Jonathan Shapiro
Jonathan M. Shapiro is a partner at Aeton Law Partners, LLP with over two decades of experience bringing a unique combination to his practice as both a skilled trial attorney and corporate attorney. The bedrock principle of his practice is assisting clients in reaching solutions to complex problems. Attorney Shapiro is well-respected by his peers earning the distinction as a Connecticut Super Lawyer since 2014 and has ranked among the Top 100 Attorneys in New England. In the courtroom, he has extensive trial experience in federal and state courts, focusing on complex commercial litigation encompassing trade secrets, securities, tax, and employment disputes. Outside the courtroom, his role as outside general counsel and corporate advisors for a broad range of privately held companies including medical practices, technology companies, restaurant groups and contractors underscores his deft ability to meet the needs of his clients. Attorney Shapiro also serves as a mediator where he leverages his broad spectrum of legal experience to facilitate dispute resolution outside traditional litigation setting. Beyond his legal practice, Attorney Shapiro is active in the community having served and volunteered for numerous organization in various capacities, including serving as the 95th President of the Connecticut Bar Association from 2018-2019, a 9,000 member professional organization. He was recently named co-chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Generative Artificial Intelligence Committee.
TRIAL EXPERIENCE
On the litigation side, Attorney Shapiro practices in the federal and state courts in Connecticut and New York, and before arbitration and mediation panels. He has extensive trial experience bringing numerous cases to verdict including the defense of Connecticut’s longest trade secret trial and the first remote trial conducted in Connecticut. His litigation practice focuses on commercial and complex matters including trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, securities, partnership and shareholder disputes, noncompetition, tax, employment, software, business torts, insurance coverage, contract and property disputes. Attorney Shapiro also regularly serves as “local counsel” for non-Connecticut-based firms that are admitted to practice pro hac vice in Connecticut State and Federal Courts.
Representative matters include:
- Obtained judgment in favor of multiple defendants in the longest trade secret trial in Connecticut history spanning over 100 days of evidence, including an award of attorneys’ fees for bringing claims in bad faith; obtained reversal by the Connecticut Supreme Court for additional defendants after finding the trial court incorrectly determined that the plaintiff was not required to establish that defendant had knowledge of the trade secrets resulting in a new trial. Decision available at: https://www.jud.ct.gov//external/supapp/Cases/AROcr/CR349/CR349.25.pdf
- Appointed as co-lead class counsel in litigation against multiple defendants alleging conspiracy to artificially inflate prices for assisted reproductive services that resulted in $2.85 million stipulated judgment, Kent v. Women’s Health USA, INC. ET AL., Connecticut Superior Court, FST-CV-21-6054676
- Obtained partial summary judgment in favor of private equity firm in suit brought by its placement agent, NovaFund Advisors, LLC v. Capitala Group, LLC et al. resulting in favorable settlement;
- Obtained judgments of dismissal on behalf of Stephen King accused of copyright infringement in Acker v. King, 46 F.Supp.3d 168 (D. Conn. 2014), appeal dismissed, 14-3908 (2d Cir. Feb. 26, 2015) and 2019 WL 1558623;
- Obtained judgment on behalf of taxpayer challenging tax assessments issued against him by Department of Revenue Services in Sobel v. Nicholson, 2017 WL 1240119 (affirmed after appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court);
- Obtained judgment on behalf of insured in case brought by insurer seeking a declaratory judgment that it had no duty to defend its insured in Seneca Insurance Company v. Q Sono et al., 2018 WL 2760356;
- Obtained judgment on behalf of in-store couponing business in claim that it breached the terms of a $3.9 million promissory note by continuing to engage in couponing business which was the subject of a sale, Alerion Investment Partners I, LP v. Valassis Communications, Inc., 2013 WL 5969059;
- Obtained six-figure arbitration award in favor of claimant for breach of contract claims against former employer;
- Obtained $5,000,000 judgment on behalf of client in breach of contract dispute;
- Liaison counsel in In Re Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc. Stockholder Derivative Litigation, Docket No.: 3:19-cv-00621-JBA;and
- Obtained judgment on behalf of multiple defendants in defense of trade secret claims.
GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE WORK
On the corporate side, Attorney Shapiro regularly represents and advises clients in the purchase and sale of businesses, contract negotiations, corporate governance, intellectual property matters, employment matters, risk management, succession planning and blockchain technologies. As outside general counsel for numerous companies, Attorney Shapiro is available to provide day-to-day input on the many legal issues businesses encounter on a daily basis.
Representative matters include:
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- Counsel to technology company in sale of its core business, including international business interests to private equity firm;
- Co-counsel to medical group in connection with purchase of surgical center;
- Counsel to individual in connection with purchase of 100% stock of specialty aviation parts manufacturer.
- Counsel to company in connection with sale of intellectual property for dietary supplements to private equity firm.
- Regular representation of closely held businesses in managing various aspects of business, including succession planning.
- Negotiation of agreements for implementation of blockchain technology for international exchange.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HONORS
Connecticut Bar Association
- President, 2018-2019
- Key initiatives: Hiring of first DEI Director; Development of Succession Planning Initiatives; Rule of Law Conference
- Co-Chair, Generative Artificial Intelligence Committee, 2023-present
- Co-Chair, Rule of Law Committee, 2019-present
- Member, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, 2016-present (Co-Chair 2017-2018)
- Chair, Legislative Policy Review Committee, 2016-2018
- Chair, Membership Committee, 2013-2016
- Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2013-2014
- Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section Chair 2012-2013
Attorney Shapiro also previously served as Assistant Treasurer-Secretary, Vice-President, President-Elect, and as a member of both the House of Delegates and Board of Governors for the Connecticut Bar Association.
American Bar Association Business Torts and Unfair Competition Committee
- Vice-Chair, 2013-2014
- Programming Co-Chair, 2012-2013
- Membership Chair, 2011-2012
- Case Note Chair, 2009-2011
In addition to his work with the CBA and ABA, Attorney Shapiro is a former delegate for Connecticut to the American Bar Association House of Delegates and the New England Bar Association.
Congregation Adath Israel
- President 2018-2021
- Past President 2021-2023
- Vice-President 2015-2017
- Treasurer, 2023-present
- Co-Chair, Interfaith Golf Committee, 2022-present
Middlesex Health
- Corporator
- Co-Chair, Capital Campaign for Behavioral Health and Autism Centers, 2022-2023
March of Dimes
- Connecticut State Chapter, Chair 2013-2015
- Fairfield County Division, 2010-2013
Anti-Defamation League, Civil Rights Committee, 2009-2014
Attorney Shapiro was honored by the Fairfield County Business Journal at the 2011 40-Under-40 Awards Dinner, and was named as a “New Leader in the Law” by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2012.
SEMINARS AND PUBLISHED WORKS
Attorney Shapiro regularly speaks at seminars on a broad range of topics and is the author of several articles, including:
- Speaker, What Lawyers Can Do to Promote Democracy, Connecticut Legal Conference 2024
- Speaker, AI and the Law, Middlesex County Community Foundation, January 2024
- Moderator, Sandy Hook, the Battle for Truth, and the Fabric of our American Society, Connecticut Legal Conference 2022
- Panelist, Nuts & Bolts of Remote Trials, Connecticut Legal Conference 2020
- Panelist, The Tech, The Prep. The Show, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2020
- Panelist, The Path Out: Succession Planning Series, Connecticut Bar Association 2020
- Panelist, PPP Rules and Guidance: Best Practices for Utilizing PPP Loans and Avoiding Pitfalls, Connecticut Bar Association 2020
- Panelist, CARES Act Programs to Help You Through This Crisis, Connecticut Bar Association 2020
- Moderator, Succession Planning and Leaving the Practice of Law, Connecticut Legal Conference 2019
- Moderator, What is Blockchain, and Why Should I Care, Connecticut Legal Conference 2018
- Moderator, Executive Orders: The Good, the Bad, and the Constitution, Connecticut Legal Conference 2017
- Moderator, The Battle Behind the Scenes: Handling Difficult Clients, Hostile Judges and Unethical Attorneys During Litigation, American Bar Association Litigation Section Annual Conference (New Orleans 2015);
- Co-Author, “Hold It! Avoiding Electronic Discovery Disasters with Effective Litigation Holds” (Elizabeth S. Fenton & Diana Rabeh, Reed Smith) and moderator on corresponding program at American Bar Association, Litigation Section Annual Conference.
- Author, “Extra-Territorial Application of Unfair Trade Practice Claims,” American Bar Association Business Torts Journal
- Moderator, Going Commando: Lessons from the Field on Starting Your Own Practice, Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
- Panelist, Career Transitions, University of Connecticut School of Law Alumni Association
- Panelist, CAPABA Lunar New Year/Networking, Connecticut Asian Pacific Bar Association
- Panelist, Contract Negotiations, Meeting Planners International-Connecticut River Valley Chapter
EDUCATION AND PERSONAL LIFE
Attorney Shapiro earned his B.A. in History from Boston College in 1998 and his J.D. degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2001. He lives in Middletown with his wife, Sarah, and children, Lily and Ari. In his spare time, he enjoys running, biking, soccer, reading, and spending time with his family.
Jonathan Shaprio Videos 1/1 videos
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Jonathan Shapiro