Shawn Patrick Regan
Shawn Patrick Regan represents clients in their most vexing and high-stakes business disputes, including securities litigation, government and regulatory investigations, cross-border litigation, and putative class and mass actions involving contracts, torts, fraud, and other common law and statutory claims. He is president of the Federal Bar Council, the premier bar organization of the federal courts within the Second Circuit, and has argued and served as lead counsel of record in numerous successful appeals, including before several US Circuit Courts of Appeals and the New York State Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court.
Collaborating with clients and other outside counsel, Shawn develops strategies to utilize each team member's skills, attributes, and experience to bring the most effective and efficient result for clients across numerous industries.
Shawn has experience representing clients in the electric power generation, oil, coal, and renewables industries and is routinely at the forefront of litigation related to climate change in numerous state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, and the US Supreme Court.
He represents public and private media, sports and entertainment companies, banks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), mortgage companies, and executives in complex civil litigation, government investigations, and securities fraud suits. He also counsels institutions on litigation avoidance. In addition, Shawn represents and advises companies in the data and technology industries in arbitration, investigations, and coordinating licensing and transactions.
Shawn is also sought out by consumer product and retail companies, ranging from established brands to small startups, to represent them in matters of consumer fraud, commercial contract litigation, lease and property development disputes, government investigations, IP litigation, and employment and ERISA class actions.
Shawn maintains a diverse pro bono and public service practice that has included amicus briefs before the US Supreme Court on securities law and other issues; political asylum for persecuted refugees; prosecution under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction; and, by appointment of a Southern District of New York judge, representation of an elderly woman who gained unencumbered return of her property after the loss of her home in a fraudulent scheme operating for 20 years.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Shawn led the corporate and securities and government investigations practices of another international law firm.
- Defended and advised clients in the coal mining and electric generation industries under investigation by the New York Attorney General with respect to potential securities fraud under New York’s Martin Act
- Represented power producers, grid operators, and other parties in litigation and American Arbitration Association and International Centre for Dispute Resolution arbitrations
- Obtained prehearing dismissal on the merits in an arbitration alleging transactions constituted a change of control triggering an off-taker’s right to purchase a facility prior to a tax equity transaction and commercial operation date
- Counsel in SEC and CFTC investigations and litigation for a pension fund victim in a $1.3 billion Ponzi scheme
- Defended a large bank in litigation and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrations related to credit default swap transactions, obtaining complete victory and recovery of fees
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss an 11-count complaint alleging fraud, contract, and business tort claims against a REIT and second-chaired a trial arising out of a novel tax-advantaged 1031-exchange program involving hedging tools resulting in dismissal of adversary’s claims and pre-verdict settlement payment
- Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, 1996, J.D., editor in chief, law review
- College of the Holy Cross, 1993, B.A.
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit
- US District Court for the District of Maryland
- US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- US District Court for the Northern District of New York
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- US District Court for the Western District of New York
- Clerkship to Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (September 1996 - January 1998)
President, Federal Bar Council (2024–present)
Recognized, Litigation Star, New York, Benchmark Litigation (2024–2026)
Recognized, Super Lawyer for Business Litigation Law, The New York Times Magazine (2007, 2010–2025)
Recognized, Notable Leader in Accounting, Consulting, and Law, Crain’s New York Business (2024)
Member, New York State Bar Association: Commercial & Federal Litigation Section
Member, Supreme Court of the United States Historical Society
Member Inn of Court
Chairman, 1162 Foundation Board
Member, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Grievance Committee, Attorney Panel