Shawri King-Casey

About Shawri King-Casey

I am Senior Counsel at Ogletree Deakins with more than twenty-five years of experience advising employers, universities, boards, and executive leadership on complex matters involving employment law, civil rights compliance, ethics, governance, and institutional risk. My work is distinguished not only by legal rigor, but by perspective shaped through senior executive service, where decisions carry operational, political, and reputational weight.I have advised from the outside and led from within.Before returning to law practice, I served in C-suite and cabinet-level roles, including as a university Vice President with enterprise-wide responsibility for human resources and as the first General Counsel to a state Attorney General’s Office. Those experiences continue to inform my counsel, which is practical, disciplined, and grounded in a clear understanding of how institutions function under pressure.I am frequently engaged to advise boards and senior leaders on high-risk employment and civil rights matters, lead sensitive internal investigations, conduct institutional and enterprise-wide assessments addressing compliance, culture, and governance, and support organizations navigating crises, regulatory inquiries, and heightened public or governmental scrutiny.My practice includes significant work with higher education institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, particularly during periods of regulatory oversight, leadership transition, or institutional risk. Clients value my ability to synthesize legal, cultural, and leadership considerations into guidance that is both credible and actionable.Clients rely on me for counsel that is measured, precise, and tailored to executive decision-making; informed by experience across legal, operational, and leadership roles; delivered with discretion and acute awareness of reputational impact; and focused on enabling leaders to make decisions they can defend with confidence.My earlier career as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney continues to shape my approach to investigations, credibility assessment, and litigation risk.If you are a board member, president, general counsel, or senior executive seeking seasoned counsel on consequential employment, governance, or institutional risk matters, I welcome the opportunity to connect.Some decisions shape institutions for years. I advise leaders at the moment those decisions must be made.

Experience

1. Senior Counsel

   Ogletree Deakins

   Jan 2026 — Present · Richmond, VA, US

   Advise employers, higher education institutions, governing boards, and executive leadership on complex employment, civil rights, governance, and institutional risk matters, with particular focus on issues requiring seasoned judgment, discretion, and credibility.Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders navigating high-stakes employment decisions, sensitive personnel matters, and organizational riskLead and oversee internal investigations and institutional assessments addressing compliance, culture, governance, and leadership practicesCounsel higher education institutions—including historically Black colleges and universities—during periods of heightened federal and state scrutiny, leadership transition, and reputational riskAdvise on crisis response, regulatory inquiries, audits, and oversight agency engagement, bringing clarity and calm to time-sensitive mattersPartner with boards and executive teams to translate legal risk into practical, defensible decision-making

Education

• University of Richmond

  Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, French, Minors in Women's Studies and English

  1992 — 1996

• University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center

  Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, Leadership

  2018 — 2019

• William & Mary Law School

  Doctor of Law (JD)

  1997 — 2000