Shana L. Fulton

Shana Fulton represents businesses and individuals in criminal and civil litigation, under government investigation or in conducting internal investigations. As a defense attorney and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, she has experience litigating and investigating high-profile and complex matters at all levels of federal and state trial courts. She loves using her deep experience as a defense attorney and federal prosecutor on complex matters that feature a mix of criminal, civil and regulatory issues across a wide variety of industries.

My Practices

Internal Investigations:

Shana has internally investigated sensitive criminal, civil, employment and regulatory matters on behalf of clients who may be dealing with a crisis or seeking to avoid one in the future. These clients have included multinational corporations, local businesses, state agencies, major universities and public and private schools. She has investigated allegations of cybersecurity breaches, healthcare fraud, child sex abuse, corporate embezzlement and fraud, corporate board and officer misconduct, discrimination and harassment.  

Criminal Litigation:

Shana was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, DC for almost twelve years where she:

• Prosecuted numerous high profile matters that were published in major news outlets, including The Washington Post, such as the Donovan Hotel case (U.S. v. Jamyra Gallmon, et al.) and the Double Hammer Homicides (U.S. v. Jeffrey Neal).
• Investigated and prosecuted numerous cases ranging from misdemeanors to complex homicides to federal crimes.
• Served as a Deputy Chief in the Felony Major Crimes Section and also in the General Crimes Section.
• Served as Senior Litigation Counsel to the Homicide Section.

While in private practice, Shana has defended clients against the government in matters, including:

• On behalf of a medical practice, investigated and responded to allegations by U.S. DHHS of HIPAA violations.
• Represented a prominent political figure charged with alleged bribery, conspiracy, and false statements, resulting in the dismissal of the bribery, conspiracy, and two false statement counts and a probationary sentence for the remaining count, which was terminated early by a presidential pardon.
• Represented a major accounting firm accused of government procurement fraud by the federal government.
• Represented an employee of a multinational shipping company accused of MARPOL violations. He avoided individual criminal charges.
• Represented a major national pharmacy benefits management company against allegations of False Claims Act violations and government procurement fraud.
• Represented a high-profile DC official against allegations of election ethics violations.
• Represented high-profile political candidate against campaign finance allegations
• Represented pharmacy employee in high-dollar and high-profile pharmaceutical fraud matter 

Complex Civil Litigation:

• Successfully advocated on behalf of a private university in a federal wrongful death lawsuit.
• Represented a major national waste removal company in civil RICO and accounting fraud litigation.
• Represented a major railroad company in civil lawsuit regarding a significant derailment in a major urban area.

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2024)

Recognized by her peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina’s "Legal Elite" in Criminal Law (2022-2024)

Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation (2021-2025)

Recognized by Lawyers of Color as a "2022 Law Firm Leader"

Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Member, North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society (2020, 2023)

Education

Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 2001, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; Articles Editor, Columbia Human Rights Law Review

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1998, with highest honors, with distinction in English and political science, Morehead-Cain Scholar, Order of the Golden Fleece

Admissions

District of Columbia

North Carolina

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Professional & Civic Activities

Chair, Governance Committee, Morehead-Cain Scholarship Foundation Fund Board

Program Committee Chair, North Carolina Advisory Board, Environmental Defense Fund

Chair, Antitrust and Complex Business Disputes Section, North Carolina Bar Association

Member, Private Directors Association

Member, Government Affairs Committee, North Carolina Captive Insurance Association

Member, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers

Member, AUSA Association of DC

Member, Task Force Prosecutorial Accountability, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member, Eastern District of North Carolina Chapter, Federal Bar Association

Member, Women's White Collar Defense Association

Member, Capital City Lawyers Association

Former Member, Minorities in the Profession Committee, North Carolina Bar Association

The legal profession interests me because it is a profession that allows me to merge my intellectual curiosity and constant drive to problem-solve with my desire to help individuals and businesses who may be facing a personal challenge or corporate crisis. My natural environment is in front of a jury in a courtroom. What I have valued the most about my career is the opportunities I have had to meet and help individuals from all walks of life and learn to appreciate that diversity of life.

I am a military brat who has lived or traveled to numerous states, several countries and a few continents.  My life journeys – personal and professional – have made me who I am. But, I love being in my home state of North Carolina spending time with my family.