Overview
Shawn Davisson focuses his practice primarily on white-collar criminal defense matters, government and internal investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, securities litigation and enforcement, and blockchain and cryptocurrency. He was recently named one of the country's top "Rising Stars" for white-collar practice by Law360.
Shawn defends corporations, corporate executives, public officials, and other individuals and entities in matters involving or brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other government agencies and regulators. He also has extensive experience conducting internal investigations on behalf of corporate clients to examine allegations of criminal conduct, and assisting with parallel civil proceedings arising out of criminal investigations, including enforcement proceedings, multidistrict securities fraud litigation, congressional investigations, and related matters.
Shawn places importance on volunteer work and is actively involved in Steptoe's pro bono program. He regularly represents clients or assists organizations in matters involving Veteran’s claims and appeals, homelessness initiatives, habeas appeals, and other pro bono matters. He also serves periodically as a volunteer justice in various moot court competitions.
Shawn was also appointed by the DC Bar's Board on Professional Responsibility and currently serves in a judicial capacity on the Board's Hearing Committees, which conduct hearings on formal charges of attorney misconduct, contested petitions for reinstatement to the Bar, and petitions for negotiated discipline.
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- Hon. David L. Bunning, US District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 2006-2007
- J.D., Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2006, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif; Judge Ernest Karam Award for Legal Writing; Managing Editor, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution; Co-Editor, Mayhew-Hite Report on Dispute Resolution and the Courts
- M.B.A., Sullivan University, 2004, summa cum laude; President's Cup Award (top of class)
- B.A., University of Kentucky, 2003, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Vandenbosch Award in Political Science
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Representing an international company in criminal and civil cases relating to allegations of trade secrets theft.
- Representing Volkswagen AG in diesel emissions criminal case and related matters.
- Represented and conducted extensive internal investigations for two global vehicle manufacturers into separate cases of fraud and related allegations, ultimately resulting in no charges brought by U.S. authorities.
- Represented prominent attorney in connection with SEC investigation of public company disclosures for major bank, resulting in no charges or further action.
- Represented William Facteau, the former CEO of Acclarent, in major medical device criminal case in federal court in Boston, securing a complete acquittal on all felony charges.
- Represented businessman accused of bribing a public official, and helped secure a rare Rule 29 acquittal in a 79-count bribery and money laundering indictment in federal court in Pennsylvania.
- Represented David Rainey, the highest ranking executive at BP charged in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and helped secure a complete dismissal/acquittal on charges of obstruction of Congress and false statements in federal court in New Orleans.
- Conducted internal investigation at major financial institution in response to government investigation of mortgage origination practices.
- Represented former senior executive and in-house attorney at GSK, helping secure a rare Rule 29 acquittal on charges of obstruction and false statements in federal court in Maryland.
- Represented global technology company and conducted sensitive investigation of Italian subsidiary in connection with allegations of Syrian embargo violations.
- Represented former Blackwater security guard on charges relating to a shooting incident in Nisur Square in Baghdad, Iraq.
- Represented former CEO of pharmaceutical company in federal securities class action alleging securities violations arising from alleged misrepresentations regarding Company’s manufacturing compliance.
- Represented and conducted worldwide investigation for IMI and Control Components Inc. in a criminal FCPA matter.
News & Publications
Media Mentions
Law360 Quotes Boyd Cloern in Article About 7th Circuit’s Issue with $540M Motorola Trade Secret Win
December 5, 2023
Publications
Blockchain in the USA: 2022-2023 Developments
Chambers Global Practice Guides Blockchain 2023
July 6, 2023
By: Alan Cohn, Jason M. Weinstein, Coy Garrison, Shawn P. Davisson, Galen Kast, Sophia Breggia
Publications
Blockchain Trends and Developments in the USA
Chambers Blockchain 2022 Practice Guide
November 8, 2022
Publications
Blockchain Trends and Developments in the USA
Chambers Blockchain Practice Guide
June 2020
By: Alan Cohn, Jason M. Weinstein, Shawn P. Davisson, Katherine M. Dubyak
Steptoe Blockchain Blog
April 21, 2020
Client Alerts
Supreme Court Extends Protections Against Civil Forfeitures to State Proceedings
March 8, 2019
Noteworthy
- Law360, "Rising Stars," White-Collar (2020)
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, "Rising Star," Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2014-2020)