Patrick W. Shea

Patrick W. Shea

Park Avenue, New York
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 multiparty cases and class actions.
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Articles

Articles by Patrick W. Shea

The Legal Architect: A Comprehensive Analysis of Brian Steel’s Jurisprudence, Strategy, and Cultural Impact

The Legal Architect: A Comprehensive Analysis of Brian Steel’s Jurisprudence, Strategy, and Cultural Impact

The contemporary American legal landscape, particularly within the distinct jurisprudential climate of the South, has been significantly shaped by a select cadre of defense attorneys capable of navigating the intersection of high-profile celebrity, complex racketeering statutes, and intense media scrutiny. Among these legal practitioners, Brian Steel has emerged as a singular figure, defined not merely by his client list—which includes Grammy-winning artists, NBA athletes, and elected officials—but by a rigorous, almost ascetic devotion to procedural due process and appellate preservation. This report provides an exhaustive analysis of Brian Steel’s career, methodology, and impact on criminal law. While the initial inquiry sought a general overview suitable for a secondary school audience, the depth of Steel's work—spanning federal sex trafficking defense, state-level RICO dismantling, and public corruption litigation—demands a forensic, expert-level examination. Steel’s career serves as a case study in the evolution of modern criminal defense, particularly regarding the weaponization of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the erosion of attorney-client privilege. The following analysis synthesizes data from court transcripts, appellate decisions, and legal commentary to deconstruct Steel’s most pivotal cases: the State of Georgia v. Jeffery Williams (YSL), United States v. Sean Combs, State v. Jackie Johnson, and the resentencing saga of Javaris Crittenton. Through these case studies, the report illuminates Steel’s signature strategy: a "total war" approach to litigation where the attorney places his own liberty at risk to preserve the constitutional rights of the accused, a tactic that has cemented his status as a "lawyer’s lawyer" and a cultural icon within the hip-hop community.

18 min read
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in California: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in California: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you or a family member has been in a car accident, you have probably already seen the billboards. They are everywhere—on the sides of buses, on freeway signs, and all over the internet. They all promise the same thing: "We win big money!" But here is the truth: finding the best lawyer is not about picking the one with the loudest commercials. It requires a little bit of homework. California law can be complicated, especially regarding deadlines and fees. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find a lawyer who will actually fight for you, how to avoid "mills" that just want a quick buck, and what you need to know about the law.

6 min read