Shawn is a civil, injury, business, and probate litigator. He represents individuals and business entities in large, complex commercial cases as well as small commercial cases, intellectual property disputes, and general civil litigation matters. Shawn also has significant experience representing and advising personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested probate matters ranging from small to large, multimillion-dollar disputes. Shawn dedicates a large portion of his practice to representing individuals in personal injury matters, ranging from car and motorcycle accidents to medical mal-practice and wrongful death. Shawn also advises individuals on a wide range of family law matters.
Shawn’s practice is not limited to litigation. He also advises individuals and business entities on corporate matters ranging from business formation, contracts, and corporate structuring to employment matters. Shawn can also help with estate planning needs, such as the preparation of a will, trust, and/or other life planning documents. Shawn also has a niche practice representing international adoption agencies throughout the country on matters related to Hague-accreditation and other matters pending before the Department of State and the accrediting entities.
Shawn is recognized as one of Utah’s Legal Elite for business litigation and as a Mountain States Super Lawyer for civil litigation and intellectual property litigation.
Education
- University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, JD 2006
- Honors student
- William H. Leary Scholar
- Moot Court
- Weber State University, BA Criminal Justice
- Magna cum laude
Professional Experience
- Founder of Richards & Kaas – 2023
- Kirton McConkie, Salt Lake City, UT Partner (Business Litigation) December 2012 – January 2023
- Kirton McConkie, Salt Lake City, UT Associate (Business Litigation) September 2007 – December 2012
- Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York City, NY Associate (Corporate) September 2006 – September 2007
- Berman & Savage, Salt Lake City, UT, Law Clerk (Business Litigation) January 2005 – May 2006
Honors and Awards
- Utah Legal Elite, Litigation: 2011, 2015, 2018-2022
- Mountain States Super Lawyer: 2012-2017
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Utah State Bar
- New York State Bar
- Salt Lake County Bar Association, Member
- Weber County Bar Association, Member
- Golden Key Honor Society, Member
- Crimson Club, University of Utah, Member
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Member
Admissions
- Utah, 2008
- New York, 2007
- Federal Court in California
- Federal Court in Ohio
- Federal Court in Wyoming
- 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
- 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah
Community Involvement
- Board Member: Wasatch International Adoption Agency
- Board Member: Anything for a Friend, Inc.
Representative Cases
- General outside counsel for large, nationwide jewelry company.
- General outside counsel for company specializing in debt collection software.
- General outside general counsel for international adoption agencies, including representation of Hague-accredited agencies.
- Outside litigation for governmental entities.
- Outside litigation counsel for financial institutions.
- Representation of benefit plan sponsors with respect to ERISA disputes.
- Representation and protection of international business clients with significant business interests in the United States.
- Successful representation of individuals, including adults and minors, injured in car, motorcycle, and other automobile-related accidents.
- Successful representation of personal representative in wrongful death case on behalf of the decedent’s heirs.
- Experience with large, multi-million dollar, complex multi-state litigation.
- Representation of trustees, personal representatives, and beneficiaries in large and small contested and uncontested probate matters, including intestate matters.
- Successfully prosecuted a criminal contempt proceeding against client’s civil lawsuit opponent.
- Successfully represented lawyers in bar disputes before the Utah State Bar Commission.
- Represented one of China’s largest manufacturers of clothing apparel in enforcement of its intellectual property rights.
- Experience managing high-volume document production.
- Obtained dismissal with no liability for Medicare insurer defending against False Claims Act action claiming damages in excess of $500 million.
- Favorable settlement for trustee on eve of trial after defending for five years claims asserting more than $2.5 million, by dividing trust property among beneficiaries with no financial penalties to trustee.
- Obtained favorable settlement for client in lawsuit after successfully dismissing $800,000 contract-based counterclaim on summary judgment.
- Favorable settlement for client in California lawsuit based on claims of trade secret misappropriation.
- Advising large, publicly-traded corporations on all aspects of mergers & acquisitions, public debt and equity offerings, derivative debt offerings, tender offers, and other areas of corporate governance.
- McBroom v. Child, et al., 2016 UT 38, successfully represented appellee on appeal to Utah Supreme Court related to the Estate of R.C. Willey.
- Warner v. Warner, 2014 UT App 16
Contact
Phone: 801-689-3017
Email: shawn@richardskaas.com