Sara Jane Shanahan

Sara Jane Shanahan

Managing Partner

Overview & Experience

Sara Jane Shanahan is the firm's Managing Partner.

Her practice focuses on complex business litigation and insurance coverage disputes. She represents a diverse range of clients, including investment managers, property owners, national retailers, insurers, insureds, and shareholders of closely-held corporations.

Prior to joining the firm, Sara was partner at Griesinger, Tighe, & Maffei, LLP and junior partner at Hale and Dorr LLP. After law school, Sara clerked for the Hon. Nathaniel M. Gorton, U.S. District Judge for the District of Massachusetts.

Outside the firm, Sara is an active contributor to the legal and charitable communities. She has held various leadership positions with the Boston Bar Association, including Council Member and co-chair of the Administration of Justice Section, and served on the Women’s Bar Association’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. Sara is also a regular speaker and contributor to programs for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE), and teaches in the Trial Advocacy Workshop during winter term at Harvard Law School.  Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Wellesley Club, is a member of the Massachusetts Advisory Council of The New England Legal Foundation, and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees for Ursuline Academy in Dedham, MA.

Experience

  • Hedge funds and the investment manager with regard to claims against their third party administrator
  • National retailer in arbitration and litigation with third party business brokers
  • Hospital patent-owner in licensing dispute with medical device manufacturer
  • Generic drug manufacturers in False Claims Act and products liability litigation
  • Insurers and insureds in complex insurance coverage disputes
  • Minority shareholders in closely-held corporations regarding breach of fiduciary duty and voting trust claims
  • Homeowners in arbitrations regarding construction disputes
  • Successfully obtained summary judgment on securities fraud claims for defendant; Federal District Court denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification
  • Internet operating and development company prevailing on all claims in two week jury trial regarding insurance coverage
Insights & Activities

Accolades

  • Ranked in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial – Massachusetts
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America©
    • Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Insurance, Boston (2020)
  • Included in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2023 Top Women of Law Circle of Excellence
  • Included in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2015 Top Women of Law
  • Included in Massachusetts Super Lawyers
    • Top 50 Women in Massachusetts
    • Top 100 in New England
  • Perlman Service Award from the fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
  • Listed in Benchmark Litigation
  • Named to Boston magazine’s Top Lawyers list (2022, 2023)

Speaking Engagements & Publications

Memberships

  • Boston Bar Foundation Society of Fellows
  • Boston Bar Association
    • Council, Member, elected to serve three-year term, Fall 2013 – Summer 2016
    • Administration of Justice Section
      • Co-chair, Fall 2011 – Summer 2014
      • Member, 2009 – 2014
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments, 2014 – 2020
  • Litigation Counsel of America
    • Senior Fellow
  • Women’s Bar Association
    • Women’s Leadership Initiative, 2017 – 2018

Community Involvement