Position:
Practice Areas:
Location:
Email:
shay@hwnn.comPhone:
800.568.5330Fax:
Personal Experience
Shay grew up in Alexander City, Alabama and has been practicing law for more than 45 years. After establishing his career as a trial lawyer at another prominent firm, Shay came to Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton LLP as a full partner in 1994.
In all his years of practice, Shay has tried hundreds of complex jury trials throughout Alabama, both in state and federal courts. Although he has handled cases involving almost every area of civil trial litigation and tort liability, he has dedicated his practice primarily to the representation of individuals and families who were victims of medical malpractice and healthcare negligence. Shay has been the recipient of numerous record million/multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements throughout most of Alabama. During the course of his career, he has obtained several hundred Million/Multi-Million Dollar jury verdicts and settlements. In 2022, Shay received one of the top 20 largest verdicts in the United States – $21,000,000 in a medical malpractice case.
For Shay, the personal relationship he develops with his clients is just as important as their professional relationship, and he believes that gaining his clients’ trust and friendship ultimately helps him serve their needs even better.
Shay is deeply dedicated to serving the Birmingham community. For years, he has volunteered alongside his wife, Colleen, at The Red Barn, which provides equestrian therapy for special needs children as well as others with disabilities and special circumstances.
Education
Shay worked his way through college and law school. He attended Alexander City Junior College where he was elected president of the Student Government Association and was named the “Most Outstanding Student.” He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1973 and received his law degree in 1976 from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was inducted into the International Legal Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi.
- University of Alabama (1973)
- Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (1976)
Notable Work
In all his years of practice, Shay has tried hundreds of complex jury trials throughout Alabama, both in state and federal courts. Shay has been the recipient of numerous record million/multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements throughout Alabama.
During more than forty-five years of practice, Shay has received nearly 40 Million/Multi-Million Dollar jury verdicts and hundreds of Million/Multi-Million Dollar verdicts and settlements.
In 2022, Shay received one of the top 20 largest verdicts in the United States – $21,000,000 in a medical malpractice case.
Admitted
- Alabama (1976)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
- United States Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States Supreme Court
Affiliations
- Alabama Association for Justice (Past Board of Governors & Executive Committee)
- Fellow Alabama Law Foundation (Limited to top 1% of lawyers in Alabama)
- American Association for Justice
- Advocate American Board of Trial Advocates (Past President Alabama Chapter)
- SEABOTA Member
- Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers (Limited to top 1% of lawyers in United States)
- Fellow International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Limited to 500 members worldwide)
- Southern Trial Lawyers Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- National Trial Lawyers Association
- Birmingham Bar Association (Past President, 2000)
- Legal Aid Society and Fellow of the Birmingham Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow of the Birmingham Bar Foundation
- American Bar Association
- Fellow Roscoe Pound Institute
- Fellow of the International Society of Lawyers for Public Service
- Senior Counsel Member The College of Master Advocates & Barristers
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Tier 1 Trial Lawyer Chambers United States America
- Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Consumer Lawyers
- Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America
- Lawdragon Hall of Fame Inductee Leading Lawyers of America
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America (1999-Present) Recognized for work in:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury – Plaintiffs
- Products Liability – Plaintiffs
- Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for:
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Birmingham (2021)
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Birmingham (2016)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Birmingham (2015)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Birmingham (2013)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Birmingham (2011)
- Mid-South Super Lawyers (2008-Present) Top 50 (2016- Present)
- Benchmark State Litigation Star
- Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers “Tier 1”
- AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (Highest rating given for legal ability and ethics by peers and judiciary)
- “Top Litigator” by Lawdragon
- “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” by American Trial Lawyers Association and National Trial Lawyers Association
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals
- Who’s Who in the World
- “Top Flight Attorney” by B-Metro Magazine
- “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” in America by Lawdragon
- Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America
- Lawdragon Hall of Fame Inductee Leading Lawyers in America
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (Limited to top 1% of lawyers in America)
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Limited to 500 members worldwide)
- Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates (Past President – Alabama Chapter)
- 2024 Corporate International Global Awards :
- Medical Malpractice – Lawyer of the Year in Alabama 2024
- Personal Injury Litigation – Lawyer of the Year in Alabama 2024
- Product Liability Litigation – Lawyer of the Year in Alabama 2024