Shannon Hays
Partner
Shannon Hays offers proven expertise in trial and appellate litigation, in both federal and state courts. Her practice areas have included appellate matters, general negligence, products liability, business torts, complex commercial litigation, employment law, and aviation. Over her career, Shannon has had a winning record of drafting numerous successful briefs before both federal and state trial courts and appellate courts. Offering a diverse array of experience, Shannon has worked both at large defense firms representing clients in complex commercial litigation matters, and at a personal injury and products liability firm, representing plaintiffs in litigation matters across the country. Shannon regularly speaks about constitutional appellate issues, as well as litigation and discovery issues in forums across Texas.
Shannon graduated with high honors and as a member of the Order of the Coif from the University of Texas School of Law, where she served on the Texas Law Review, was published in Volume 78 of the Texas Law Review, and received the honor of Best Texas Law Note that year. During her third year of law school, Shannon also successfully completed courses in international commercial litigation, European internal markets, and emerging economies at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London as a Gus Macey Hodges Presidential Scholar. She earned her undergraduate degree from Baylor University, summa cum laude.
After law school, Shannon worked at Vinson & Elkins in Texas and then Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington D. C., before serving as a staff attorney for the United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Shannon is admitted to practice law in both Texas and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the firm in 2025, Shannon was lawyer at Payne Mitchell Ramsey Law Group for fourteen years.
Shannon Hays offers proven expertise in trial and appellate litigation, in both federal and state courts. Her practice areas have included appellate matters, general negligence, products liability, business torts, complex commercial litigation, employment law, and aviation. Over her career, Shannon has had a winning record of drafting numerous successful briefs before both federal and state trial courts and appellate courts. Offering a diverse array of experience, Shannon has worked both at large defense firms representing clients in complex commercial litigation matters, and at a personal injury and products liability firm, representing plaintiffs in litigation matters across the country. Shannon regularly speaks about constitutional appellate issues, as well as litigation and discovery issues in forums across Texas.
Shannon graduated with high honors and as a member of the Order of the Coif from the University of Texas School of Law, where she served on the Texas Law Review, was published in Volume 78 of the Texas Law Review, and received the honor of Best Texas Law Note that year. During her third year of law school, Shannon also successfully completed courses in international commercial litigation, European internal markets, and emerging economies at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London as a Gus Macey Hodges Presidential Scholar. She earned her undergraduate degree from Baylor University, summa cum laude.
After law school, Shannon worked at Vinson & Elkins in Texas and then Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington D. C., before serving as a staff attorney for the United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Shannon is admitted to practice law in both Texas and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the firm in 2025, Shannon was lawyer at Payne Mitchell Ramsey Law Group for fourteen years.
Notable Results
- Drafted successful brief in appellate matter before the Wyoming Supreme Court, which overturned a lower court’s decision and resulted in a seven-figure settlement for the client.
- Drafted successful motion for new trial in a personal injury case, in which the trial court overturned its prior ruling, resulting in a substantial settlement for the client.
- Drafted numerous successful pre-trial responses, including summary judgment responses and responses to motions to exclude experts in a complex products liability matter. During trial, Shannon drafted successful motions in limine. Post-trial, Shannon drafted successful responses to motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial. The trial of this matter resulted in an extremely large multi-million-dollar verdict for the client and was upheld at the Texas Supreme Court in a 9-0 opinion.
- Drafted successful response to motion to dismiss in a complex products liability case, which led to a multi-million-dollar resolution to this case in favor of the client.
- Overturned a seven-figure jury verdict in federal court for a client after briefing and arguing a motion for judgment as a matter of law.
- Drafted successful motion to remand and argued the response to a motion for summary judgment in a catastrophic accident case, which ultimately resolved in favor of the client for millions of dollars.
- Argued motions and drafted successful briefs in complex, multi-party, aviation case, which resulted in a substantial settlement for client.
- Drafted complaint, successful responsive briefs, and mediation statement in FINRA case, which resulted in successful settlement for clients.
- Drafted and argued successful response to motion for summary judgment in a catastrophic personal injury case that resulted in a substantial payment to the client.
- Drafted successful motions and responsive motions in a catastrophic electrocution case that ultimately resolved with a multi-million-dollar settlement for the client.
Professional Involvement & Leadership
- Dallas Bar Association,
- Collin County Women Lawyers Association, Member
- Collin County Mothers-In-Law, Member and past officer
- Dallas Mothers-in-Law, Member
- Texas Law Review, Alumni Member
- Mensa International, Member
Publication & Speeches
“Obtaining Nonparty Discovery in Foreign Jurisdictions: Getting by With a Little Help from Your Friends”
Drafted and delivered speech to the Collin County Bar Association’s Attorney Mom’s section in 2022, the North Dallas Bar Association in 2023, and the Dallas Bar Association in 2024
“Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 592 U.S. 351 (2021): The Mind-Blowing Changes that May be Coming”
Collin County Bar Association Civil Litigation and Appellate Group, 2021
“Advanced Products Liability Update”
Drafted paper for speech delivered by Andy Payne at the Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, 2014, 2016
“Apathy: Who Cares?”
Mensa Bulletin, 2008
“ERISA Preemption of Direct Liability Claims: Texas Throws Down the Gauntlet”
Volume 78, Texas Law Review, Best Texas Law Note, 1999
“Policy Boot Camp: Hand to Handbook Combat”
Speech delivered at Vinson & Elkin’s Labor and Employment Law Seminar, June 2001
“The Contingent Workforce”
Speech delivered and published in the Labor and Employment Law Seminar presented by Lorman Education Services, October 2001
“Texas Wage and Hour Update”
Speech delivered and published in the Wage and Hour Law Seminar presented by Lorman Education Services, December 2001
Admissions
- Licensed by the State Bar of Texas
- Licensed by the District of Columbia Bar
- Admitted in the Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, and Eastern District of Texas
- Admitted in the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals
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