Shawn is 56 years old, and a native of San Diego, California.
He holds an undergraduate degree (BA) from the University of California, San Diego in Chinese Studies with a concentration in Pacific trade.Shawn was admitted to practice law in California in November 2000.
Until 2009, he maintained an active trial practice concentrating on business dispute litigation, shareholder dispute litigation, and Chapter 11 restructuring.
In 2009, Shawn developed and interest in protecting the civil rights of children and parents who become involved with government child protection agencies.Shawn has received recognition by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association as a "Top Gun" trial attorney in the area of Civil Rights for his work in the land mark parental rights case: Deanna Fogarty-Hardwick v.
Orange County Social Services, et al.
He also received the Consumer Attorney's of California "Street Fighter of The Year" award for the same case.
In 2014 Shawn was nominated again for the Consumer Attorney's of California "Street Fighter of The Year" award for his successful work in Arce v.
County of Los Angeles et al., which led to a published decision changing the law regarding unwarranted seizures of children and how immunity is applied to private medical doctors who work together with child protection workers.
The case also led to California's adoption of Civil Jury Instruction 3051.
In 2018, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego awarded Shawn the "Outstanding Trial Attorney" for his work in Duval v.
County of Los Angeles et al.
Which resulted in a $6million judgement in favor of a mother who's 15 month old baby was seized without a warrant or exigent circumstances.
During the Covid lock downs, while all the Courts were shuttered, Shawn spent his spare time taking, and passing, the Washington and Arizona Bar exams. He is now also admitted to practice in the State of Washington and will soon be admitted to practice in Arizona.