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John A. Shope Partner Boston 617 832 1233 direct 617 832 7000 fax Email Complex commercial litigation, particularly consumer class action litigation, is the primary focus of John Shope’s dispute resolution practice, in which he defends national corporations such as American Honda, Dell Computer, Fidelity Investments, Wal-Mart and Enterprise Rent-a-Car. John’s energy industry litigation is on behalf of a wide range of public and private industry clients. He has handled constitutional challenges to the deregulation and taxation of electric utilities, and represents both independent power producers and public utilities in energy-related disputes resolved through litigation and commercial arbitration. Corporate governance is a third main area of John’s practice. He represents shareholders, directors, and management in claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and violation of the state and federal securities laws in the Delaware Court of Chancery and other courts. As a Special Assistant District Attorney, John conducted one dozen criminal jury trials. He has won civil fraud trials in both state and federal court as well as state and federal appeals. Following law school graduation, John served as Law clerk to U.S. District Judge José A. Cabranes. Bars and Court Admissions Massachusetts Connecticut Supreme Court of the United States U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut Representative Experience The following is a brief summary of John's experience and accomplishments: Defeated class action by enforcing individual arbitration clause Obtained dismissal of consumer class action in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court based on argument for change in governing law. Represented a generation company in a constitutional challenge to taxation of hydroelectric generating units Obtained $2 million arbitration award from the American Arbitration Association Centre for International Dispute Resolution over mismanagement of a power plant in Guyana Successfully tried defense of a suit seeking to invalidate a power purchase agreement valued in excess of $40 million due to long term gas supply restructurings Arbitrated successor gas indices in power purchase agreement Represented the State of New Hampshire in a constitutional challenge to the deregulation of the electric utility industry professional / civic involvement New England Legal Foundation, Advisory Board Member Frank J. Murray Inn of Court, Board Member and Past President Class Action Committee, Boston Bar Association, Member and Past Co-Chair Northeast Energy and Commerce Association, Member Energy Bar Association, Member Bay Village Neighborhood Association, Board Member and Past President Friends of Elliot Norton Park, Board Member Union Club of Boston, Member SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES Class Actions and the Bankruptcy Code (Defense Research Institute, August 2002) publications Trends in Massachusetts Class Actions (Boston Bar Association 2003) Class Action Practice in Massachusetts State and Federal Court (MCLE 2001) | 