Alicia Shelton is a formidable advocate in complex litigation and white-collar matters. She is known for navigating bet-the-company litigation and conducting investigations with the perspective of a former AUSA and the precision of a seasoned trial lawyer.

EXPERIENCE

COMMERICAL CIVIL LITIGATION & CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS

Alicia represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of complex commercial disputes, including breach-of-contract claims, non-compete and restrictive covenant litigation, consumer class actions, legal malpractice claims, regulatory appeals, and shareholder disputes. She regularly defends clients across a variety of industries in civil trials and has extensive experience advocating in evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

In addition to dispute resolution, Alicia advises clients on business exit strategies and governance issues. She serves as outside counsel for internal corporate investigations, involving issues such as workplace misconduct and potential exposure from activity by third parties such as vendors, suppliers, or customers.

Recent representative matters include:

• Successfully defended a corporate client in a week-long trial against allegations of negligent supervision and retention.
• Successfully defended against an injunction on behalf of client involving enforcement of a non-compete agreement and theft of trade secrets claims.
• Conducted internal investigations on behalf of universities and hospital systems.
• Resolved numerous highly complex breach of contract claims including construction contracts, employment agreements and acquisitions.

WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL DEFENSE & GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS

Alicia has significant experience representing individuals and corporations in white-collar criminal matters, government investigations and regulatory enforcement actions, across a variety of industries, including healthcare, digital finance, renewable energy, government procurement, construction and real estate finance  .

She regularly represents clients responding to criminal and civil government subpoenas and guides them through each stage of the investigative process, helping them navigate complex regulatory and enforcement landscapes while minimizing legal and reputational risk.

Recent representative matters include:

• Obtained dismissal of indictment involving alleged regulatory violations of digital finance laws.
• Successfully defended a client in a three-week jury trial against allegations of wire fraud and procurement.
• Guided a client through negotiations with the government in response to a SEC investigation.
• Represented individual and corporate clients in negotiations with the government involving healthcare and procurement fraud allegations.

BANKRUPTY LITIGATION

Alicia represents clients in bankruptcy-related litigation, including disputes involving consumer class action claims and adversary proceedings. Her experience includes preserving assets of the bankruptcy estate, pursuing causes of action such as fraudulent transfer claims, conducting discovery and depositions, and advocating for plan confirmation at trial.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining Cole Schotz, Alicia was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.  Alicia represented the United States government and its agencies in challenges to agency actions, employment discrimination claims, and tort cases. She also conducted affirmative investigations involving violations of the False Claims Act.

Prior to serving as an AUSA, Alicia practiced as a litigation associate with two firms in Baltimore. She also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia of the Maryland Supreme Court. Prior to law school, Alicia owned a restaurant and bar in Long Beach, California and worked as business development director at the Human Designs Prosthetics & Orthotics and Chesapeake Pain Center.

Networks & Affiliations

Alicia is an active member of multiple legal professional organizations, including the Maryland Legal Aid Equal Justice Council, the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, instructing students in Civil Discovery in the Digital Age.

Alicia is also involved with Baltimore community organizations, including serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.

Thought leadership

Alicia has presented at the Maryland Judicial College on issues involving the authentication of social media and the use of electronic evidence in court. She has also contributed to several legal publications, including:

• Editor and Contributing Author, “Electronically Stored Information in Maryland Courts,” Maryland State Bar Association, May 2020
• Contributing Author, “Maryland Contract Litigation,” LexisNexis Practice Guide, 2019
• Co-Author, “The Spoliation Doctrine in Maryland,” The Litigator, Maryland State Bar Association, October 2017
• Contributing Author, “Litigating Contract Claims in Maryland,” LexisNexis, 2017
• Contributing Author, “Perspectives on Predictive Coding and Other Advanced Search Methods for the Legal Practitioner,” American Bar Association, December 2016
• Co-Author, “With ESI, Difference Between Federal, State Rules,” The Daily Record, June 20, 2016
• Contributing Author, Washington Contract Litigation, LexisNexis Practice Guide, 2016

Honors & Awards

Alicia was named in Ones to Watch in 2022 by the Best Lawyers. She was also recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2022 and 2021. In 2021, Alicia was recognized for her pro bono work with the Judge Robert M. Bell Award by the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland. She was also selected by The Daily Record in 2020 to the Women Who Lead Initiative and in 2018 as a Leading Woman.

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