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Patrick W. Shea

Partner, Employment Law Department

patrickshea@paulhastings.com

New York

Phone: 1(212) 318-6405
Fax: 1(212) 319-4090

Overview

Patrick Shea is an Employment Law partner based in the firm’s New York office. He represents companies in a wide range of employment-related litigation, including matters involving employee benefits, employment discrimination, wage and hour claims, and wrongful discharge. His clients include major companies in the financial services, information technology, manufacturing, defense, and high-tech industries. He has established a track record of successfully representing companies in high stakes jury trials, including securing defense verdicts in multi-party cases and class actions. 

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 US, Leading Lawyer, Labor and Employment Disputes Including Collective Actions: Defense (2020-2023)
  • Chambers Global, USA Labour & Employment - Band 1 (2022-2023)
  • Chambers USA, New York Labor & Employment - Band 1 (2021-2024)
  • The Legal 500 US, Labor & Employment - Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021)
  • The Legal 500 US lists Patrick Shea for workplace and employment counseling, noting him as a “leading lawyer” in labor and employment disputes who “seems to win whatever he touches”
  • Named in The Best Lawyers in America
  • Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • Named one of “America’s Top 100 Employment Law Attorneys” by Lawdragon
  • Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell®

Education

  • Yale Law School, J.D., 1981 – where he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Yale Law Journal
  • University of Scranton, B.A., 1978

Representations

  • Weber v. FujiFilm (D. Conn. 2012) (prevailed in three week federal jury trial brought by a senior executive alleging age and national origin discrimination)
  • Perkins v. Southern New England Telephone (D. Conn. 2011) (prevailed in three week wage and hour class action jury trial)
  • Christie v. General Electric (D. Conn. 2010) (prevailed in six-day age discrimination jury trial brought by employee with 20 years of service)
  • Eldridge v. Provident Life& & Accident Insurance Co., (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001) (defendant’s verdict in three-week jury trial of nationwide class action alleging breach of contract)
  • Flanagan v. General Electric Co., (2d Cir. 2001) (affirming summary judgment for defendants in ERISA class action challenging transfer of more than $1 billion in pension plan assets)
  • Prevailed in nine arbitrations before the AAA and FINRA.

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    Recognitions

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    Engagement & Publications

    • Frequent speaker on topics in the employment law area

    Involvement

    • Appointed by the Chairman of the EEOC to serve on a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that developed regulations governing age discrimination releases under Title II of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
    • Member of the New York, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia Bar Associations
    • Admitted to a number of federal district and circuit courts
    • After graduating from law school, he served as law clerk to the honorable Raymond J. Pettine, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

    Practice Areas

    Employment Litigation

    Workplace Retaliation and Whistleblower Defense

    Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits, and ERISA

    Employment Counseling and Preventive Advice

    Employment Law

    Pay Equity Litigation

    Traditional Labor and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)


    Languages

    French

    English


    Admissions

    New York Bar

    Connecticut Bar

    District of Columbia Bar


    Education

    Yale Law School, J.D. 1981

    University of Scranton, B.A. 1978