Shamus P. O'Meara

Shamus P. O'Meara

Shareholder

Shamus O’Meara represents and guides a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses, school districts and educational institutions, employers, risk managers and families. He serves as a mediator and arbitrator for construction, commercial and educational disputes, and as an expert witness and consultant for school and business safety and liability matters.

Shamus represents owners, contractors and other parties involved in the construction process. He negotiates and handles all aspects of construction contract placement, public and private bidding, insurance and bonding issues, coordinates with various construction professionals, and handles claims and litigation involving construction projects.

Shamus represents clients in all areas of education law. He has worked with the U.S. and Minnesota Departments of Education, U.S. Attorneys Office, Secret Service, FBI, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, school districts, and many state and national education organizations to promote safety awareness and crisis management in schools and on campuses.

Shamus has considerable board and leadership experience in the areas of school safety, business management, and legal defense. He also advocates for greater independence, self-determination and access to justice for people with developmental disabilities and their families. He has been recognized as a Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year and Minnesota Super Lawyer, and is rated AV Preeminent by his peers for excellent legal abilities and professional ethics.
•  American Arbitration Association - Construction and Commercial Arbitrator; Large Case Panel 

•  American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry 

•  Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (Past Director, Founding Chair, Construction Law Committee) 

•  Minnesota Construction Association 

•  National Council of School Attorneys (Past Director) 

•  Minnesota Council of School Attorneys 

•  Minnesota School Boards Association Disaster Response Team 

•  Minnesota Legislative Advisory Task Force on School and Emergency Management (2006) 

•  Minnesota State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Past Chair) 

•  Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (Past Chair) 

•  Disability Justice (Past President) 

•  Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority (Past Director, Founding Co-Chair) 

•  Minnesota Indoor Air Association (Past Director)

 

  • Minnesota Lawyer POWER 30 List of Real Estate and Construction Lawyers (2021)
  • Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics (2006 - Present)
  • The Arc Minnesota 2012 Public Policy Award
  • Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer (2005)
  • Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice
School Security and Emergency Management:
  • COVID-19 Toolkit for Minnesota Schools (2020)
  • How Building Design Can Enhance Safety and Security, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (2019)
  • Safe and Secure Schools, National School Boards Association Annual Conference (2019)
  • Making Schools More Secure, EdSpaces Annual Conference (2018)
  • Making Your Schools More Secure, New Mexico School Law Conference (2018)
  • Advising Schools in the Age of School Shootings, National Council of Schools Attorneys Conference (2018)
  • School and Campus Security – Managing Risks Through Effective Design and Planning, AIG Higher Education Client Council (2018)
  • Safe & Secure Schools, Texas Association of School Business Officials Conference (2018)
  • What School Administrators Should Know About K-12 Security, National School Boards Association Annual Conference (2016), Association of School Business Officials International Annual Meeting (2015, 2016), Wisconsin Education Convention (2015)
  • Risk Prevention Through Effective Emergency Management (2015)
  • School Security Design: Planning to Mitigate Risk and Avoid Liability, ABA Construction Lawyer (2014)
  • Keeping a Climate of Safety, Prepared Response Webinar (2014)
  • School Safety and Anti-Bullying Update, MSBA Leadership Conference (2013)
  • Making Schools More Secure, MSBA Summer Conference (2013), MASBO Fall Conference (2013)
  • School Safety and Anti-Bullying Update, MSBA Leadership Conference (2013)
  • School Safety and the Law: Keys to Responding to School Emergencies, NSBA Annual Conference (2013)
  • Plan for Safety, American School Board Journal (2013) Connecticut Joint Safety and Security Summit, Boards of Education, Superintendents, Principals and Business Officials (2013)
  • Keeping Schools and Students Safe, National Council of School Attorneys Annual Conference (2013), MSBA Summer Conference (2013)
  • The Fourth ‘R’ of a Crisis: Recovery, MSBA Journal (2013)
  • Partnering for School Safety, A Comprehensive Education and Law Enforcement Approach to School Safety and Violence Prevention, MASBO Fall Conference (2013), NSBA Annual Conference (2008, 2009), Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits (2008), MSBA Leadership Conference (2007), MSBA Journal (2007), U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools School Security Officials and Safe School Center Directors Conference (2005)
  • Planning for and Managing the School Crisis You Hope Never Comes, NSBA Council of School Attorneys, National Webinar (2012)
  • Emergency Plan Inclusion, American School Board Journal (2011)
  • Responding Effectively to the Media in Times of Crisis, MSBA Leadership Conference (2010, 2011)
  • Practical and Legal Lessons From K-12 Incidents of Violence, U.S. Department of Education National Higher Education Conference (2008)
  • Information Sharing for School Safety, Minnesota School Safety Conference (2008)
  • The Minnesota School Safety Center, MSBA Leadership Conference (2008)
  • Preventing Targeted Violence in Schools, Crimes Against Children in Indian Country Conference (2008)
  • School Security and Disaster Planning, National School Plant Managers Association Conference (2007), Upper Cumberland Safe & Accountable Schools Institute (2007)
  • School Safety and Violence Prevention in Minnesota, MSBA Leadership Conference (2006)
  • Legal and Practical Approaches to Construction Contracting and Disaster Response, Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust Safety and Loss Control Workshop (2004), Minnesota Association of Townships Conference (2004)
  • Environmental Issues for Schools, NSBA Conference (2003)
Construction:
  • Successfully Negotiating Construction Contracts (2021)
  • COVID-19 and Your Contracts (2020)
  • Construction Practices and the Law (2019)
  • Contractual Indemnification, Contract Risk and Practical Recommendations (2019)
  • Additional Insured Coverage Issues (2018)
  • Construction Practices, Managing Contract Risks (2017)
  • Construction Practices and the Law (2016)
  • Impact of Field Turf on Sports Concussions, MASBO Fall Conference (2016)
  • Hot Topics in School Construction, MSBA Leadership Conference (2015)
  • School Construction, MASBO Conference (2015)
  • School Security Design, ABA Construction Lawyer (2014)
  • Construction Coverage for Contractual Indemnification & Additional Insureds (2014)
  • Subcontractor Exposure: 2013 Amendments to the Minnesota Anti-Indemnification Statute (2013)
  • Best Value Construction Training Program for Schools and Public Entities, MSBA Conference (2010)
  • Legal and Practical Approaches to Bidding Construction Contracts (2009)
  • Avoiding Building Design and Construction Problems, National Business Institute (2007), National School Plant Managers Association Annual Conference (2007), Minnesota Association of School Maintenance Supervisors (2006)
  • The Betterment or Added Benefit Defense, ABA Construction Lawyer, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Conference (2005)
  • Managing the Imperfect Storm, Minnesota District Judges Conference (2006)
  • The Home Buyer’s Warranty Option, The Builder’s Club (2006)
  • Construction Defect Claims in Minnesota, Lorman Education (2006)
  • How’s Your Mechanical Project?, MASBO Conference (2006)
  • The 25 Year Water Claim, Minnesota Defense (2005) Harris Martin Mold (2005)
  • Construction Considerations in Mold Litigation, Harris Martin Mold (2006), Minnesota Defense (2002)
  • Selecting and Using Experts in Mold Cases, Minnesota CLE (2003)
  • Mold in Buildings: The Legal Issues, Midwest Symposium on Indoor Air Quality (2001-2003); Construction Contracting for Public Entities, Lorman Education (2002)
  • Mold: The Litigation Blossoms, An Advanced Course, MDLA Seminar (2002)
  • Pitfalls in Standard Construction Contracts, League of Minnesota Cities Loss Control Quarterly (2000)
  • AIA Contract Analysis, (1998, 2002)
  • Indoor Air Quality, NSBA Inquiry Journal (2001)
  • Defense & Coverage Considerations in Construction Mold Cases (2000)
 Other:
  • Business Interruption Lawsuits from the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
  • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Subrogation and Employer Liability for Claims Professionals and Risk Managers (2019)
  • Strategic Partnering with the Employer, Torts Litigation & Ethics Conference (2018)
  • Disability Rights Panel, Minnesota Federal Bar Association (2017)
  • Sports Related Concussions, MSBA Conference (2016)
  • Civil and Human Rights for School Districts, MSBA Conference (2015)
  • Legal Issues Involving Telematics Data, MinnesotaRIMS Annual Conference (2014)
  • Equal Access to Justice for People with Disabilities, MDI Annual Meeting (2014), MN CLE Webcast (2010, 2011), Minnesota Federal Bar Association (2009)
  • Accessing Disability Services in Minnesota (2008)
  • Wrongful Death Damages, Minnesota CLE (2008)
  • Symposium, Attitudes About People with Developmental Disabilities, Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Chair (2007), TPT Almanac interview, (2007)
  • Brief of Amicus Curiae, National School Boards Association, Kentucky Retirement Systems v. EEOC, No. 06-1037, Supreme Court of the United States (2007)
  • Defense Perspectives on Education Law, MDLA Conference (2006)