Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Shook is celebrating five years in Boston! Led by Managing Partner Thomas J. Sullivan, the Boston team of highly experienced trial attorneys have years of practice serving global brands in the health, science and technology industries. Opening in 2019, our Boston attorneys represent clients in high-stakes disputes in and out of the courtroom throughout the Commonwealth, the Northeast and the country. Shook’s Boston attorneys are licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court and in state and federal courts in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. They routinely handle complex commercial, product liability, class action, employment, and intellectual property litigation and bankruptcy matters. Learn more about Boston Managing Partner Tom Sullivan:  https://lnkd.in/g8juAJfa Learn more about Shook’s Boston office:  https://lnkd.in/gcqFrhD5

Navigating various U.S. regulatory agencies can be a challenge for businesses operating within the animal health industry. From pet food to pet shampoo, Shook Senior Counsel John Johnson III explains the intersection of these agencies in our latest 60 Seconds of Legal Insights. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/giECXkVX **** #AnimalHealthAtShook

Shook Associate Ara K. Ayvazian recently hosted a luncheon for the Federal Bar Association - Orlando Chapter held to welcome U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to her new position in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Before joining Shook, Ara clerked for Judge Sneed during her tenure as a magistrate judge in the same court. Learn more about Ara: https://lnkd.in/dhaciFPy

This week Shook highlights the firm’s Animal Health and Agribusiness Practice. This team of attorneys brings vast experience in litigation and regulatory matters to advocate for those who are passionate about serving the animal health industry. Follow along as Shook attorneys discuss their litigation and regulatory work that shapes the products our animals use every day. Learn more about Animal Health and Agribusiness at Shook: https://lnkd.in/ejnfkqgZ **** #AnimalHealthAtShook

Shook Associate Lakshmi Achari has been named an On the Rise winner as part of the 2024 Texas Legal Awards. The Texas Lawyer recognizes attorneys who have not only shaped the law but have also achieved extraordinary outcomes for their clients. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3XsJqJZ

For Shook Associate Lauren Reynolds, J.D., law school came as a big risk with a big price tag. Read on to learn more about Lauren's journey to law. SHOOK: What was your experience taking on the risk of law school with no safety net? LAUREN: Navigating this path without a clear roadmap or a family network familiar with the process was challenging. While I anticipated high tuition costs, I was surprised by the additional expenses, such as books and materials, the MPRE, organization dues, Quimbee, Character and Fitness evaluations, the Bar Exam, and Bar prep courses. I was uncertain whether the investment would pay off or how I would manage the debt. Leaving my full-time job with benefits to pursue this path felt like a massive risk. I even told my husband that I would drop out if I didn’t perform well in my first semester because I wasn’t convinced the investment would be worth it. SHOOK: What kind of career experience did your family have when you were growing up? LAUREN: Going to school and becoming a lawyer was a completely new experience for my family. My dad worked on an assembly line and my mom ran a small barber shop in our basement. I am the youngest of five siblings, two of whom did not graduate high school. My sister was the first in the family to attend college. Every aspect of the college journey was intimidating. We had to navigate FAFSA, the ACT, housing, etc., on our own as teenagers. SHOOK: Did law school seem tougher because you were navigating it without benchmarks? LAUREN: The experience was unlike anything I had encountered before. I found myself poring over massive casebooks, struggling to understand lectures and frequently Googling unfamiliar terms mid-lecture. Law school also lacks benchmarks throughout the semester. Professors would give minor feedback when they cold-called students and held office hours for questions, but your grade is entirely based on one exam at the end of the semester. The grading system is based on relative student rankings, which made everything more stressful. The constant comparison to peers and the uncertainty about my level of comprehension made it incredibly difficult, especially for first generation law students like myself, to feel adequately prepared or gain confidence. SHOOK: Why did you decide to pursue law as a career? LAUREN: I wanted to create a better future for myself. At the time, I was working in casino marketing and wanted to transition out of the casino industry. I earned my bachelor's degree because it felt like the "right" step to take. With a bachelor's degree in Political Science, law school seemed like the natural next step. To make sure I even liked the law, I worked as a legal assistant at an insurance defense firm for a couple of years. Fortunately, I discovered a passion for civil litigation that solidified my decision to pursue a legal career. Learn more about Lauren: https://lnkd.in/gyFDG5wG **** #ShookFirstGen

Shook Boston is one of the firm's five offices in the Northeast with a deep bench of trial lawyers. The firm is proud to mark five years in Boston serving global brands in the areas of Product Liability, Commercial, Employment, Class Action, Data Privacy, Toxic Tort and Intellectual Property Litigation. Shook Partner Thomas J. Sullivan leads the firm’s Boston office of attorneys handling high-stakes litigation in the health, science and technology industries. In this video, Tom shares what he finds to be the best part of the Boston office. Learn more about Shook’s Boston office: https://lnkd.in/gcqFrhD5 

Shook Partners John Barkett and Bill Martucci will moderate the upcoming firm webinar “The U.S. Supreme Court Term 2023-2024” on Tuesday, September 10. This in-depth retrospective webinar will examine "headliner" decisions of the 2023-2024 Court such as the demise of Chevron deference as well as decisions on arbitration, bankruptcy, copyright damages, whistleblowers, preemption and more.   Register today to join: https://lnkd.in/g-J8bEVp   **** #LegalWebinar #USSupremeCourt

Shook Associate Tom Wynsma focuses his practice on complex business litigation, primarily in the area of environmental and toxic tort law. Practicing law was a life-long goal for Tom, but navigating law school as a first-generation student came with unique challenges. SHOOK: What did it mean to your family for you to pursue your professional career practicing law? TOM: From an early age, my parents always encouraged me to study, get good grades and focus on my education. I was the first person in my immediate family to get a college degree and a white-collar job, so most of my journey has been a new experience for my family. As my career has continued to advance, my family has remained supportive and encouraged me to work hard and remember the work ethic they instilled in me. SHOOK: What was your experience like going to law school with people who perhaps came from families with a long tradition of being lawyers? TOM: Law school classes and finals are very different than college and can be a shock to most students—as they were to me. At times, it can feel like you are at a disadvantage when classmates have family in the legal field that can act as a tutor or give advice on how to study for finals, write an essay exam, issue spot in hypotheticals, etc. After the first year, however, the playing field seems to even out as everybody learns how to study and take finals. The biggest advantage for those who have lawyers in the family seemed to be either getting their foot in the door for interviews or providing helpful advice on what law firms look for on an applicant’s resume (such as law review vs. moot court or judicial externship vs. clerking at a law firm).    For first-generation professionals and students, it can be difficult to find a practicing attorney who is willing to mentor you as a 1L and give you that helpful advice, which may make the difference between getting your foot in the door at your dream employer or spending time unemployed searching for work.  SHOOK: What top three tips would you give to someone starting a legal career or any professional career for the first time? TOM: First, take advantage of every opportunity you have to shadow and learn from experienced attorneys. Having someone as a mentor can be a great way to learn different aspects of being a lawyer that you don’t learn in law school. Second, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s ok that you don’t know everything when you are fresh out of school. It’s better to ask a question and learn to do things the right way than to ask no questions and do things the wrong way. Finally, take your time researching and writing briefs/motions/etc. (as long as the work is timely completed) to make sure you produce the best work product. As a young attorney, this may be the first impression you make on your colleagues, opposing counsel, and the court.  Learn more about Tom: https://lnkd.in/dwd7XAz2 **** #ShookFirstGen

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidance that would support reducing the average individual sodium intake by about 20% of consumer intake levels prior to 2021. Shook Partners Katie Gates Calderon, Lindsey Heinz and James Muehlberger discuss the draft guidance in the latest issue of the Food and Beverage Litigation and Regulatory Update, as well as upcoming FDA public meetings, litigation challenging Florida's cultivated meat ban and more. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gYCwwXAv