Atty. Howard M. Shapiro

Atty. Howard M. Shapiro

Howard Shapiro is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has more than 35 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer in civil and criminal matters, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s leading litigators in high-stakes cases, ranging from bet-the-company contractual disputes to mass torts to white-collar litigation.

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Profile Summary

About Howard M. Shapiro at a glance

Howard M. Shapiro is a criminal defense, business, white collar, and litigation attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. Admitted to practice in District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar and New York, New York State Bar Association. Educated at Yale University (J.D., 1985) and Williams College (B.A., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Howard Shapiro is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
  • He has more than 35 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer in civil and criminal matters, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s leading litigators in high-stakes cases, ranging from bet-the-company contractual disputes to mass torts to white-collar litigation

Practice Areas Explained

Howard M. Shapiro's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Howard M. Shapiro handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Criminal Defense

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.

Howard M. Shapiro is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in District of Columbia →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Howard M. Shapiro is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in District of Columbia →

White Collar Crimes

Howard M. Shapiro is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in District of Columbia →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Howard M. Shapiro is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in District of Columbia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia

Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Howard M. Shapiro

Where is Howard M. Shapiro's law office located?
Howard M. Shapiro's law practice is located in Washington, District of Columbia. The firm is Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Howard M. Shapiro handle?
Howard M. Shapiro focuses on criminal defense, business, white collar, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in District of Columbia.
Where did Howard M. Shapiro go to law school?
Howard M. Shapiro earned their education at (J.D., 1985); (B.A., 1982).
How can I contact Howard M. Shapiro for a consultation?
You can contact Howard M. Shapiro directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Howard M. Shapiro received?
Howard M. Shapiro's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:; Best Lawyers in America — Accounting.

Education

J.D.
Yale University
- 1985
B.A.
Williams College
- 1982

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Accounting
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Breach of Contract
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Business Disputes
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Complex Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Federal
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fraud
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Government Investigations
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Internal Investigations
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — SEC Enforcement
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities Fraud
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — White-Collar Criminal Defense
- 2026

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
New York, New York State Bar Association

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