Biography
Pratik Shah briefs and argues cases in federal and state appellate courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Pratik also provides strategic advice to clients at all stages of constitutional, regulatory and other complex litigation.
Leading publications describe Pratik as:
“Absolutely brilliant” and “the complete package: an extremely gifted writer and an extremely effective oral advocate,” Chambers USA.
“Supremely talented” and having “a knack for boiling down complex cases to their essence and advocating for his clients in a calm, clear and compelling way,” The Legal 500.
A top appellate advocate who has successfully “practiced before the highest court in the land on some of the most groundbreaking cases of the 21st century,” Washington Business Journal.
Under Pratik’s leadership, Akin Gump has been a mainstay on the National Law Journal’s Appellate Hot List, named one of the top three appellate practices in the 2017 Best of Corporate Counsel rankings, and recognized as Law360’s 2019 Practice Group of the Year.
Before joining the firm, Pratik served for more than five years as an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the Department of Justice. He received a number of awards for his advocacy before the Supreme Court during that time, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his role as lead drafter of the successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act in United States v. Windsor.
Prior to his work at the Department of Justice, Pratik worked in the appellate practice of another international law firm, taught constitutional law, and clerked for Justice Stephen G. Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge William A. Fletcher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Articles, Publications, and Appearances
U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Pratik has orally argued 16 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (winning all but 3).
Speeches
Pratik is a frequent speaker on the Supreme Court at events, panels, briefings and keynotes. See select list here.
In the News
A list of recent news and articles featuring Pratik can be found here.