Overview
Robert "Bobby" Shannon is a national trial lawyer with deep experience in cybersecurity matters bolstered by his military career. Bobby works with corporations on cybersecurity strategic planning, legal compliance, threat analytics, incident response, and training and education. He has extensive experience working on cyber policy development, intelligence, protection, and incident response at the senior executive level with both private and public sector partners as well as federal agencies. In addition, Bobby has developed cyber intelligence sharing agreements and assists with investigations after a breach. He has spoken around the country to diverse organizations on cybersecurity strategies.
As a U.S. Air Force major general in his final assignment, Bobby was dual-hatted as assistant to the commander 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (now the 16th Air Force, known as an information warfare numbered air force) and as mobilization assistant to the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Bobby also served as a senior leader in various capacities, including as a member of the Cyber General Officer Advisory Council and as a member of the U.S. Cyber Command's Reserve Summit. He participated in the development of national security policy and strategic initiatives as they related to the military’s role in offensive and defense cyber operations as well as cyber network exploitation. He completed Air Force courses in cyber strategy and operations for senior leaders. He completed the Joint Task Force Commanders Training Course and the Defense Support to Civil Authorities Executive Course. He participated in numerous classified briefings on global cyber offensive and defensive operations and capabilities of nation-states.
In his legal practice, Bobby handles a broad spectrum of high-profile and complex matters. He has tried more than 78 cases to verdict and has served as lead or co-lead counsel in a variety of matters, including multidistrict litigation and class actions, in federal and state courts in 24 states and Puerto Rico. Bobby has represented clients in matters involving exposure in the billions of dollars. Additionally, as a go-to trial lawyer, Bobby has parachuted into more than 250 matters shortly before trial was set to begin. Through his work on bet-the-company litigation, Bobby has built a national reputation for his skills in litigation strategy and crisis management. In addition to cybersecurity, he has experience in commercial and contract disputes, aviation, product liability, mass torts, professional liability, trucking and banking, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, construction, and other high-stakes matters.
Bobby served on active duty for seven years, where he flew with the 552nd AWACS Wing. He transferred to the Air National Guard to attend law school. Bobby retired from the Air Force in 2017 after 35 years of military service, including many years when he served while maintaining his legal practice. He accumulated more than 2,700 hours of flying time and was awarded three air medals. He is a master air battle manager. During his military career, Bobby had 18 deployments in support of combat and contingency operations to 30 countries. Prior to his retirement, he served within the U.S. Intelligence Community. He was a member of the AF Senior Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Officer Steering Committee, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Senior Reserve Military Intelligence Steering Committee, and the Air National Guard’s Senior Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Steering Committee. He also served as vice chair of the Air National Guard’s Strategic Planning System Steering Committee, a charter member of the Air National Guard’s Joint Diversity Executive Council, and a member of the Secretary of the Air Force's Policy Committee.
Through his unique dual career, Bobby has met people from all walks of life and is driven by a desire to serve. He is dedicated to serving his community through pro bono work and community leadership. Bobby has contributed to the Truancy Intervention Project, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s Saturday Lawyer Program, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and an Atlanta shelter for women who suffered from domestic violence.
Bobby completed the Leadership in Crises course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and is recognized in the Atlanta Business League’s Legends Hall of Fame. He served on the board of governors and as co-chair of the diversity steering committee for the State Bar of Georgia; as a representative on the Law School Association Council; as president of the Gate City Bar Association, the oldest Black bar association in Georgia; and as president of the Atlanta Business League, which serves Atlanta’s Black business community. Bobby also served as a special assistant administrative law judge in the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings and as an adjunct professor at Georgia State University.
Bobby has been featured in news coverage about his trial career and military service in numerous media outlets, including CNN, 60 Minutes, Fox News, The New York Times, Washington Post, and Christian Science Monitor.