Shannon M. Doherty

Shannon’s experience includes counseling and defending clients in all facets of recreational, products, construction and general liability litigation in both federal and state court. Notably, Shannon obtained summary judgment for a New Hampshire ski area arguing that the New Hampshire Ski Statute barred the plaintiff's claims because her injuries were caused by an inherent risk in the sport of snowboarding. Shannon also successfully argued a motion to dismiss for a general contractor on statute of repose grounds in a property damage case and won a motion for summary judgment for a Canadian manufacturer on lack of personal jurisdiction grounds in a products liability case.

Prior to joining Melick & Porter, Shannon spent two years working as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. During her first year, she assisted judges with civil and criminal cases in Lawrence, Cambridge and Boston. In her second year, she was a Senior Law Clerk in Salem, Dedham, Worcester and Boston. In that position, she was called upon to work on more complex cases and mentor the first-year law clerks. During law school, Shannon served as a Case & Note Editor of the New England Journal on Civil and Criminal Confinement, in which she published an article centered on the controversial Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

Shannon has taught several legal research, writing and analysis classes at her alma mater New England Law | Boston. Those courses include the first-year, two-semester legal research, writing and analysis course, the second-year, one-semester writing and analysis course focused on appellate advocacy, and a Legal Analysis course. She has also served as a judge for American Bar Association Law Student Division Client Counseling Competitions held at New England Law | Boston and Suffolk University Law School.

For the last several years, as part of the Discovering Justice Mock Trial Program, Shannon has joined several of her colleagues in teaching middle school students about the legal system and trial process. The semester-long program prepares the students for a mock civil trial on a constitutional issue, which is held at the Moakley Federal Courthouse.

When she is not counseling students or in the office, Shannon enjoys traveling with her husband, Chris, daughter, Meghan and son, Aidan and spending time with family and friends.

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts
• New York

Education

• New England School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2005)
• Nazareth College, B.A., Psychology, magna cum laude (1998)

Awards and Honors

• New England School of Law Excellence Award in Workers’ Compensation
• New England School of Law New England Scholar Award

Affiliations

• Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

• Discovering Justice (Mock Trial Teacher)
• American Bar Association, Law Student Division, Client Counseling Competition (Judge)