Member
Litigation
J.D. West Virginia University
B.A. West Virginia University
Office:
Bridgeport, WV
(304) 933-8119
Biography
Shawn Morgan is the lawyer you want on your team in the face of a stressful, urgent, or critical situation. Shawn focuses on resolving crises for clients in the areas of cybersecurity, complex civil litigation, internal investigations, white collar defense, and government compliance. A trial lawyer at heart, she has significant experience in the courtroom, having tried dozens of cases for clients and arguing several matters on appeal. Shawn has tried more than 30 cases to verdict in state and federal courts, including those involving white collar crimes, drug and violent crimes, and the defense of professional malpractice claims.
Prior to joining Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in 2015, she had a lengthy career in public service: 13 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia, preceded by four years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Irene M. Keeley. She is experienced in handling government and regulatory investigations and, as part of her leadership of the firm’s White Collar Defense Team, she frequently advises clients concerning Grand Jury and administrative subpoena responses. She investigated cybersecurity breaches while a prosecutor and assists clients in cybersecurity planning, responding to data security incidents, and making necessary notifications. Shawn also is a member of the Environment, Social, Governance ("ESG") group, a group of attorneys with experience and knowledge about how ESG impacts all aspects of business.
Beyond her work with clients, within Steptoe & Johnson, Shawn is a respected and sought after colleague and serves on the firm’s Emergency Response Team and is the Office Managing Member of the firm’s Bridgeport, West Virginia office. Shawn also enjoys the opportunity to serve her community by volunteering with the Bridgeport Chiefs 4-H Club, and serving as an appointed member of the Bridgeport Police Civil Service Commission, and on the Board of Harrison County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Memberships & Awards
Professional
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Litigation: General Commercial (2022)Fourth Circuit Judicial ConferenceVice-President, NDWV Chapter, Federal Bar AssociationFourth Circuit Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Appellate Panel Committee - Northern District of West Virginia MemberPresident, Harrison County Bar Association, 2017United States Attorney's Award Recipient as Outstanding NDWV EmployeeATF Honor Award, National Award Recipient, 2010
Key Experience
Served as breach counsel for higher education, health care, manufacturing, and retail clients
Investigated data security incidents for clients, including coordination with insurers, retention of experts, interaction with governmental and regulatory authorities, preparation of post-incident reports, and advising clients regarding post-incident remediation
Won jury verdict on behalf of chemical manufacturer against corporate executive in breach of confidentiality/duty of loyalty and misappropriation of trade secrets case
Know-How
Alert
Webcast
Newsletter
Work Experience
2015 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
2014-2015 Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2010-2014 Criminal Chief/Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2008-2010 Branch Supervisor/Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2002-2008 Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
1997-2002 Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. Irene M. Keeley, U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia
1994-1997 Robinson & McElwee
2014-2015 Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2010-2014 Criminal Chief/Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2008-2010 Branch Supervisor/Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
2002-2008 Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office
1997-2002 Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. Irene M. Keeley, U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia
1994-1997 Robinson & McElwee
Speaking Engagements
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Conference/Conference Co-Chair, Panelist, and Moderator: 2022 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Conference, Central for American and International Law, Plano, TX, September 8-9, 2022Emergency Response Presentation: “Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness Considerations for the Chemical Manufacturing Industry” (Presentation with Richard Lewis), Chemical & Specialties Management Council, Douglas, GA, February 18, 2022Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law/Conference Co-Chair: 2021 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Conference, Center for American and International Law, Plano, TX (Virtual), September 9-10, 2021Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law/Conference Co-Chair: 2020 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Conference, Center for American and International Law, Plano, TX, September 9-10, 2020Cybersecurity and Crisis Response Presentation: “Crisis Management: Responding to a Data Breach,” (Tabletop Exercise Facilitator), Center for American and International Law, Plano, TX, September 12, 2019Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law/Conference Co-Chair and Panel Moderator: 2019 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Conference, Center for American and International Law, Plano, TX, September 10-11, 2019Cybersecurity Presentation: “Top 5 (or 10) Things to Do After a Data Breach,” West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Lewisburg, WV, June 19, 2019Ethics Presentation: “Ethical Considerations for State Government Lawyers, ” Office of the West Virginia Attorney General, South Charleston, WV, June 12, 2019Cybersecurity Presentation: “Cyber Insurance: Are You and Your Clients Adequately Covered?” (Presentation with Kevin Connoley), WVCLE, Charleston, WV, June 3, 2019Cybersecurity Presentation: “Emerging Cybersecurity Trends and Considerations for Corporate Counsel” (with CIO Mark Combs and panelists from AIG and WillisTowersWatson), Association of Corporate Counsel, Louisville, KY, October 18, 2018Cybersecurity and Crisis Response Presentation: “Are You Prepared for a Crisis?" (Presentation and Tabletop Exercise, with Monté Williams), Southern Gas Association Conference, Tampa, FL, July 31, 2018Cybersecurity and Crisis Response Presentation: “Internal Controls and Compliance” (with Monté Williams), 2018 Essential Cybersecurity Law, Houston, TX, July 25, 2018Cybersecurity and Crisis Response Presentation: “Protecting Assets from Technology Attacks and Best Practices for Crisis Management” (with Monté Williams), Richmond, VA, April 24, 2018Emergency Response Presentation: "How to Manage a Crisis - Best Practices" (with Tammie Alexander), WV EXPO Conference, Charleston, WV, March 22, 2018Emergency Response Presentation: "How to Manage a Crisis - Best Practices" (with Monte Williams), Pennsylvania TTSTEPS Conference, Williamsport, PA, February 21, 2018Compliance Presentation: “Corporate Compliance: Roles, Responsibilities and Investigations” (with Fred Williams and Kristen Andrews-Wilson), West Virginia Healthcare Financial Management Association, Charleston, WV, January 11, 2018Compliance Presentation: “Financial Transaction Basics for Healthcare Providers” (with Fred Williams and Kristen Andrews-Wilson), West Virginia Healthcare Financial Management Association, Charleston, WV, January 11, 2018Cybersecurity Presentation: “Security and Cybersecurity Issues in the Shale Plays: How Will You Respond?”, 8th Law of Shale Plays Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, September 6, 2017Cybersecurity Presentation: “Protecting Assets Downstream of Meter,” Southern Gas Association Operating Conference, Atlanta, GA, July 18, 2017“Current Professional and Personal Issues in Cybersecurity,” Harrison County Bar Association, Bridgeport, WV, May 2017“Planning Ahead: Provisions Your Response Plan Should Have,” Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Law Conference, Plano, TX, January 2017“Are You Cyber Secure?” 2016 Women & Technology WV Conference, Canaan Valley, WV, October 2016"Individual Liability and Corporate Liability Under the Park Doctrine" - 2016 Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) Convergence, San Jose, CA, September 2016“Panel Discussion on Criminal Justice System,” Leadership West Virginia, July 2016“The Cybersecurity Act and Other ‘Statutes in the Weeds’” West Virginia University CLE Program, April 2016"Federal Discovery Obligations," West Virginia State Police, 2014"Update on Federal Criminal Law," West Virginia Narcotics Officers Association, 2012"Firearms Trafficking in Drug Cases," National Project Safe Neighborhoods Conference, 2010"Impact of United States v. Hayes," National NICS Users Conference, 2009"Effective Use of Courtroom Technology in Trials," West Virginia University CLE Program, 2008PUBLICATIONS"Ransomware: Fulfilling New Federal Compliance Obligations and Assessing Preparedness to Thwart or Respond to Attacks" Energy Law Advisor, August 2021