Shan Wu is a former federal prosecutor whose law practice focuses on white-collar, criminal and student defense matters. From 1999-2000, Shan served as Counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno, advising her on criminal and civil investigations, E-Gov, E-Commerce (electronic signatures, internet gambling, internet telephony, privacy & public access issues in electronic court filings), congressional oversight, and legislative review. His responsibilities included serving as liaison to the FBI, DEA, Criminal Division, Executive Office of United States Attorneys, National Institute of Justice, and White House Counsel’s Office.
A consummate litigator, Shan has tried over twenty-five cases to jury verdict, argued appellate cases in the both local and federal court, led large-scale criminal investigations, litigated complex commercial cases, and counseled clients at all stages of criminal and civil investigations. While in the government, Shan investigated and tried hundreds of criminal cases, served as a supervisor in the U. S. Attorney's Office Misdemeanor Trials Section, led a Police Corruption Task Force, and served as senior supervisor on an Independent Counsel investigation regarding a Cabinet official.
As a federal prosecutor, he pioneered the use of expert testimony in domestic violence cases and, along with co-counsel, secured the first life-without-parole sentence for a serial rapist ever imposed in the District of Columbia. His outstanding legal work in the government was recognized through numerous Special Achievement Awards from the Justice Department as well as awards conveyed by law enforcement agencies and community groups.
In the private sector, Shan's tenacious defense of individuals and companies is aided by experience gained working at the exclusive boutique litigation firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans and Figel where his practice included white-collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement actions, and complex civil litigation. His notable matters there included representation of individuals during the Enron investigation, defending an individual charged with making terroristic threats, counseling companies on compliance with grand jury subpoenas, defending against a qui tam/false claims action, and litigating a complex telecommunications arbitration. Shan’s practice, in addition to criminal defense, has included qui tam/false claims litigation and business litigation. Bi-lingual in Mandarin Chinese, Shan has worked extensively in China as a consultant to China's largest law firm and served as of counsel for them in matters before the International Trade Commission.
Shan serves on the D.C. Bar Association’s Hearing Committee of the Board on Professional Responsibility and is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association for the Greater Washington, D.C. area. He is a 1988 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated Order of the Barristers, edited two law reviews, and was Co-Director of the Moot Court Program. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Vassar College as well as a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Following law school, he clerked for the Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the late Eugene Wright, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Connecticut.
