Awarded to Lauren Bowers and Blake Comeaux

​Thompson Coburn and Bayer honored for securing the No. 3 defense verdict in Missouri in 2022

Medicaid expansion prevails in Missouri following pro bono effort by Thompson Coburn, Bryan Cave

Booker Shaw receives Diversity & Inclusion Award from Missouri Lawyers Media

New year, new ideas for diversity and inclusion!

Thompson Coburn donates $50,000 to St. Louis Freedom Suits Memorial

2020 Eagleton Scholarship awarded to Yasmin Younis

Our pledge: A statement from Thompson Coburn

2019 Eagleton Scholarship awarded to Sydney Latimore

Thompson Coburn receives MCCA George B. Vashon Innovator Award

Booker Shaw receives Distinguished Lawyer Award at 2019 Law Day celebration

2018 Eagleton Scholarship awarded to Katherine Murchison

Booker Shaw Honored as Legal Legend

U.S. News & World Report names Thompson Coburn as best for railroad law

Thompson Coburn honored for largest defense win in Missouri

Judge Shaw helps Philip Morris defeat $1.5B class action case in 30 minutes

Missouri Lawyers Weekly honors Booker Shaw with Mentor Award

Booker T. Shaw hits the airwaves for public radio legal roundtable

Booker T. Shaw honored as 2014 professional mentor of the year

More than 50 attorneys named to 2012 Missouri Bar Pro Bono Hall of Fame

Street Law program introduces 90 St. Louis students to careers in the law

Thompson Coburn tobacco victory named Missouri's ‘Top Defense Win of 2011’

Thompson Coburn obtains Missouri Supreme Court victory for Laclede Gas Company

Thompson Coburn sweeps 37 plaintiffs in jury verdicts for Lorillard Tobacco Company