James Shea, Venable’s chair, maintains an active practice focusing on corporate litigation. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he tries cases in both federal and state systems throughout the country.

Mr. Shea offers aggressive, thorough corporate counseling, litigation management and trial work. Supported by a highly efficient staff, he regularly handles very large, complex matters.

Representative Clients
Mr. Shea’s clients include:

Marriott International, Inc.
M&T Bank
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Verizon
Pepco
Johns Hopkins University


He has also represented financial institutions, sports franchises, professional service firms and pharmaceutical companies in various commercial matters.

Significant Matters
Mr. Shea has both prosecuted and defended major corporations in securities class actions, contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and products liability cases. Particular matters have involved the ownership of professional sports franchises, software disputes, fiduciary duties, executive compensation, contract claims and alleged personal injury, and a number have required emergency injunctive relief.

Activities
Active in the community, Mr. Shea is the Chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland and the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance. He is a member of the Boards of the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Equal Justice Council. He is a recent past member of the Boards of Mercantile Bankshares and Mercantile Bank and Trust, and past Chairman of the Boards of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and the Empower Baltimore Management Corporation, and past Trustee of the Hippodrome Foundation and the Calvert School. He is a current fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, and the Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel.