Retired Judge Booker T. Shaw is a partner in the Business Litigation Practice Group at Thompson Coburn, where he brings clients valuable insight and perspective gained from his more than 25 years on the bench. His knowledge of current judicial thinking at the trial and appellate levels on a wide range of issues enhances the Business Litigation Group’s ability to argue a client’s case more persuasively and to craft the most effective strategy.
Judge Shaw has launched his Alternative Dispute Resolution practice with Thompson Coburn, and he is part of the St. Louis community. He grew up in the Ville neighborhood and attended St. Louis Public Schools: Simmons Grade School, Turner Middle and Sumner High School.Â
He continues to help young minorities aspire to be successful. He mentors those of all ages from grade school children, college, law students and young lawyers. He is making a difference by being a resource, mentor and role model.
Judge Shaw’s unique judicial background also brings tremendous value to Alternative Dispute Resolution proceedings. As a certified mediator, Judge Shaw’s decades of experience allow him to critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a broad range of claims, look critically at all facts and defenses, and lead parties to a successful resolution.
At the trial court level, Judge Shaw’s patient and thoughtful approach enabled him to facilitate the settlement of many difficult and complex cases. Now his talents for problem solving and conflict resolution offer parties the opportunity to reach mutually beneficial solutions.
Judge Shaw received Mediator Certification at the highly regarded Center for Dispute Resolution at the University of Missouri. He is an approved mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis and the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.
Judge Shaw served on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District for seven years, including one year as chief judge. While on the appellate bench, he participated in more than 1,000 cases and authored 141 appellate opinions on a variety of cases, from medical negligence and nuisance/sovereign immunity to commercial transactions, contracts, and personal injury. He also served as a Special Visiting Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court.
As a former trial judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit, from 1983 until 2002, Judge Shaw presided over more than 500 trials.
Prior to his judicial posts, Judge Shaw worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, where he tried more than 50 criminal cases to verdict before a jury, securing guilty verdicts in all but two trials.
In addition to his decades of public service as a distinguished jurist, Judge Shaw continues to give back to the legal profession. He has taught trial advocacy at Washington University School of Law since 1995 and served as an instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy since 1999. He also frequently speaks at Missouri Bar continuing legal education programs.
