ShawnWood
Partner
Commercial Litigation
swood@seyfarth.com
Shawn counsels and represents clients in their business litigation, commercial contracts, and product liability matters.
More About Shawn
Shawn serves as national chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. He has over 25 years of experience representing clients in commercial and product liability matters, including a focus on the investigation and defense of claims arising out of fires and explosions. Shawn has won cases in state and federal courts throughout the country, including in Texas, California, New York, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Delaware, and Illinois. He has also prevailed as lead appellate counsel before the United States Fifth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Illinois First District Appellate Court.
Shawn’s experience includes the representation of US and UK manufacturers in connection with product related disputes and supply chain issues and agreements throughout the world. He has presented to the Chicago International Trade Commissioner’s Association regarding product liability issues facing multinational companies. Shawn is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois.
Shawn has published and presented on a broad scope of topics relevant to civil practice, product liability, and commercial litigation. He co-authors the Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Handbook chapter regarding motion practice and serves as an annual presenter at the ISBA Civil Practice Conference. For more than a decade, Shawn served by appointment on the Civil Practice Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has also served as a featured columnist in Chicago Lawyer magazine and is a recipient of its Annual Writing Award. He was previously honored by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as part of its “40 under 40” listing and selected by his peers as an Illinois “Leading Lawyer” in appellate practice and commercial litigation. Most recently, Shawn was listed among The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) in commercial litigation (2013-2022), and the Commercial Litigation practice group that he chairs was ranked among the nation’s “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers and US News & World Report, including Tier 1 rankings in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Shawn’s experience includes the representation of US and UK manufacturers in connection with product related disputes and supply chain issues and agreements throughout the world. He has presented to the Chicago International Trade Commissioner’s Association regarding product liability issues facing multinational companies. Shawn is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois.
Shawn has published and presented on a broad scope of topics relevant to civil practice, product liability, and commercial litigation. He co-authors the Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Handbook chapter regarding motion practice and serves as an annual presenter at the ISBA Civil Practice Conference. For more than a decade, Shawn served by appointment on the Civil Practice Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has also served as a featured columnist in Chicago Lawyer magazine and is a recipient of its Annual Writing Award. He was previously honored by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as part of its “40 under 40” listing and selected by his peers as an Illinois “Leading Lawyer” in appellate practice and commercial litigation. Most recently, Shawn was listed among The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) in commercial litigation (2013-2022), and the Commercial Litigation practice group that he chairs was ranked among the nation’s “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers and US News & World Report, including Tier 1 rankings in Chicago and Los Angeles.
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Order of the Coif, with honors
Editor, Chicago-Kent Law Review - BA, University of Dayton
With honors
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Related Services
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
03/01/2024
Seyfarth's 2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook Featured in Corporate Compliance Insights and PEI Private Funds CFO
-
Legal Update
Feb 15, 2024
Now Available! 2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook
-
Webinar
Feb 7, 2023
Webinar Series - Commercial Litigation Outlook: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2023
-
Legal Update
Jan 26, 2023
Now Available! 2023 Commercial Litigation Outlook
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Commercial Litigation (2013-2023)
- American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section)
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Nominated to Civil Practice Council (September 2003 - June 2016)
- Defense Research Institute
- The Lawyers’ Club of Chicago
- Co-Presenter, "Webinar Series - Commercial Litigation Outlook: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2023," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 7, 2023)
- Co-Author, “Dispositive Motion Practice in Illinois,” The ISBA Civil Practice Handbook (2013-2016)
- Co-Author, “For General Jurisdiction, There’s No Place Like Home,” ISBA Trial Briefs, Vol. 59, No. 10, (April 2014)
- Author, “Like A Blister In The Sun,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 32, No. 6 (June 2009)
- Author, “Allerton Conference Addresses Civility,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 31, No. 7 (July 2008)
- Author, “Sticks And Stones: Illinois Defamation Law In The Wake of J. Maki Construction Co. v. Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 31, No. 3 (March 2008)
- Author, “Reason Makes A Comeback Under Rule 216,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 30, No. 11 (Nov. 2007)
- Author, “An Inconvenient Truthiness About Rule 216,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 29, No. 12 (Dec. 2006) (cited by the Illinois Supreme Court in Vision Point of Sale, Inc. v. Haas (2007))
- Co-Author, “Defense Cost Reimbursement: The Illinois Supreme Court Goes Its Own Way,” ISBA Trial Briefs (March 2006)
- Author, “The Miracle at 219 South Dearborn,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 26, No. 12 (December 2003)
- Co-Presenter, "Commercial Litigation Outlook: Part 2: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2022," Webinar Series, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 27, 2022)
- Moderator, "Commercial Litigation Outlook: Post-Pandemic Trends and Emerging Challenges in 2021," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 4, 2021)
- Presenter, “Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions in Illinois,” Illinois State Bar Association Conference on Motion Practice From Pre-Trial Through Post-Trial (November 2016)
- Moderator, “The Future Of The Legal Profession, Where To From Here," Illinois State Bar Association’s Allerton Conference (April 2015)
- Presenter, “Winning Summary Judgment and Motions to Dismiss,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Update (2010-2014)
- Presenter, “The Use of Financial Experts In Commercial Litigation,” Illinois State Bar Association Seminar “Successfully Navigating Civil Litigation; Evidence and Theory Involving Topics of Expert Testimony” (November 2013)
- Moderator, “Social Media and Internet Use By Jurors During Civil Trials,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Allerton Conference (April 2013)
- Presenter, “A Practical Approach to Section 2-615 Motion Practice,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Update and Overview (Bloomington and Chicago, Illinois 2008-09)
- Presenter, “Evidentiary Hearings and Section 2-619,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Conference (May 2007)
- Presenter, “The Affirmative Matter Standard Under Section 2-619 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Litigation Update and Overview (May 2006)
- Presenter, “Legal Responsibility For Product Defects In The United States,” The Chicago International Trade Commissioners’ Association, (February 2003)
Shawn counsels and represents clients in their business litigation, commercial contracts, and product liability matters.
More About Shawn
Shawn serves as national chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. He has over 25 years of experience representing clients in commercial and product liability matters, including a focus on the investigation and defense of claims arising out of fires and explosions. Shawn has won cases in state and federal courts throughout the country, including in Texas, California, New York, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Delaware, and Illinois. He has also prevailed as lead appellate counsel before the United States Fifth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Illinois First District Appellate Court.
Shawn’s experience includes the representation of US and UK manufacturers in connection with product related disputes and supply chain issues and agreements throughout the world. He has presented to the Chicago International Trade Commissioner’s Association regarding product liability issues facing multinational companies. Shawn is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois.
Shawn has published and presented on a broad scope of topics relevant to civil practice, product liability, and commercial litigation. He co-authors the Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Handbook chapter regarding motion practice and serves as an annual presenter at the ISBA Civil Practice Conference. For more than a decade, Shawn served by appointment on the Civil Practice Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has also served as a featured columnist in Chicago Lawyer magazine and is a recipient of its Annual Writing Award. He was previously honored by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as part of its “40 under 40” listing and selected by his peers as an Illinois “Leading Lawyer” in appellate practice and commercial litigation. Most recently, Shawn was listed among The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) in commercial litigation (2013-2022), and the Commercial Litigation practice group that he chairs was ranked among the nation’s “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers and US News & World Report, including Tier 1 rankings in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Shawn’s experience includes the representation of US and UK manufacturers in connection with product related disputes and supply chain issues and agreements throughout the world. He has presented to the Chicago International Trade Commissioner’s Association regarding product liability issues facing multinational companies. Shawn is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois.
Shawn has published and presented on a broad scope of topics relevant to civil practice, product liability, and commercial litigation. He co-authors the Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Handbook chapter regarding motion practice and serves as an annual presenter at the ISBA Civil Practice Conference. For more than a decade, Shawn served by appointment on the Civil Practice Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has also served as a featured columnist in Chicago Lawyer magazine and is a recipient of its Annual Writing Award. He was previously honored by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as part of its “40 under 40” listing and selected by his peers as an Illinois “Leading Lawyer” in appellate practice and commercial litigation. Most recently, Shawn was listed among The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) in commercial litigation (2013-2022), and the Commercial Litigation practice group that he chairs was ranked among the nation’s “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers and US News & World Report, including Tier 1 rankings in Chicago and Los Angeles.
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Order of the Coif, with honors
Editor, Chicago-Kent Law Review - BA, University of Dayton
With honors
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Related Services
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
03/01/2024
Seyfarth's 2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook Featured in Corporate Compliance Insights and PEI Private Funds CFO
-
Legal Update
Feb 15, 2024
Now Available! 2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook
-
Webinar
Feb 7, 2023
Webinar Series - Commercial Litigation Outlook: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2023
-
Legal Update
Jan 26, 2023
Now Available! 2023 Commercial Litigation Outlook
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Commercial Litigation (2013-2023)
- American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section)
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Nominated to Civil Practice Council (September 2003 - June 2016)
- Defense Research Institute
- The Lawyers’ Club of Chicago
- Co-Presenter, "Webinar Series - Commercial Litigation Outlook: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2023," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 7, 2023)
- Co-Author, “Dispositive Motion Practice in Illinois,” The ISBA Civil Practice Handbook (2013-2016)
- Co-Author, “For General Jurisdiction, There’s No Place Like Home,” ISBA Trial Briefs, Vol. 59, No. 10, (April 2014)
- Author, “Like A Blister In The Sun,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 32, No. 6 (June 2009)
- Author, “Allerton Conference Addresses Civility,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 31, No. 7 (July 2008)
- Author, “Sticks And Stones: Illinois Defamation Law In The Wake of J. Maki Construction Co. v. Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 31, No. 3 (March 2008)
- Author, “Reason Makes A Comeback Under Rule 216,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 30, No. 11 (Nov. 2007)
- Author, “An Inconvenient Truthiness About Rule 216,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 29, No. 12 (Dec. 2006) (cited by the Illinois Supreme Court in Vision Point of Sale, Inc. v. Haas (2007))
- Co-Author, “Defense Cost Reimbursement: The Illinois Supreme Court Goes Its Own Way,” ISBA Trial Briefs (March 2006)
- Author, “The Miracle at 219 South Dearborn,” Chicago Lawyer, Vol. 26, No. 12 (December 2003)
- Co-Presenter, "Commercial Litigation Outlook: Part 2: Insights and Predictions for Litigation Trends in 2022," Webinar Series, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 27, 2022)
- Moderator, "Commercial Litigation Outlook: Post-Pandemic Trends and Emerging Challenges in 2021," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 4, 2021)
- Presenter, “Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions in Illinois,” Illinois State Bar Association Conference on Motion Practice From Pre-Trial Through Post-Trial (November 2016)
- Moderator, “The Future Of The Legal Profession, Where To From Here," Illinois State Bar Association’s Allerton Conference (April 2015)
- Presenter, “Winning Summary Judgment and Motions to Dismiss,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Update (2010-2014)
- Presenter, “The Use of Financial Experts In Commercial Litigation,” Illinois State Bar Association Seminar “Successfully Navigating Civil Litigation; Evidence and Theory Involving Topics of Expert Testimony” (November 2013)
- Moderator, “Social Media and Internet Use By Jurors During Civil Trials,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Allerton Conference (April 2013)
- Presenter, “A Practical Approach to Section 2-615 Motion Practice,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice Update and Overview (Bloomington and Chicago, Illinois 2008-09)
- Presenter, “Evidentiary Hearings and Section 2-619,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Conference (May 2007)
- Presenter, “The Affirmative Matter Standard Under Section 2-619 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Litigation Update and Overview (May 2006)
- Presenter, “Legal Responsibility For Product Defects In The United States,” The Chicago International Trade Commissioners’ Association, (February 2003)