Practice

Litigation

Strategic Counsel for Complex Litigation

When the stakes are highest, businesses and individuals turn to Sheppard for strategic counsel and decisive results in their most significant disputes, from high-profile trials to confidential settlements.

With deep resources across industries and offices nationwide, our Litigation team delivers counsel that protects what matters most and positions clients for long-term success.

Trusted Trial Lawyers with a Pragmatic Business Mindset

With a team of over 200 litigators, we handle disputes of every scale—ranging from bet-the-company trials and complex class actions to brand and reputation matters, financial services litigation, securities enforcement and international arbitration.

Our industry-focused teams bring deep experience to sectors including construction, energy, entertainment and media, environmental, food and beverage, insurance, banking and financial services, healthcare, real estate, retail, fashion and beauty, securities and technology.

Recognized among BTI’s Most Feared Law Firms in Litigation in 2026, we are equally adept at securing early, favorable settlements or taking billion-dollar disputes through trial and appeal. Our lawyers have defeated high-profile opponents, secured precedent-setting decisions and achieved quiet resolutions that protected our clients’ most critical interests.

Areas of Focus

Appellate

With a history of precedent-setting wins, we guide clients through trial decisions and postjudgment strategies to help shape outcomes. Our skilled appellate team works to protect victories, overturn adverse rulings and provide strategic, hands-on guidance at every stage of litigation.

Bankruptcy Litigation & Distressed Loan Workouts

Combining courtroom strength with creative legal strategies, we strive for efficient resolutions that maximize value and help position clients for favorable outcomes in complex bankruptcy disputes.

Brand and Reputation Management

We protect reputations in high-stakes crises, blending legal expertise and media strategy to counter allegations and manage risk. Trusted by companies, executives and public figures, we navigate defamation, privacy and digital threats with proactive, globally informed strategies, safeguarding reputations across legal, media and digital landscapes.

Class Action Defense

Sheppard expertly defends complex class actions and mass arbitrations with proactive, business-driven strategies, minimizing risk and disruption. Trusted nationwide, we handle high-stakes disputes across industries, from consumer fraud and privacy to securities and ERISA, resolving cases efficiently at every stage. Our team combines litigation prowess with regulatory expertise to protect clients and achieve commercial goals.

Commercial Litigation

Our Commercial Litigation team offers exceptional trial and appellate experience across industries. With deep knowledge of state and federal courts, we handle complex disputes for businesses of all sizes. Clients rely on our strategic judgment and cost-effective approach to safeguard their interests and secure favorable results in high-stakes litigation.

Construction

Sheppard resolves high-stakes construction disputes, from delays and defects to payment and surety issues, across diverse sectors like healthcare, renewable energy and public infrastructure. Representing clients in courts, arbitrations and mediations, we focus on cost control and achieving client objectives, handling complex matters for projects including hospitals, data centers, mixed-use buildings and major infrastructure developments.

Entertainment & Media Litigation

Sheppard is a go-to firm for the entertainment industry in disputes involving contracts, talent representation and intellectual property, our litigators represent studios, streaming platforms, producers and artists in both high-profile cases and behind-the-scenes negotiations. With deep industry knowledge and strong trial skills, we resolve entertainment disputes in ways that protect creative rights and business objectives.

Environmental Litigation

We defend clients in high-stakes environmental disputes, leveraging decades of experience across claims like toxic torts, Proposition 65, CERCLA and CAA. Our litigators achieve favorable outcomes in complex cases, representing clients in federal and state courts with expertise in environmental laws, including NEPA, CEQA and RCRA, while protecting their interests and navigating regulatory challenges.

Financial Services Litigation

Leading financial institutions, fintechs and investment firms trust us to handle high-stakes litigation with industry-specific expertise. We resolve complex disputes efficiently, from class actions to securities litigation, safeguarding clients’ businesses and reputations with strategic, cost-effective solutions.

Food and Beverage Litigation

Sheppard advises global brands and producers in disputes involving false advertising, labeling, product safety, supply chain contracts and consumer class actions. Our team combines industry insight with litigation experience to protect brands. Whether defending class actions, negotiating settlements or handling competitor claims, we deliver practical strategies that safeguard reputation and market share.

Healthcare Litigation

We defend healthcare providers, payors, life sciences companies and executives in high-stakes disputes. Our work spans fraud and abuse litigation, False Claims Act cases, reimbursement disputes and complex commercial conflicts. With deep industry knowledge and experience before federal and state agencies, we help healthcare clients resolve litigation in ways that protect both business operations and patient trust.

Insurance Litigation

Trusted by insurers nationwide, we defend high-stakes coverage disputes, bad faith claims and class actions with unmatched trial experience. Known for turning unwinnable cases into victories, we minimize risk, establish favorable precedent and deliver strategic, results-driven advocacy that protects carriers’ interests and reputations.

International Arbitration

Handling high-stakes international arbitrations, we represent multinational companies, state entities and investors across industries and jurisdictions. Leveraging extensive experience with leading arbitral institutions and global legal standards, we craft strategic, business-driven solutions for complex cross-border disputes, from early settlements to award enforcement.

Multifamily Litigation

We counsel developers, owners and investors in multifamily housing disputes, including construction defects, habitability claims, contract disputes and landlord–tenant matters. Our litigators understand the regulatory and operational pressures unique to the multifamily sector and deliver solutions that preserve asset value. We have successfully defended class and mass actions, negotiated resolutions to complex disputes and protected clients’ interests in high-profile cases.

Private Wealth and Fiduciary Litigation

Sheppard represents high-net-worth individuals, families, trustees and fiduciaries in disputes involving trusts, estates and closely held businesses. Our litigators handle will contests, fiduciary duty claims, partnership disputes and high-profile cases involving celebrity estates. We are known for discretion, trial strength and sensitivity to personal dynamics, resolving conflicts that involve both financial stakes and family relationships.

Real Estate

We resolve real estate disputes with strategic, cost-effective solutions, representing owners, investors, landlords, tenants and developers. From lease and contract disputes to eminent domain and title claims, our experienced litigators balance legal expertise with a practical, business-focused approach, prioritizing early resolution while remaining trial-ready to protect your property interests.

Securities Enforcement

We defend broker-dealers, investment banks and hedge funds in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions by FINRA, SEC and DOJ. Backed by former regulators and prosecutors, we deliver strategic, cost-effective solutions to mitigate liability, protect reputations and navigate complex issues like insider trading, market manipulation and emerging crypto regulations.

Securities Litigation

Representing public and private companies, directors, officers and financial institutions, we handle complex securities litigation nationwide. Combining trial expertise, industry knowledge and strategic collaboration, we align litigation approaches with business goals to protect reputations and achieve favorable outcomes.

Trade Secrets Litigation

When trade secret disputes arise, we act swiftly to prosecute misappropriation claims, enforce restrictive covenants and defend against software theft. Whether addressing employee departures, competitor threats or urgent matters involving potential irreparable harm, our litigators deliver immediate, strategic solutions to protect your business interests.

White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations

Sheppard defends companies, executives and employees in high-stakes white collar investigations and litigation, including fraud, FCPA violations and False Claims Act cases. Backed by former prosecutors and deep agency insight, we deliver swift, strategic advocacy to protect reputations, resolve complex matters and achieve favorable outcomes in court and beyond.

2025 Best Law Firms Badge 2025 BTI Awesome Opponent Badge 2025 BTI Litigation Leader Badge 2025 Chambers USA Badge 2023 Best Law Firms Badge 2023 BTI Litigation Powerhouse Badge 2022 Law360 Class Action Badge