Colleen Shea is a Partner in the Wilmington, North Carolina office of Cranfill Sumner. She has been litigating tough and emotional cases for over 20+ years. In addition to matters for her own clients, she is requested by peers from her firm and from other firms to undertake the co-chair seat on cases and trials for their clients.
When the firm opened the Wilmington office, Colleen transferred her practice from the Raleigh office to the coast where she has been instrumental in the internal training of Associates and growth of the office, from two attorneys to over ten additional litigators. Colleen is a member of the firm’s Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability and Professional Liability Practice Groups. She focuses on the defense of catastrophic injury cases, healthcare and dental providers sued for malpractice, and mental health specialists accused of malpractice, including boundary violations and sexual exploitation. Colleen also advises physicians, therapists, nurses and dentists on charges before various state agencies. She has extensive trial experience throughout the various counties in North Carolina and has successfully obtained defense verdicts, dismissals and favorable settlements in tough cases including wrongful death, severe burns, permanent brain damage, and inappropriate sexual relationships with patients. Colleen has been recognized by her peers and is listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America® 2016 – 2020 editions for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. In 2019, she was invited and selected by her peers for inclusion into the American Board of Trial Advocates.
In addition to pro bono work within the field of law, Colleen also enjoys serving her community. She is a past Board Member of the Cape Fear Rescue Mission; past President and Board Member of the Wrightsville Beach Elementary Foundation; a former volunteer 4th and 5th grade Geography teacher and a current active volunteer at her daughter’s middle school. Colleen continues to learn life lessons from her two really cool step-children (ages 26 and 20) and her 12 year old daughter. Colleen is immensely proud of her 20 year old step son who is serving in our military and currently deployed to the Middle East. Colleen is passionate about rescuing dogs and currently has two additional canine members in the household – two too many according to her husband. Colleen is married to another trial attorney, who is also the Managing Partner of the Wilmington office. Despite their efforts, their daughter likes to debate, a lot.
Most Recent Posts
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among 2023 Legal Elite
Twelve Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. … Read More
Colleen Shea Elected to NC ASHRM Board of Directors
Colleen Shea has been elected to the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society for Health Care Risk Management (NC ASHRM). She will serve as a Member-At-Large and as chairperson of the chapter’s Public Relations & Marketing Committee for 2023-2024.… Read More
25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys and Paralegals Volunteer for Mock Trial Competition
Attorneys and paralegals from the Charlotte and Wilmington offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP volunteered for regional Mock Trial competitions in their local areas on Feb. 5. They served as judges and jurors during the mock proceedings, which allowed high school students to participate in mock trial competitions and learn about the judicial process. … Read More
26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022.… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys and Staff Participate in Mock Trial Competition
On Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) attorneys and staff members volunteered at the 29th annual NCAJ High School Mock Trial Competition which was held virtually. The attorneys and staff who participated were Deedee Gasch, Melanie Huffines, Levi Huston, Colleen Shea, and Emily Enojado.… Read More
Colleen Shea Featured in WILMA Magazine
Colleen Shea, a Partner at Cranfill Sumner, was recently featured in WILMA magazine. “Law & Community” discusses Colleen’s career as a medical malpractice attorney at Cranfill Sumner.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Volunteer for Legal Aid Eviction Project
In May 2020, Legal Aid of North Carolina launched an effort to help North Carolinians who were struggling to pay rent and were facing eviction. Legal Aid paired available emergency financial support with a search for volunteer attorneys from across the state who could help negotiate past and future payments with landlords.… Read More
Colleen Shea Receives Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Colleen Shea of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) was recently named the Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law—Defendants in the Wilmington metropolitan area. (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)… Read More
27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Colleen Shea Presents ASHRM Webinar
Colleen Shea was the featured presenter for the “The Dreaded Written Discovery Requests from Plaintiff” webinar on July 23. The webinar was presented by Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM).… Read More
Martin and Shea Join American Board of Trial Advocates
John D. Martin and Colleen Shea have been invited to join the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a prestigious national association comprised of experienced trial lawyers and judges. Martin and Shea are Partners who are based in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP.… Read More
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Colleen Shea Volunteers at FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Event
On Nov. 9, Wilmington Partner Colleen Shea served as a volunteer at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for New Hanover County in Wilmington. Colleen was one of several volunteer attorneys who offered brief advice and counsel regarding landlord/tenant law, consumer law and insurance law. Wilmington and surrounding towns and counties sustained significant damage from Hurricane Florence and were declared federal disaster areas. … Read More
32 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2019
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
33 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2018
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Eight attorneys were selected for inclusion in the list for the first time.… Read More
Colleen Shea and Rebecca Knudson Featured in WILMA Magazine
Colleen Shea and Rebecca Knudson are listed in the August 2017 edition of WILMA Magazine. The August Spotlight column lists the Wilmington attorneys featured in the 2017 Women in the Law by Best Lawyers Business Edition and includes a quote from Colleen about her experience as a female attorney.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Recognized by Women in the Law List
Seven female attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently listed among the 2017 Women in the Law by Best Lawyers Business Edition. The list was printed in the Spring 2017 edition and recognizes female attorneys from each state.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive AV Rating From Martindale-Hubbell
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that 11 attorneys have recently received an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.… Read More
26 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2017
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2016 Women in the Law
Best Lawyers Business Edition featured Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys among its Best Lawyers Business Edition 2016 Women in the Law list. This is the inaugural year for the Women in the Law list by the publication.… Read More
Court of Appeals Upholds Defense Verdict for Medical Malpractice Claims, Holding that a Plaintiff Carries the Burden of Proof for Intervening Negligence
John Martin and Colleen Shea served as Defense Counsel for a recent in case in which the North Carolina Court… Read More
28 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2016
Twenty-eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016.… Read More
Martin and Shea Successfully Defend Regional Hospital
John Martin and Colleen Shea obtained summary judgment of a regional hospital in a case involving two separate visits to the Emergency Department at the hospital and patient admission to the hospital prior to her transfer to a tertiary care facility. … Read More
Landfall Living Profiles John Martin and Colleen Shea
John Martin and Colleen Shea, partners in the Wilmington Cranfill Sumner office, are featured in the December 2014 issue of Landfall Living in the Resident Profile.… Read More
Wrightsville Beach Magazine Features Cranfill Sumner Women Attorneys
Female attorneys, Regan Toups and Colleen Shea, of the CSH Wilmington office were featured in the Women in Business section of Wrightsville Beach Magazine. … Read More
Shea Successfully Defends Registered Nurse in Work Related Injury Case
Colleen Shea obtained a dismissal for a Registered Nurse who helped care for a co-employee following an injury sustained on the job. The plaintiff alleged that the Nurse failed to treat a deep wound in the back of her ankle which resulted in infection and a rupture of her Achilles Tendon.… Read More
Martin and Shea Receive Defense Verdict in Wrongful Death Case
John D. Martin and Colleen N. Shea won a defense verdict for a Psychiatrist and Physician’s Assistant in a wrongful death case involving over $700,000 in medical expenses. The case involved allegations of improperly prescribing a drug with a Black Box Warning at over twice the FDA recommended dose.… Read More
