News Release

White Collar, Student Defense Partner Shan Wu joins McGlinchey in D.C.

June 12, 2024

McGlinchey Stafford is proud to announce the hire of Shanlon Wu, who joins the firms as a member (partner) in the Washington, D.C. office. Shan brings a respected and innovative student defense and white collar practice and more than 30 years of legal experience to the firm.

“We look forward to Shan joining us at McGlinchey,” said Michael Ferachi, McGlinchey’s managing member. “His practice aligns well with our goals to continually broaden our capabilities to offer comprehensive defense services nationwide.”

Shan is a former federal prosecutor who served as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno. His clients include businesses and individuals in white collar, education, and commercial matters on a national scale. He has developed a niche university defense practice representing students and families as well as institutions and academic personnel in secondary and higher education investigations. Shan counsels students in both academic and conduct violations, and has experience with the specific concerns of foreign students in investigative proceedings. His background in prosecuting and defending sex crimes affords him particular skills in Title IX cases.

“McGlinchey fields an excellent team, leveraging its robust national platform to make local connections,” Shan said of his decision to join the firm. “That functionality paired with its clear vision for the future offers an exciting opportunity for my growing practice.”

In his white collar practice, Shan represents individuals and companies in criminal allegations from state and federal government and regulatory agencies, including grand jury subpoenas, as well as internal reviews. Shan is also a seasoned commercial and civil litigator who has also tried hundreds of bench trials and more than 30 trials to jury verdicts. He has argued cases before both the D.C. Circuit and the D.C. Court of Appeals. Shan has represented clients in everything from False Claims Act (FCA) and qui tam actions to allegations of fraud, conflicts of interest, and bribery.

“I am pleased to welcome Shan to McGlinchey,” said Dan Plunkett, chair of McGlinchey’s Enterprise Litigation and Investigations Group and chair of the Government and Internal Investigations team. “Not only will he add a unique, specific skillset to our team, but his entrepreneurial, creative, collaborative spirit matches well with the culture we work hard to nurture.”

In former roles, Shan served as Counsel to the Attorney General, as a supervisor in the office of the U. S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, led a Police Corruption Task Force, and worked on an Independent Counsel investigation regarding a Cabinet official. As a prosecutor, Shan helped secure the first life-without-parole sentence for a serial rapist in the District of Columbia. His government work earned him multiple Special Achievement Awards from the U.S. Department of Justice as well as recognition by community and law enforcement groups.

“We are excited to expand our presence in the Washington, D.C. office with an attorney like Shan,” said Megan Ben’Ary, Managing Member of McGlinchey’s Washington, D.C. office. “His background and experience will serve us well as we continue to grow our litigation and investigations team here in D.C.”

In addition to his practice, Shan shares insights and commentary as a legal analyst for a variety of print and broadcast media outlets. He was honored in 2021 by The American Lawyer with the South Trailblazers award for pioneering work in the area of Student Defense.

Admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Connecticut, Shan earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a member of the Order of the Barristers, edited two law reviews, and became only the second student in Georgetown history to win both the first-year and upper-class moot court competitions. He also earned an M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and a B.A. from Vassar College. The proud son of political refugees, Shan is a native Mandarin speaker.