Michael Shepard

I am a litigator and personal injury attorney with over three decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered life-changing injuries. Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my achievements in the courtroom, my leadership in the legal community, and my commitment to advancing justice for victims of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. 

I am currently working on the Asbestos Claimants Committees of two bankruptcies pending in the Western District of North Carolina: Bestwall (formerly Georgia-Pacific) and DBMP (formerly Certainteed). There is no pay for that work, but I am doing it because it is important that the voice of all victims be heard, and that their best interests be represented in what amounts to fraudulent bankruptcy filings.

Why I Do What I Do

For almost 30 years, I have represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases, and each year our firm secures millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on their behalf. But the true privilege of this work has been the people I’ve met along the way: WWII veterans, construction workers, vehicle mechanics, and countless others whose lives and experiences I might never have encountered had I chosen a different career. Every client has taught me something valuable, and those lessons continue to guide my approach to advocacy and client service.

Your Partner in Mesothelioma Claims and Family Support

Asbestos litigation has long been a central focus of my practice. Asbestos exposure has devastated generations of workers and families, and too often, corporations knowingly allowed that harm to occur. From 2017 to 2022, I served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel for the Massachusetts Asbestos Litigation docket, a role that required coordinating cases, advocating for efficient case management, and ensuring victims have meaningful access to justice. 

My Approach: Dedicated, Empathetic, Reliable

We represent real people who are suffering from serious injuries. Our clients usually aren’t familiar with the way the legal system works; they never planned to be dealing with the problems that they suddenly have to face. They want someone to talk to them in plain language like a real person, someone who will listen to their story and who understands what they’re going through. They want to be heard and to get help tailored to their unique situation, not be treated like an asset that’s passed off to another law firm. I’ve made it a personal promise that no client will ever feel that way when they work with myself or any of the attorneys at Shepard O’Donnell, and that belief shapes every interaction in our firm. When clients choose to partner with us, they become part of a team deeply committed to supporting them through the most challenging times in their lives.