Alicia L.
Shelton

Alicia Shelton represents clients in complex civil disputes, class action litigation and white-collar criminal defense.

EXPERIENCE

Alicia represents plaintiffs and defendants in connection with complex commercial disputes, such as breach-of-contract claims, violations of non-compete agreements, consumer class actions and legal malpractice claims, as well as regulatory appeals and shareholder disputes. She has extensive experience representing individuals and corporations in government investigations and issues related to federal health care fraud statutes.

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.

Representative Matters

• In a week-long federal bench trial, successfully defended a corporate client against allegations of negligent supervision and retention.
• Negotiated favorable settlements on behalf of multiple federal agencies in employment disputes.
• Conducted investigations into fraudulently obtained loans and federal procurement contracts.
• In a three-week jury trial, defended a client against allegations of wire fraud, resulting in a hung jury.
• 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.
• Represented individual and corporate clients in negotiations with the government involving healthcare and procurement fraud allegations.
• Handled numerous highly complex breach of contract claims including construction contracts, employment agreements and acquisitions.

* Please note that this list includes cases completed before her employment at Cole Schotz.

Networks & Affiliations

Alicia is an active member of multiple legal professional organizations, including 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. She also formerly served as the Treasurer for the Equal Justice Associates and was a member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals, the Maryland Federal Bar Association Bench and Bar Liaison Committee, and the Women’s White Collar Defense Association.

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.