Shannon is a skilled trial attorney and trusted legal advisor with a distinguished 15+ years of experience in municipal law, government litigation, employment law, constitutional law, and school law. She has nearly 65 federal litigation cases on her resume representing municipalities, school districts, police departments, teachers, administrators, private entities, and non-profit organizations in complex legal matters and other public officials in high-liability and high-profile cases involving alleged violations of civil rights, complex issues of constitutional law, and employment matters. Her record includes winning several no-cause verdicts on civil rights claims against public officials, including Title VII workplace and employment discrimination matters, Section 1983 violations, First Amendment retaliation claims, and Fourth Amendment claims of unlawful search and seizure, and excessive force, among others. Her litigation experience spans trial courts to the appellate level, having handled cases in the United States District Courts of New York and argued multiple appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Shannon also provides proactive legal counsel on employment policies, regulatory compliance, and risk management, ensuring organizations are prepared to navigate evolving legal landscapes. She frequently represents clients before administrative agencies, including the EEOC, HUD, and the New York State Division of Human Rights. Shannon’s employment law practice covers internal investigations of unlawful discrimination and prohibited workplace conduct, litigation of wrongful termination, discrimination (e.g., age, race, gender, disability), harassment (including sexual harassment), and retaliation claims. She possesses a deep understanding of federal employment statutes, including Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, Title IX, and PWA as well as the state laws of NYSHRL. She has experience conducting Civil Service Law §75 public employee disciplinary hearings and successfully defending alleged retaliation under whistleblower provisions.
A recognized leader in municipal law and government litigation, Shannon has litigated and worked on cases of first impression that have been instrumental in shaping policies related to police use of force, law on searches in schools, workplace compliance, and civil service law. Her experience also includes cases before the EEOC, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, New York State Division of Human Rights, New York State Department of Labor, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. From 2015 to the present, Shannon has been retained to work on investigations commenced by the New York State Office of Attorney General for public entities and private businesses (e.g., potential pattern and practice cases; potential violations of general business law).
As a Fellow of the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), signifying specialization in local government law, and a published legal scholar, she is highly regarded for her contributions to municipal governance, civil rights law, and public policy development.
ADMISSIONS
New York State
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
AFFILIATIONS
New York State Bar Association
Central New York Women’s Bar Association (Past President, VP, Secretary)
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association
International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), New York State Co-Chair
EDUCATION
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law
B.A., History & Women’s Studies, State University of New York, University at Buffalo
ACHIEVEMENTS
IMLA Fellow (2016 –present)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rating AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5
Super Lawyers, 2024
Upstate New York Super Lawyers – Rising Stars (2016-2020)
Irish Legal 100, 2018
IMLA Marvin J. Glink Award, 2018
IMLA Amicus Service Award, 2019
Community Service Appreciation Award, City of Syracuse Neighborhood Watch Association, 2011
