Charlene Sachi Shimada

Charlene (Chuck) Shimada is a partner in the San Francisco Office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.  Her practice concentrates on securities litigation defense, corporate governance, class actions, and complex commercial litigation. Chuck represents issuing corporations, officers and directors, underwriters, and public accounting firms, not only in private litigation, but also in federal and state government investigations and proceedings.

A pioneer in the legal profession, Chuck was the first woman litigation partner, as well as the first woman of color partner, at a premier California firm known for its elite litigation practice. She served as the office managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco headquarters, one of the first women of color to hold that position in any major US law firm. She also served as the co-office managing partner of the San Francisco office of another international law firm.

In addition to her legal practice, Chuck is active in professional and civic affairs. She was appointed to the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Board of Directors, was selected as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative, and served as the co-chair of the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives Committee. She also serves as a member of the US–Japan Council, the Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) Global Advisory Board, and the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus’s Leadership Council.

Chuck was a founding member of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s No Glass Ceiling Task Force, which since 2001 has been helping participating firms increase both the number of women partners and their leadership opportunities. Chuck also co-founded Women In Securities (WISe), a network for women securities litigators in the Bay Area that seeks to promote their development and advancement.

Chuck was named by Benchmark Litigation as one of its distinguished “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for 2017.  She has also been recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, TheLegal 500, and Super Lawyers.  In 2012, Chuck was recognized as one of The Recorder’s Women Leaders in Law and received an award in honor of “25 years of vision and leadership” from the Asian American Bar Association.

Before entering private practice, Chuck served as a law clerk to Judge Martin Pence of the US District Court for the District of Hawaii.