Shannon E. McClure

Biography

Shannon is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation group, where she passionately advocates for national and multinational companies in complex civil litigation. As a first-chair trial attorney, she deftly manages business disputes in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and mediation settings. Shannon also plays a pivotal role in devising resolution strategies, acting as strategic national counsel for clients in high-stakes cases. Clients have commented on Shannon’s exceptional client service skills and litigation capabilities, noting in Chambers & Partners that she is “great and responsive,” “tenacious,” and a “very talented litigator” who is “unwavering in her ability to get us where we need to go regardless of the matter.” Clients note that she “understands businesses and proactively predicts solutions.”

As an example of the high-profile matters Shannon litigates, she served as national trial counsel for a global healthcare company in a high-profile federal and state opioid litigation. She was appointed as MDL defense liaison counsel in In re Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL N.D. Ohio). She also served on the company’s resolution strategy team, negotiating the $21B global opioid settlement as well as other associated settlements, partnering with the client to operationalize the injunctive relief components of the opioid settlement agreements. Shannon excels in defending against multidistrict litigation, punitive class actions, and other complex legal matters. Furthermore, Shannon has extensive experience in commercial contracts, business torts, antitrust matters, and public nuisance cases.

Additionally, Shannon advises companies on pre-dispute counseling and advice, conducting thorough early case assessments to evaluate the merits of potential litigation stemming from commercial disputes, and proceeding with filing and litigating the case if necessary, including seeking temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

In the life sciences and healthcare industries, Shannon represents pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, distributors, and health systems. In addition, Shannon also represents companies operating in the energy, financial services, real estate, transportation and logistics, and telecommunications industries.

Outside of her practice, Shannon served as Chair of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Merit Selection Panel, responsible for overseeing the process to recommend candidates to be considered to serve as United States Magistrate Judges (for the last five magistrate judge in the E.D. Pa.). Her legal career also includes a clerkship with the Honorable Timothy J. Savage at the U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania (September 2003 to September 2005). During law school, Shannon distinguished herself as Executive Editor of the William and Mary Law Review, a member of the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law, and a Moot Court Team Member. She received a merit scholarship and the Gambrell Professionalism Award.

In college, Shannon majored in History and Theater, was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, consistently made the Dean’s List, and participated in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and a study abroad program in London.

Experience

  • Serve as resolution strategy counsel to a major pharmaceutical distributor in all aspects of opioid-related settlement activities, including the $21 billion Global Distributor Opioid Settlement.
  • Served as trial and litigation counsel for a major pharmaceutical distributor in multidistrict civil litigation across parallel state and federal court proceedings, including as trial counsel in first distributor case to go to verdict (City of Huntington/Cabell County, West Virginia, trial in federal court in 2021). Prepared and presented company witnesses, cross-examined and presented expert witnesses, and coordinated trial strategy. Complete defense verdict achieved after four-month, 70-witness trial.
  • Appointed as distributor liaison counsel in National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL 2804 (N.D. Ohio).
  • Won summary judgment in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court in eight-figure real estate litigation matter on behalf of a railroad client; convinced court that limitation of liability clause in the parties’ purchase and sale agreement barred any recovery; argued appeal in the Pennsylvania Superior Court, and the court affirmed in a precedential opinion.
  • Served as strategic outside counsel to a railroad on all legal issues, including litigation, transactions, real estate matters, and insurance matters.
  • Represented a railroad in various litigations, including defending c-suite executive depositions in Federal Employers' Liability Act, discrimination, and commercial disputes.
  • Advised a global multinational healthcare manufacturer/distributor regarding possible catastrophic supply chain issue; worked with in-house counsel to prepare for affirmative litigation in order to assist with ultimately achieving a business resolution.
  • Defended global corporation against Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act lawsuit filed by Mississippi Attorney General regarding alleged bribery/kickback scheme involving former state corrections commissioner.
  • Defended an international managed care company in arbitrations and lawsuits filed by a national hospital system relating to claim reimbursement rates.
  • Asserted and successfully resolved contract and tort claims against enterprise resource planning software vendor on behalf of a publicly traded battery manufacturer.
  • Defended a national car rental company in breach of contract lawsuit regarding credit card incentive payments.
  • Served as first-chair defense counsel for a national package delivery company at week-long Americans with Disabilities Act trial.
  • Second-chaired a two-week federal jury trial that was successfully resolved for client; served as primary drafter of all pretrial and trial submissions; prepared more than 30 fact and expert witnesses; drafted oral argument on Rule 50 motion and jury instructions.
  • Defended a global healthcare device manufacturer against Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claim.
  • Won a motion to dismiss defamation claim filed against a sitting United States Senator.
  • Achieved early dismissal of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) stock drop class action against a regional bank.
  • Quashed subpoena seeking confidential source information from an international human rights organization.
  • Defeated government’s motion to dismiss and summary judgment motions on issue of first impression in Federal Tort Claims Act case filed by a food supply company against the United States.
  • Achieved multiple entries of summary judgment on behalf of employers in ERISA denial-of-benefits actions and employment discrimination claims.
  • Successfully convinced defendants in a copyright / trade secrets matter to consent to the entry of a permanent injunction.
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of a pharmaceutical company in tort case involving novel procedural and substantive issues.
  • Won motion to dismiss putative nationwide consumer leasing class action on behalf of a foreign car manufacturer in an opinion affirming validity of voluntary payment doctrine in Pennsylvania.
  • Efficiently managed numerous complex electronic document collections and reviews; regularly took and defended depositions; and participated in successful settlement of significant matters in areas of product liability, employment discrimination, policyholder insurance recovery, wage-and-hour violations, and financial services class actions in diverse industries including financial services, food manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, and medical device manufacturing.
  • Managed seven-year discovery process and settlement resolution in a nationwide antitrust class action.
  • Succeeded in breach of contract claim on behalf of a national natural gas producer.
  • Defended multiple employment discrimination claims on behalf of major department store retailer, national telecommunications company, international financial services company, and national rail transportation provider.
  • Representing mid- and large-size corporations in supply chain disputes, including by investigating, developing, and filing affirmative commercial litigation claims, often alongside requests for immediate injunctive remedies.
  • Successfully defended a national food distributor against ERISA discrimination claim. Affirmed on appeal.

Recognitions

  • 2022–2024, Litigation: General Commercial, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds, listed in Chambers USA
  • 2022, 500 Leading Litigators in America, listed in Lawdragon
  • 2010 and 2013–2015, Pennsylvania “Rising Star,” listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2012, “Lawyers on the Fast Track,” listed in The Legal Intelligencer

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Forum of Executive Women
Professional Activities
  • Co-Chair, Healthcare Law Committee of the Business Law Section, Philadelphia Bar Association (2025–present)
  • Chair, United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panels, E.D. Pa. (2021–2025)
  • Member, United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, E.D. Pa. (2020)
  • Board Member, Public Interest Law Center (2016–2022)
  • Vice-Chair, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Joint Conduct Committee (2014–2016)
  • Member, Forum of Executive Women, Philadelphia (2016–present)
  • Board Member, Fairmount Community Development Corporation (2011–2015)
  • Representative, Third Century Initiative (3ci) Council, a program of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2013–2014)
  • Vice-Chair, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Civil Practice & Procedure Committee (2011–2014)
  • Young Lawyer Representative, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Civil Practice & Procedure Committee (2010–2011)
  • Global Leadership Institute, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (2011)

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court - Colorado
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - New Jersey
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan

Education

  • College of William & Mary, BA
  • William & Mary School of Law, JD