Richard W Shapiro

The Law Offices of Richard W. Shapiro, PLC, established in 2001, is a Plaintiff's general civil trial practice firm in Phoenix, Arizona. Richard Shapiro has more than thirty years of experience, counseling, guiding and representing individuals and their families as well as corporate clients. We concentrate on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death matters with particular expertise in medical malpractice, products liability, and motor vehicle accident cases. The firm also handles significant business and commercial tort cases. We have achieved superior results in a wide variety of cases, but the cornerstone of our success is the quality relationship we maintain with our clients. The best interests of our clients remain the first and foremost priority throughout our representation.

What sets us apart from other firms?

Certified Specialist:Richard Shapiro is certified as a specialist in the field of Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Arizona. In order to attain this board certification, an attorney is required to have a degree of competence that is substantially higher than that possessed by a general practitioner who regularly handles an injury or wrongful death matter. The "high degree of competence" possessed by the specialist means that the attorney has a substantially complete knowledge of law, rules of practice, procedure, evidence, and ethics pertaining to injury and wrongful death litigation. In addition, the attorney must have demonstrated a high degree of skill, thoroughness, preparation, effectiveness, professionalism, and judgment in the field of injury and wrongful death litigation. Richard Shapiro uses these skills and knowledge for the benefit of his clients in every case he handles.

Financially prepared and able to litigate serious cases for our clients: Our firm only handles cases where there is a catastrophic injury or death. Because we do only catastrophic injury cases, they tend to be very expensive to litigate. We are prepared and able to advance all costs necessary, and have advanced costs in excess of $500,000 to take a case all the way through trial. These costs are all advanced at no risk to our clients.

Proven Results: We have recovered more than $35,000,000 for clients through verdicts and settlements since the inception of the firm in 2001. 

Highly respected and well-known by other attorneys: Because of the firm's broad experience and command of the intricacies of a specialized practice, most of the firm's clients come as referrals from other attorneys, local judges, and former clients. Our firm is also often called upon for assistance from other firms and other lawyers.

Previous defense experience providing insight/knowledge: Richard Shapiro was formerly a senior partner at Snell and Wilmer, Arizona's largest corporate and defense law firm. He was a senior trial partner in the product liability group, and the lead litigator in the environmental/toxic torts group. His experience is unique in that the first half of his career was spent defending cases, where he gained valuable experience and insights from the defense perspective.