Robert L. Shannon

Bobby Shannon is a national trial lawyer who 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 parachuted into more than 250 matters shortly before trial was set to begin.

Bobby has represented clients in matters involving exposure in the billions of dollars. Through his work on bet-the-company litigation, Bobby has built a national reputation for his skills in litigation strategy and crisis management. He has experience in commercial and contract disputes, cybersecurity, aviation, product liability, mass torts, professional liability, trucking and banking, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, construction, and other high-stakes matters. Bobby’s experience as a trial lawyer is bolstered by decades of service in the U.S. Air Force, where his work included national security issues, cybersecurity matters, and overseeing senior-level internal investigations as a senior Air Force inspector general.

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 with the rank of major general after 35 years of military service, including many years when he served while maintaining his legal practice. During his military career, Bobby had 18 deployments in support of combat and contingency operations to 30 countries. Prior to his retirement, he served concurrently as the assistant to the commander, 25th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio and as mobilization assistant to the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force (A2) for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance at the Pentagon. Bobby served as a senior leader in various roles, including as a member of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Reserve Military Intelligence Committee, Senior Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Officer Council, Cyber General Officer Advisory Council, a member of the U.S. Cyber Command's Reserve Summit, 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, the Steering Committee for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 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 chairman 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.

• The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2020–2024)
• Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award, University System of Georgia Foundation (2022)

• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Litigation Counsel of America

• "How to Bounce Back After a Big Loss," Trucking Industry Defense Association Virtual Annual Seminar (October 20, 2020)