Is the first consultation really free?

Yes. There is no fee for your initial attorney consultation and no obligation to move forward. You only pay if you decide to have Shea Law build your estate plan, and you will know the cost before any work begins.

Do I need a will or a trust?

It depends mainly on what you own and whether avoiding probate matters to you. A will directs who inherits and who becomes guardian of minor children, but it still goes through the Washtenaw County Probate Court. A revocable living trust generally avoids probate and stays private, which often favors homeowners in Ann Arbor.

Do I have to come into the Ann Arbor office?

No. You are welcome at 2400 Green Road in Ann Arbor, but Shea Law also handles consultations by Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Document signing requires specific formalities that your attorney will walk you through.

How long does an estate plan take?

Most estate plans are complete within 30 days of the attorney meeting. Timing depends mostly on how quickly you gather asset information and settle decisions such as guardians and successor trustees.

What should I bring to my first estate planning meeting?

Nothing is required for the first conversation. It helps to have a rough list of what you own, including real estate, retirement accounts, life insurance and business interests, plus any existing will or trust and your thoughts on who you would want as guardian, executor or trustee.

I already have a will from years ago. Is it still valid?

Possibly, but it is worth reviewing. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, moving to Michigan from another state, buying a new home, or changes to the federal estate tax exemption can all undercut an older plan.

Shea Law · Litigation

Michigan’s Most
Accomplished
Litigators.

We take your case personal. Over $1.25 billion secured for our clients, from a firm that treats every client like family — trial-ready from day one, relentless throughout, and proven in the courtrooms that count.

Schedule a Consultation (248) 595-0185

18 Michigan Offices · 35+ Years of Experience · Federal & State Courts Nationwide

$1.25B+ Verdicts & Settlements

35+ Years of Litigation

$626M Largest Settlement

Nationwide Federal & State Courts

A Proven Litigation Leader

More than 35 years of complex litigation. We take your case personal.

Contact Our Team

Shea Law brings more than 35 years of complex litigation experience to bear on behalf of its clients — and we take every case personal. We represent everyday people across every arena: victims and survivors of abuse, including the elderly and survivors of sexual assault, as well as plaintiffs in class and mass actions, investors and their trusted advisors in investment loss and FINRA-related matters, and individuals and businesses in everything from personal injury claims and insurance losses to general commercial litigation.

Above all, our approach is both empathetic and assertive. Shea’s accomplished litigators have achieved multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients in courtrooms across the country — handling high-profile and even landmark state and federal cases in all Michigan courts and in states from Washington to New Jersey and from Minnesota to Florida.

Case Results

$470M

University of Michigan Sexual Abuse Settlement

David Shea partnered with former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox to hold the University of Michigan accountable for the sexual abuse of its students and student-athletes at the hands of athletic team physician Dr. Robert Anderson — resulting in a $470 million settlement on behalf of the survivors.

$120M

Wayne County Tax Foreclosure Class Action

David Shea was appointed co-lead counsel in a federal court class action against Wayne County, securing compensation for residents who suffered millions in losses from the unconstitutional taking of their property through unauthorized tax foreclosures.

$626M

Flint Water Crisis Class Action

David Shea served on the discovery committee in the City of Flint Water Crisis Class Action, one of the most significant public-health cases in Michigan history. A $626 million settlement was approved by a federal judge on behalf of thousands of Flint residents harmed by contaminated water.

$40M

Oakland County Tax Foreclosure Class Action

Appointed lead counsel in a major federal class action against Oakland County, David Shea secured $40 million for residents who suffered losses from unconstitutional property tax foreclosures, as held by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Every case is unique.

Notable Matters

Not Just About the Numbers

The measure of a firm isn’t only in settlements — it’s in the complex, high-profile cases we’re trusted to handle.

Pontiac Silverdome Roof Collapse

Fought the insurer to recover catastrophic damages following the collapse of the Silverdome’s iconic roof.

Mackinac Bridge Yugo Case

A landmark wrongful-death matter in which David Shea defended the Mackinac Bridge’s architects.

What We Litigate

We Represent Everyday People Across Every Arena

Contact Our Team →

Class & Mass Actions

Representing large groups of plaintiffs against corporations, government entities, and institutions in high-stakes federal and state court litigation.

Abuse & Sexual Assault

Representing victims and survivors of abuse, including the elderly and survivors of sexual assault — holding institutions accountable for failures to protect.

Personal Injury & Toxic Torts

Decades of experience in litigation involving complex personal injury and toxic torts, including silicone breast implants, asbestos, benzene, cobalt, and formaldehyde.

Investment Loss & FINRA

Representing investors and their trusted advisors in investment loss claims and FINRA-related arbitration and litigation matters.

Commercial Litigation

Representing individuals and businesses in malpractice claims, insurance disputes, securities matters, and general commercial litigation.

Constitutional Tort Claims

Fighting unconstitutional government actions — including sexual assault and landmark property rights and tax foreclosure cases that have reshaped Michigan law.

Why Shea Law?

We Take Our Cases Personal.

Fighting for Those Who Need It Most

From survivors of abuse to families harmed by corporate negligence to communities poisoned by contaminated water — we fight for those who need it most, and we take every case personal.

Landmark Results, Not Empty Promises

$470 million. $626 million. $120 million. These aren’t outliers — they’re the standard we hold ourselves to. Our record in high-stakes cases speaks louder than any claim we could make.

Trial-Ready From Day One

We don’t file cases hoping for a quick settlement. Every case is built for the courtroom from the moment we take it — which is exactly why opponents settle on our terms.

Nationwide Reach, Personal Commitment

We’ve litigated landmark cases in federal and state courts from Michigan to Florida to Washington. No matter the jurisdiction, we bring the same relentless preparation and genuinely personal advocacy.

Lead Litigator

David J. Shea

Founder & Managing Partner

$1.25B+

Verdicts & Settlements

35+

Years of Litigation

David J. Shea

Founder & Managing Partner

(248) 595-0185 [email protected]

David J. Shea is the founder and Managing Partner of Shea Law and one of Michigan’s most accomplished litigators. He takes cases personal — he fights for those who don’t have a voice, and he represents everyday people. A relentless force in mass actions, class litigation, and high-stakes commercial cases, David has led some of the most consequential and high-profile judgments and settlements in the nation.

Yet for David, the work has never been only about verdicts and settlements. He built Shea Law on the belief that high-level legal expertise should always come with genuine compassion — that clients deserve a firm that treats them like family and takes their matter as personally as they do. It’s a philosophy rooted in kindness, empathy, and excellence, and it guides every case the firm takes on.

“I leave for work every day hoping to do my part to help someone with a problem, and to lay another brick in a firm rooted in kindness, empathy, and excellence.”

Super LawyersMichigan, 2009–Present · Top 100 Attorneys

Martindale-HubbellAV Preeminent Peer-Review Rated · 20+ Years

Leading LawyersCommercial Litigation · Securities Class Action

Crain’s Detroit BusinessTop Business Litigation Attorney · Hour Detroit

American Trial LawyersTop 100 Attorneys Nationwide

dBusiness MagazineTop Lawyers: Michigan

J.D. University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, 1987 · B.A. Albion College, 1984

Recognition

Recognized Among Michigan’s Best

Attorney David J. Shea has been recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Michigan. Shea Law’s attorneys rank in the top 5% by Super Lawyers, and the firm is recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a leading family-led firm — expert counsel that stays genuinely personal.