Overview
Shawn Rabin is one of the nation’s most accomplished trial lawyers, having secured over $1.5 billion in verdicts and awards across the country in the last few years alone. Rabin personally directs every phase of litigation—from pre-suit strategy through jury selection and verdict—pairing meticulous preparation with a commanding courtroom presence. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants, and his clients include Fortune 500 corporations, private equity and hedge funds, institutional investors, founders, and high-profile individuals facing complex commercial disputes and class actions.
With a proven track record in courtrooms from San Francisco to San Juan, Rabin combines elite trial skills with incisive judgment, giving clients a decisive advantage both inside and outside the courtroom. He serves not only as a formidable advocate at trial, but as a trusted advisor who navigates high-stakes challenges long before they ever reach a courthouse—a rare combination that has made him the first call for the nation’s biggest legal battles
Rabin’s clients put it best:
“Shawn has a brilliant intellect and is always a pleasure to work with. Judges and juries love him.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2024 rankings
“His trial work is extraordinary, just exhilaratingly brilliant to watch during trial.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2022 rankings
“Shawn Rabin is ‘among the very best litigators I work with …. He’s extremely hard-working, very responsive and a very reliable partner.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2020 rankings
LANDMARK WINS
- Won a $1.07 billion award for Everly Health in a breach of contract and Lanham Act arbitration. As first-chair, Rabin handled the key direct and cross-examinations and closing argument. Coverage of the lawsuit can be accessed here.
- Won a $305 million jury verdict for 16 survivors of the Santiam Canyon fires in Oregon. As first-chair, Rabin delivered both opening and closing arguments. Coverage of the lawsuit can be accessed here.
- Won a $59.6 million award for the former CEO of RB Global after the company refused to honor its compensation commitment. As first-chair, Rabin delivered opening statements and led key cross-examinations.
- Won a $425 million jury verdict holding Google liable for collecting millions of users’ internet and application activity, even when users turned Google’s “Web & App Activity” button off. Coverage of the lawsuit can be accessed via CNBC, CBS. and BBC among other outlets.
- Represented WeWork founder Adam Neumann against SoftBank after it withdrew its offer to buy up to $3 billion in WeWork stock from Neumann and other shareholders. Weeks before trial, the case settled. The New York Times’ coverage can be accessed here.
- Resolved the landmark Waymo v. Uber case—the “Tech Trial of the Century”—that pitted Google’s self-driving car unit against Uber. Uber hired Rabin just months before trial in this trade secret theft case. Although Waymo sought nearly $2 billion in damages, Rabin’s team successfully excluded Waymo’s damages experts. The case settled two days before Rabin’s cross-examination of star witness Anthony Levandowski.
- Won a verdict valued at $160 million for General Electric in a contract dispute with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority over how many years an investment contract required GE to pay interest.
- Represented Match.com in the first major New York Commercial Division jury trial after COVID-19 began, defending against Tinder founders’ earn-out claims. Rabin and his team navigated weeks of trial amid pandemic restrictions in a case widely covered by media. Read more in New York Magazine.
- Secured complete trial victory and Delaware Supreme Court affirmance for former employees of private equity firm Court Square accused of violating non-compete agreements and misusing confidential documents. After a three-day trial, Chancellor McCormick ruled for Rabin’s clients on all issues and awarded all requested damages plus interest. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed in full just two days after it heard oral argument.
- Won a constitutional challenge for Walmart. After a lengthy bench trial, the District of Puerto Rico invalidated—on Dormant Commerce and Equal Protection grounds—a Puerto Rico tax law in a decision that made front-page news nationwide. The First Circuit—where Rabin served as a law clerk—unanimously affirmed.
- Represented Jerry Moyes against the National Hockey League in a legal battle over the Phoenix Coyotes—securing a ruling that significantly reduced the $140 million in potential damages the NHL sought against Moyes.
- Secured a complete defense victoryfor The Rawlings Company in a high-stakes, three-week jury trial in Oldham County, Kentucky—one of the first wage-and-hour class actions ever tried in Kentucky.
“We’d be lost without Shawn.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2021 rankings
“He is just technically exceptional, strategically impressive, and has the right temperament for dispute.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2023 rankings
“Shawn is among the most intelligent, capable and service-oriented litigators I have ever worked with.”
As quoted in Chambers USA 2024 rankings
PRAISE
Rabin is continually recognized by the legal community for his litigation prowess:
- Chambers USA named Rabin one of New York’s Leading General Commercial Litigators in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
- Lawdragon named Rabin a Legend in 2025, has included him on its list of the 500 Leading Lawyers every year since 2019, has ranked him as a Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer since 2019, has named him among its 500 Leading Litigators since 2023, and, in 2025, it named him among the top 500 plaintiff lawyers globally.
- National Law Journal named Rabin a Trailblazer for Plaintiff-side Litigation (in 2022 and 2018) and Employment Litigation (in 2020).
Perhaps his most distinctive honor: after a major trial victory in Kentucky, the Governor appointed him to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, conferring the title “Colonel Shawn Rabin.”
Rabin is frequently sought by leading publications for commentary on hot legal topics. For Bloomberg News, he wrote Litigation Funding Success Breeds New Set of Ethical Issues, discussing the rising popularity of litigation funding and proposing solutions to its pitfalls.
Notable Representations
- In re Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation (D. N.J.) Appointed by the Court to serve as a co-chair of the Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel of Direct Purchasers in one of the largest direct purchaser class actions in the country. The case alleges that Apple structures its smart devices and app store to illegally force consumers to use its products.
- In re MultiPlan Health Insurance Provider Litigation (N.D. Ill.) Appointed by the Court to serve as interim co-lead counsel for the direct purchaser class of medical providers who accuse MultiPlan and large insurers of colluding to systematically underpay out-of-network healthcare providers.
- In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ill.) Represents Walmart in this large antitrust action that alleges that the Defendants conspired to fix the prices of broiler chickens—including by coordinated supply restrictions, sharing competitively sensitive price and production information, and manipulating broiler prices.
- In re Universal Service Fund (D. Kan.) Achieved a key victory for class of residential and business customers against the major telecommunications companies, including Sprint and AT&T, by writing the winning briefs in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The claims against AT&T eventually proceeded to a jury trial, where a Susman team won a favorable jury verdict—coverage available here.
- In re Wellbutrin SR Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Pa.) Represented large health insurers in an antitrust case involving the antidepressant Wellbutrin SR. Rabin’s clients alleged that GlaxoSmithKline monopolized the market for Wellbutrin SR and prevented cheaper generic versions from competing in the market.
- In re Tricor Antitrust Litigation (D. Del.) Represented large health insurers in an antitrust case involving the cholesterol drug Tricor. Rabin’s clients alleged that Abbott Laboratories and Fournier Industrie et Sante monopolized the market for Tricor and its generic equivalents, then paid their competitors to refrain from introducing less expensive generic versions of the drug.
- In re PacifiCorp (Ore.) Won over $400 million across three jury verdicts for wildfire survivors against PacifiCorp, the Oregon utility found liable for starting the 2020 Labor Day fires. Read more here and here.
- Rodriguez v. Google (N.D. Cal.) Won a $425 million jury verdict for millions of plaintiffs alleging Google collects users’ internet and application data even when users turn the “Web & App Activity” button off. Read more.
- In re Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation (D. N.J.) Appointed by the Court to serve as a co-chair of the Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel of Direct Purchasers in one of the largest direct purchaser class actions in the country. The case alleges that Apple structures its smart devices and app store to illegally force consumers to use its products.
- In re MultiPlan Health Insurance Provider Litigation (N.D. Ill.) Appointed by the Court to serve as interim co-lead counsel for the direct purchaser class of medical providers who accuse MultiPlan and large insurers of colluding to systematically underpay out-of-network healthcare providers.
- Brown v. Google (N.D. Cal.) Appointed to serve as co-lead class counsel representing users who alleged that Google secretly tracked the internet use of millions of people when they used Google’s Incognito mode.
- Johnston v. Rawlings (Kentucky State Ct.) Won a defense verdict for The Rawlings Company in a class action challenging overtime-exemption classifications. During the three-week trial, Rabin picked the jury, examined the company’s key witnesses—including its top executive—and cross-examined the plaintiffs’ witnesses. This complete victory was one of the first wage-and-hour class actions tried in Kentucky. Featured in the American Lawyer and Law360.
- Braun v. Walmart Stores (Minnesota State Ct.) Over nearly three months of trial, Rabin led Walmart’s defense against a wage-and-hour class action in Minnesota, where he examined more than a dozen fact and expert witnesses on both direct and cross. His cross-examination of the first witness was distributed by news services worldwide.
- In re Universal Service Fund (D. Kan.) Achieved a key victory for a class of residential and business customers against the major telecommunications companies, including Sprint and AT&T by writing the winning briefs in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The claims against AT&T eventually proceeded to a jury trial, where a Susman team won a favorable verdict—coverage available here.
- Meek-Horton v. Trover Solutions (S.D.N.Y) Defended Trover Solutions in a putative class action filed against it and several insurers challenging the legality of placing liens on wrongful death settlements. After extensive briefing and argument, Judge Patterson dismissed every claim, delivering total victory for Rabin’s client. The published decision can be accessed here.
- N.C. State Board of Dental Examiners v. Dental One Partners (North Carolina State Ct.) Served as lead lawyer for Dental One Partners—one of the nation’s largest dental service–management organizations—in a complex, multiparty dispute over whether certain conduct could be classified as the practice of dentistry.
- Johnston v. Rawlings (Kentucky State Ct.) Won a defense verdict for The Rawlings Company in a class action that challenged overtime-exemption classifications. During the three-week trial, Rabin picked the jury, examined the company’s key witnesses—including its top executive—and cross-examined the plaintiffs’ witnesses. The complete victory was one of the first wage-and-hour class actions tried in Kentucky. Featured in the American Lawyer and Law360.
- Braun v. Walmart Stores (Minnesota State Ct.) Over nearly three months of trial, Rabin led Walmart’s defense against a wage-and-hour class action in Minnesota, where he examined more than a dozen fact and expert witnesses on both direct and cross. His cross-examination of the first witness was distributed by news services worldwide.
- Mallon v. Trover Solutions (E.D. Pa.) Served as lead lawyer for Trover Solutions in a putative class action where, rather than litigate class certification, Rabin developed and implemented a strategy that eliminated the named plaintiff’s claims at the outset. The plaintiff appealed to the Third Circuit and lost.
- General Electric Capital v. Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (S.D.N.Y.) Successfully tried a contract case for General Electric, securing a jury verdict worth more than $160 million. Rabin handled the liability experts and cross-examined the defendants’ principal fact witness.
- Swiss Re v. General Electric (N.Y. Supreme Ct. Comm. Div.) Represented GE in a dispute involving an elaborate tax-indemnification agreement stemming from Swiss Re’s $6.8 billion purchase of GE’s reinsurance business in 2005.
- Walmart Puerto Rico v. Zaragoza-Gomez (D. P.R.) Secured a landmark constitutional victory, trying a week-long bench trial in San Juan that struck down a Puerto Rico tax statute on Dormant Commerce and Equal Protection grounds—a ruling that made national front-page news and was affirmed by the First Circuit.
- Bank of New York Mellon v. GE Mortgage Holdings (S.D.N.Y.) Retained as trial counsel by GE Mortgage Holdings on the eve of trial in a nearly $1 billion dispute, Rabin rapidly mastered years of complex litigation history, developed a winning strategy, and filed pre-trial motions that decimated plaintiffs’ case. The case settled for a confidential sum a week before trial.
- Confidential Shareholder Oppression Arbitration. In a shareholder oppression arbitration, Rabin engineered a strategy that maximized their litigation leverage without damaging the company they and their opponents jointly owned. The approach drove the case to arbitration and a favorable confidential settlement.
- Confidential Accounting Dispute. Represented a Fortune 100 company in a high-stakes accounting malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty dispute against a major firm. Before filing suit, both sides presented their cases to a former Texas Supreme Court Justice–a process Rabin led—yielding a favorable settlement after months of negotiation.
- Fandozzi v. RB Global (JAMS) Won a $59.6 million arbitration award for the former CEO of RB Global after the company refused to honor its compensation commitment.
- Neumann v. SoftBank (Del. Ch.) Served as counsel to WeWork founder Adam Neumann in one of the largest individual claims to be litigated this century, after SoftBank reneged on its offer to purchase up to $3 billion in WeWork stock. The case proceeded on an expedited schedule and, on the eve of trial, settled—drawing worldwide media coverage. The New York Times’ coverage can be accessed here.
- Avi Dorfman v. Compass (N.Y. Supreme Ct. Comm. Div.) Represented Avi Dorfman against Compass in a co-founder recognition and compensation dispute. After discovery and appellate wins in the First Department, the case settled for a confidential sum on the eve of trial. Article here.
- Shafi v. Chien (Del. Ch.) Representing Abraham Shafi and other founders and early investors in tech startup In Real Life (IRL) after SoftBank and other defendants improperly seized control of the company and liquidated it without founders’ approval.
- Rad v. IAC (N.Y. Supreme Ct. Comm. Div.) Hired shortly before trial to try the first major New York Commercial Division jury trial after COVID-19 began. Filed by Tinder co-founder Sean Rad and other early founders, the case was tried for three weeks before a New York jury with media live streaming—then settled days before closing arguments.
- Everly Health v. Walgreens (D. Del. & AAA) Won a $1.07 billion arbitration award for Everly Health in a Lanham Act and breach of contract case. Rabin handled the key examinations and closing argument. The District of Delaware denied Walgreen’s petition to vacate and confirmed the award.
- Waymo v. Uber (N.D. Cal.) Hired months before trial to represent Uber against Google/Waymo. Although Waymo sought nearly $2 billion in damages, Rabin’s team successfully excluded all of Waymo’s damages experts. The case settled two days before Rabin’s cross-examination of the star witness Anthony Levandowski.
- C2 Communications v. Telecom Companies (E.D. Tex.) Tried a VoIP patent infringement case before the Honorable Judge T. John Ward and a jury for client C2 Communications against the nation’s largest telecommunication carriers. The case settled after three days of trial—following the close of C2’s case-in-chief and Rabin’s direct examination of the patent’s owner and C2’s damages expert.
- Scott v. Zimmer (D. Del. & AAA) Represented a world-renowned surgeon in federal court and arbitration against a medical-device manufacturer. Rabin joined the patent team just weeks before trial to assist prior counsel. Serving as lead counsel in the arbitrations, Rabin formulated strategy, took key depositions, and handled most examinations. The lawsuits settled after the confidential
- Virtual Dining Concepts v. MrBeast (N.Y. Supreme Ct. Comm. Div.) Representing Virtual Dining Concepts against Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, for his failure to promote and, ultimately, disparaging the MrBeast Burger brand.
- Davidow v. Seidman (Delaware Superior Court) Secured an $18 million settlement for Dov Seidman, resolving a closely watched defamation action on the eve of trial. The case arose from false and damaging statements by Activision founder Howard Marks in a high-profile corporate-governance dispute. Read more.
- Dan Snyder (Washington Commanders) Represented Dan Snyder, former owner of the Washington Commanders, on issues involving the team’s sale, which closed at $6.05 billion.
- John Bowlen (Denver Broncos) Represented John Bowlen, former minority owner of the Denver Broncos, on issues involving the team’s sale, which closed at $4.65 billion.
- Excel Sports Management v. WME Sports (S.D.N.Y. & Arbitration) Represented Excel Sports Management after two agents departed to lead a competing agency. Initially filed in the Southern District of New York, the dispute concluded in a confidential arbitration.
- National Hockey League v. Moyes (D. Ariz.) Secured a landmark win for Jerry Moyes and his family against the NHL, which had sought over $140 million arising from their Phoenix Coyotes ownership. Rabin engineered a multi-step venue strategy—moving the case from New York state to federal court, then to Arizona, then to bankruptcy court—then took key depositions and won summary judgment eliminating most of the NHL’s claims. Read more.
- Mei v. New Mighty U.S. Trust (D.D.C.) Represented the estate of Yueh-Lan Wang, widow of Y.C. Wang, alleging she was wrongfully deprived of her share of marital assets under both Taiwanese and D.C. law. The case was favorably resolved in a confidential settlement.
- W. Scripps Trust Litigation (Ohio Probate Ct.) Represented E.W. Scripps heirs challenging distributions under E.W. Scripps’ will. After briefing and argument, the case resolved on terms acceptable to all remaining heirs.
- Cecil-Jordan v. DeGroote (Texas Probate Ct.) Defended a widow in a multimillion dollar will contest filed by her deceased husband’s children. After taking key depositions, winning rulings before the Probate Court, and devising a strategy to prove the deceased’s mental capacity, Rabin positioned the case for a confidential settlement before trial.
- Goldberg v. Fieldale Farms (Georgia State Ct.) Represented the daughter of a major poultry-company founder after she was frozen out of her shareholder rights following her father’s death. After several rounds of litigation, Rabin negotiated a settlement that resolved all claims.
- Krishna v. Pzena Investment Management (Del. Ch.) Represented Pzena Investment Management in a dispute over whether an equity holder could convert private shares ahead of Pzena’s $795 million go-private transaction. The Court dismissed the case entirely, concluding that Pzena had not breached either the plain language of the governing agreement or the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
- Bertrand v. Court Square (Del. Ch.) Represented former employees of private equity firm Court Square accused of violating their noncompete agreements and misusing confidential documents. After a three-day trial, Chancellor McCormick ruled for Rabin’s clients on all issues and awarded their full damages plus interest. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed in full just two days after it heard oral argument.
- Davidow v. Seidman (Delaware Superior Court) Secured an $18 million settlement for Dov Seidman, resolving a closely watched defamation action on the eve of trial. The case arose from false and damaging statements by Activision founder Howard Marks in a high-profile corporate governance dispute.
- Winshall v. Viacom Int’l (Delaware Supreme Court) Represented former Harmonix Music Systems stockholders against Viacom in an appeal involving Viacom’s acquisition of Harmonix and the video games Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Rabin argued the full Delaware Supreme Court, which affirmed.
- Neumann v. SoftBank (Del. Ch.) Served as counsel to WeWork founder Adam Neumann in one of the largest individual claims litigated this century, after SoftBank reneged on its offer to purchase up to $3 billion in WeWork stock. The case proceeded on an expedited schedule and settled on the eve of trial—drawing worldwide media coverage. The New York Times’ coverage can be accessed here and here.
Honors & Distinctions
Honors and Awards
BENCHMARK LITIGATION
- Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation (2023, 2024, 2025 Euromoney)
- Impact Case of the Year Award, Benchmark Litigation (2019)
- 40 and Under Hot List, Benchmark Litigation (2018, 2017, Legal Media Group)
CHAMBERS
- Leading Practitioner in New York: Litigation: General Commercial, Chambers USA (2020-2025)
LAWDRAGON
- Legend (2025)
- 500 Leading Lawyers (2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
- 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers (2025)
- Lawyer Limelight Feature (2024)
- 500 Leading Litigator (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
- Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazers (2022, 2018, ALM)
- Employment Law Trailblazer (2020, ALM)
SUPER LAWYERS
- New York Super Lawyer—an honor awarded to the top 5% of lawyers in the New York Metro area (2019–2025 Thomson Reuters)
- New York Rising Star, Super Lawyers—an honor awarded to the top 2.5% of lawyers in the New York Metro area (2007–2018, Thomson Reuters)
U.S. NEWS – BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA®
OTHER NOTABLE RECOGNITIONS
- In 2011, the Governor of Kentucky appointed Shawn Rabin to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and bestowed upon him the title of “Colonel Shawn Rabin.”
Clerkships
- Clerked for the Honorable Juan R. Torruella, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Education
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law (J.D.)
- Distinctions of Chancellor and Order of the Coif
- Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review
- Georgetown University (B.A., International Politics and Security, with Honors)
- School of Foreign Service
- Dean’s Citation given to a graduate who displays high academic achievement and service to the community
Admissions
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Publications
- Key Counsel Agreements for Remote Depositions; Bloomberg News, October 2020
- Litigation Funding Success Breeds New Set of Ethical Issues; Bloomberg News, January 2020
Leadership & Professional Memberships
Associations
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation.
- Member, New York City Bar Litigation Committee
- Barrister, New York American Inn of Court
- Previously trained volunteers for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on civil litigation. Rabin was also quoted extensively in the Winter 2009 MADDvocate, accessible here.
