Shelby Martin
Counsel
Shelby Martin is an experienced litigator and accomplished trial lawyer representing corporate clients in state and federal court. Ms. Martin focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation across multiple districts. She has also counseled clients in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation and advocacy and has experience representing one of the largest medical device manufacturers in the United States. Ms. Martin’s motion practice has included briefing motions in opposition to class action certification in federal court, and she is frequently involved in identifying, retaining, and prepping expert witnesses for depositions and trials, as well as in taking and defending depositions. Ms. Martin has been a critical member of trial teams appearing in state and federal courts on a diverse array of subject matters. She also has experience conducting highly complex and sensitive investigations on behalf of major companies, educational institutions, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations, including related to alleged policy violations, workplace misconduct and discrimination.
In 2022, the Center for Legal Inclusiveness named Ms. Martin a finalist for the Inclusiveness@Work Award, which honors individuals and organizations that have taken concrete steps to advance diversity, equity and inclusivity. Ms. Martin maintains an active pro bono practice focused on civil and human rights and has represented many indigent clients in immigration proceedings. She serves on the board of directors for the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation, which provides long-term academic and social mentorship for youth in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Metro Denver, and was a member of the 2017 Downtown Denver Leadership Program. She was selected for the 2022 Colorado General Counsel Mentor Program due to her favorable trial results and her contributions to Denver's legal community.
Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Martin worked for two different international law firms, where she handled matters concerning commercial and consumer law and litigation, privacy and cybersecurity, and the healthcare and life sciences industries. She advised Fortune 500 clients facing litigation matters involving tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, litigated complex commercial matters, advised corporate clients on litigation risks surrounding mergers and acquisitions, and was committed to her pro bono practice representing women and children in immigration proceedings.
While pursuing her legal education, Ms. Martin served as a law clerk for the East Bay Community Law Center. In the center’s Neighborhood Justice Clinic she assisted low-income and homeless clients in lawsuits against creditors, and in the Health and Immigration Unit she completed legal immigration applications and advocated for HIV-positive clients by writing waivers to overcome grounds of inadmissibility in immigration applications.
Experience
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PRODUCT LIABILITY
- Served as an integral member of trial teams defending an international medical device manufacturer's metal-on-metal hip implants in multi-plaintiff state cases and federal multidistrict products liability litigation. These trial teams secured multiple defense verdicts in plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions, which eventually led to a global settlement of hundreds of cases across the country.
- Represented an international medical device manufacturer in individual personal injury suits brought by plaintiffs alleging negligence, strict liability, design defect and failure to warn claims.
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INVESTIGATIONS
- Conducted high-profile independent review of police department officer and leadership misconduct, including reviewing the department’s policies and practices and providing recommendations for reform. The WilmerHale team conducted a thorough investigation and produced a 329-page publicly available report, along with a presentation of the team’s findings to city council members and the public at a city council meeting.
- Conducted an investigation of an educational institution into alleged policy violations, including allegations of race and gender discrimination and retaliation.
- Independent investigation into alleged policy violations, including allegations of discrimination and retaliation, by a high-level administrator at a public university.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2011
Gerald Marcus Fellow, California Law Review, Lippert Prize for outstanding service, Berkeley Journal of International Law, Co-Founder, Women of Color Collective, Alumni Relations Chair, Law Students of African Descent -
BA, International Affairs, Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2007
with distinction Gates Millennium Scholar, Vice Chair, Cultural Events Board
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Admissions
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Colorado
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US District Court for the District of Colorado
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Credentials
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Education
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JD, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2011
Gerald Marcus Fellow, California Law Review, Lippert Prize for outstanding service, Berkeley Journal of International Law, Co-Founder, Women of Color Collective, Alumni Relations Chair, Law Students of African Descent -
BA, International Affairs, Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2007
with distinction Gates Millennium Scholar, Vice Chair, Cultural Events Board
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Admissions
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Colorado
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US District Court for the District of Colorado
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