Biography

Sunny Shapiro specializes in representing clients in federal and state court on complex matters involving mass toxic tort, products liability and professional liability defense.  Her clients include corporations, public utilities, industrial and commercial contractors, manufacturers/suppliers, as well as, legal, insurance and financial industry professionals.   

Ms. Shapiro has defended products liability cases alleging catastrophic personal injury and consumer exposures to asbestos and silica.  She has also worked closely with in-house counsel to develop comprehensive and cost effective national strategies to respond to all phases of litigation. She has advised and represented attorneys, insurance agents and financial industry professionals in malpractice and suitability claims.  With extensive experience in discovery, depositions, summary judgment and trial, Ms. Shapiro has directed all phases of litigation. 

Ms. Shapiro has a background in alternative dispute resolution, having handled countless settlement conferences and informal negotiations.  She has also successfully represented clients at mediation, FINRA arbitrations and negotiated favorable settlements in both individual cases and global resolutions of multiple actions. 

Before joining Sedgwick, Ms. Shapiro interned in the Environment and Natural Resources section of the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General Summer Honors Program in 2001 working on matters involving CEQA, water quality and air pollution.  She was then chosen for a prestigious year-long internship in the Antitrust section of the California Department of Justice Attorney General's Office from 2001 to 2002.

Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments

Ms. Shapiro is a member of the State Bar of California and also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court (N.D. Cal.). She is a member of the American Bar Association, the San Francisco Bar Association and the USF Women Lawyers Committee.

Presentations & Publications

• Panelist, “Cultural and Generational Differences in Negotiations,” California Women Lawyers and JAMS (October 2010).
• Co-author, "Who Decides Strategy: Lawyer or Client?" California Lawyer (October 2009)
• Co-author, "Lower the Asbestos Burden on State Courts," The Recorder (July 24, 2009)
• Co-author, "Cross-Sector Product Liability in a DTC Marketplace," BIOMEDevice Forum Official Conference Guide (October 2007)
• Co-author, "Asbestos Litigation in California:  Can it Change for the Better?," Pepperdine Law Review, Volume 34, Number 4 (2007)
• Co-author, "Financial Institutions Need to Know Elderly Customers," Community Banker, (January 2006)