John Shaeffer is the managing partner in O'Donnell. After graduating from law school, Mr. Shaeffer started his practice at the antitrust boutique of Furth, Fahrner in San Francisco. After two years of practice, Mr. Shaeffer moved to Los Angeles and joined the New York firm of Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & LLP as an associate in the Litigation Department. After five years of practice at Kaye, Scholer, in February 1996, John partnered with Pierce O'Donnell to form O'Donnell & LLP.

Mr. Shaeffer's litigation career is marked by significant trial experience. While at Furth, Fahrner, Mr. Shaeffer was part of the trial team that defended Southern Pacific Railroad in a multi-billion antitrust case brought by a coal slurry pipeline company headed by Bechtel Corporation. The case was tried for twelve weeks in Beaumont, Texas, and, due to a turn of fate, Mr. Shaeffer acted as second chair for all claims brought by one of the two plaintiffs. A defense verdict was obtained.

Soon after Mr. Shaeffer joined Kaye, Scholer, he first chaired a multi-million dollar arbitration resulting from a sale of a business with a multitude of claims and counter-claims. On behalf of his client, Mr. Shaeffer defeated the counter-claims and obtained a $900,000+ favorable judgment for his client. At Kaye, Scholer, Mr. Shaeffer also second chaired a three-week federal trademark action involving two similarly named consumer product companies. Mr. Shaeffer again obtained a favorable judgement at the trial court. Subsequently, Mr. Shaeffer briefed the matter to the Ninth Circuit where the case was affirmed in part and reversed in part.

At Kaye, Scholer, Mr. Shaeffer participated in the firm's representation of Pfizer Inc. in a three-week trial in Orange County of emotional distress and fraud claims relating to one of the company's artificial heart valves. Mr. Shaeffer took principal responsibility for developing the plaintiff-specific evidence. The matter settled while the jury was deliberating.

Mr. Shaeffer also acted as co-counsel in an arbitration raising both copyright and patent claims relating to computer encryption technology. After three weeks of arbitration and a variety of motions the matter eventually settled.

Shortly after founding O'Donnell ¥ Mr. Shaeffer was part of the trial team representing Lockheed Martin Corporation in a CERCLA cost recovery case tried for a number of weeks in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Shaeffer was responsible for cost and accounting issues in the case. The case was ultimately decided in favor of the firm's client.

Mr. Shaeffer also represented actor Fred Dryer in a two-week trial in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California in a breach of contract action against Labatt Brewery PLC. The case was taken to verdict with Mr. Dryer receiving a multi-million dollar award.

Currently Mr. Shaeffer has day-to-day responsibility for a billion-dollar CERCLA mediation with the Federal Government. Like the prior mentioned toxic tort mediation, Mr. Shaeffer has conducted numerous presentations on contested matters before a retired
judge.

In addition to those matters that have proceeded to trial or major arbitration, Mr. Shaeffer has participated in a wide variety of other litigation matters. He is a recognized expert in intellectual property law, and has vast experience in the areas of antitrust, CERCLA, complex corporate and securities litigation.