Colleen N. Shea is a Partner in the Wilmington, North Carolina office of Cranfill Sumner, where she has built a reputation as a trusted and tenacious litigator. For more than 28 years, she has handled high‑stakes and emotionally complex cases, and her experience regularly leads colleagues—both within the firm and at outside firms—to request her as co‑counsel on challenging litigation.

When Cranfill Sumner expanded to Wilmington, Colleen transitioned from the Raleigh office and played a key leadership role in developing and mentoring the growing team. What began as a two‑attorney office has now expanded to more than fifteen litigators, due in part to her dedication to professional development and training.

Colleen is a member of the firm’s Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability, and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on defending catastrophic injury matters; representing healthcare and dental providers in malpractice actions; and advising mental health professionals facing allegations including boundary violations and sexual exploitation. She also represents physicians, therapists, nurses, and dentists before various state licensing boards. Colleen has tried cases across North Carolina and secured defense verdicts, dismissals, and favorable settlements in matters involving wrongful death, severe burns, brain injuries, and other high‑exposure claims.

Her work has earned consistent recognition. Colleen is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Healthcare, Medical Malpractice Law, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2016–2026). In 2019, she was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation‑only national organization committed to preserving and promoting the constitutional right to civil jury trials.

Beyond her legal practice, Colleen is deeply committed to service. She has served as a Board Member of the Cape Fear Rescue Mission, President and Board Member of the Wrightsville Beach Elementary Foundation, and a volunteer teacher and mentor in local schools, where she has coached students in geography and organized mock criminal and civil trials. She is also dedicated to supporting U.S. service members and veterans through local and national initiatives.

An avid dog rescuer, Colleen shares her home with two energetic canine companions—”two too many,” according to her husband. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and savoring a good glass of red wine.

Most Recent Posts

  News

Colleen Shea Elected to NC ASHRM Board of Directors

Stethoscope

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

  News

Cranfill Sumner Attorneys and Paralegals Volunteer for Mock Trial Competition

Traditional Scale

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

  News

CSH Law Attorneys and Staff Participate in Mock Trial Competition

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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

  News

Colleen Shea Featured in WILMA Magazine

"N-E-W-S" spelled out on blocks

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

  News

Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Volunteer for Legal Aid Eviction Project

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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

  News

Colleen Shea Presents ASHRM Webinar

stethoscope on open book

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

  News

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

  News

Colleen Shea Volunteers at FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Event

Jar of pennies with "Community Give Back" Printed on the side

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

  News

Colleen Shea and Rebecca Knudson Featured in WILMA Magazine

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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

  Result

Martin and Shea Successfully Defend Regional Hospital

Case Results for NC Law

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

  Result

Martin and Shea Receive Defense Verdict in Wrongful Death Case

Case Results for NC Law

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