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Portrait of Shawn Harrell

In Memoriam

Shawn E. Harrell

June 24, 1970 ~ March 14, 2009


Shawn E. Harrell, a shareholder with McAfee & Taft, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2009, after a courageous 19-month battle with cancer.

“Shawn was one of the kindest, most sincere people I have every known. He was always concerned for others’ well being and always took the time to get to know people and make them feel welcome,” said his close friend and law partner, Brad Donnell. “It is a tribute to Shawn’s kindness and compassion that he was so loved and cared for by so many.”

Shawn was a trial lawyer who represented individuals as well as local and national clients in disputes involving areas such as business torts, contract issues, employment matters, personal injury, construction and product liability. He handled lawsuits in several states as well as numerous appellate matters, including the landmark decision of Christian v. Gray, 2003 OK 10, 65 P.3d 591, in which the Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted the Daubert line of federal cases.

In 2008, Shawn was named to the inaugural edition of Oklahoma Rising Stars, a specialty legal publication which recognizes the achievements of the state’s top up-and-coming lawyers.

Shawn graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Methodist University in 1992 and with a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1995. He was admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Oklahoma as well the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and was a member of the Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and American bar associations, Defense Research Institute, Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and Federal Bar Association.

Shortly after being diagnosed with cancer in August 2007, Shawn became a community advocate for colon cancer research, treatment, screening and awareness. He also served on the board of directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Shawn is survived by his wife, two young children, and countless family members, friends and colleagues who will miss him dearly.

“He was just an extremely good person who loved his family, God, and his profession,” said Donnell.