Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler

What Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler does

Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler, P.A. is a Baltimore-based business, litigation, and bankruptcy law firm founded in 1972 by Ronald M. Shapiro. The firm operates across five practice areas: Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring, Corporate & Securities, Litigation, and Real Estate. It serves a diverse client base including closely held businesses, public corporations, emerging ventures, REITs, governments and quasi-governmental entities, nonprofits, and individuals. Geographic concentration is the Mid-Atlantic region, with selective national reach on bankruptcy/restructuring and REIT/corporate matters, including high-visibility Chapter 11 trustee engagements.

The firm runs as a traditional professional services partnership with revenue from hourly and matter-based billing on legal engagements; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per matter. Headquartered at 250 West Pratt Street, Suite 2000, Baltimore, the firm employs 101-250 staff and attorneys across partner, of-counsel, and associate ranks. Notable client work includes serving as Chapter 11 Trustee in TMST, Inc. (formerly Thornburg Mortgage, Inc.), where the firm obtained more than $115 million in payments and waiver of more than $2.5 billion in claims against eight major investment banks, plus counsel work for Diamond Comic Distributors, the Hair Cuttery 800-store chain, Combined Properties, and others. The firm also maintains active Sports Law / entertainment-adjacent capabilities via founder Ronald M. Shapiro's separate sports representation practice and his recognition by Sports Business Journal.

Market position is reinforced by consistent third-party recognition: 2026 Best Law Firms in America, 2025 Chambers USA rankings in bankruptcy/restructuring and insurance (with Band 1 rankings for Joel I. Sher and Alex J. Brown), Best Lawyers selections for thirteen attorneys in 2026, Maryland Super Lawyers listings, and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings. Leadership includes Founder Ronald M. Shapiro (Harvard Law cum laude, former Maryland State Securities Commissioner), President William E. Carlson (Chambers USA REITs: Maryland Counsel and Corporate/M&A), and COO Renée S. Lane-Kunz. Client acquisition relies on attorney reputation, peer recognition, and thought leadership through publications like Multifamily Executive Magazine and the firm's "News & Insights" feed.

Name

Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler

Legal name

Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler, P.A.

Website

https://shapirosher.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler is a Baltimore-based law firm founded in 1972 providing business, bankruptcy, litigation, banking, and real estate legal services to closely held businesses, public corporations, governments, nonprofits, and individuals across the Mid-Atlantic and nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business and Commercial Legal Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Litigation & Dispute Valuation (damages, shareholder disputes) (FSAEAHAI), Real Estate Restructuring, Turnaround & Workout Advisory (Distressed Assets) (BPAJANAH)

Keywords

• Commercial banking law
• Bankruptcy restructuring services
• Corporate securities legal
• Commercial litigation counsel
• Real estate development law

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Revenue: Traditional law firm revenue derived from professional legal services billed to clients including corporations, financial institutions, government entities, nonprofits, and individuals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shapiro Sher is a Baltimore-based business, litigation, and bankruptcy law firm providing legal representation across five practice areas: Banking & Financial Services (commercial lending, workouts, foreclosures, SBA compliance), Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring (Chapter 11 and 7 cases, trusteeships, distressed asset acquisitions), Corporate & Securities (governance, M&A, securities compliance, employment law, technology transactions, IP), Litigation (commercial, construction, insurance coverage, real estate, employment, appellate), and Real Estate (development, leasing, financing). The firm serves closely held businesses, public corporations, financial institutions, government entities, nonprofits, and individuals across the Mid-Atlantic region with select national matters.

Product overview

Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler is a business, litigation, and bankruptcy law firm offering five distinct legal practice areas: Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring, Corporate & Securities, Litigation, and Real Estate. The firm was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Each practice group functions as a specialized service area rather than a modular software product, with attorneys providing legal counsel across corporate and securities law, litigation, bankruptcy, banking and financial services, and real estate matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Banking & Financial Services Legal representation for financial institutions including banks, credit unions, premium finance companies, and lending services companies in all aspects of commercial lending, including documenting and structuring commercial loan transactions, workouts and commercial loan restructurings, loan modifications and forbearance agreements, foreclosures and UCC sales, receiverships, note sales, SBA SOP compliance and protection of SBA guarantees, and defense of lender liability claims.
• Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Innovative representation in bankruptcy, creditors' rights, financial restructuring, and commercial litigation, with a focus on entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and trustees. Services include corporate reorganizations and workouts, out-of-court restructuring, trustee representation in large/complex Chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases, bankruptcy cases, distressed asset acquisitions, bankruptcy and insolvency litigation, commercial litigation, and corporate advisory.
• Corporate & Securities Comprehensive business counsel covering corporate law, corporate governance, and business planning; employment law; technology transaction law; and trademark and copyright law. Engagements include entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, securities law compliance, intellectual property protection, and general corporate advisory for public corporations, closely held businesses, emerging ventures, REITs, governments, quasi-governmental entities, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
• Litigation Representation of public and privately held companies, governmental agencies, insurers, and individuals in commercial litigation and business disputes, construction disputes and litigation, insurance coverage disputes and litigation, real estate, land use, and zoning litigation, employment litigation, administrative claims and enforcement actions, and appellate litigation in state and federal courts.
• Real Estate Legal counsel for real estate development, leasing, and financing transactions across the Mid-Atlantic region, representing real estate developers, commercial lenders, landlords, tenants, and contractors. Engagements cover commercial development, financing, leasing, construction and design law, zoning, and land use matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved more than $115 million in payments and waiver of more than $2.5 billion in claims in TMST, Inc. bankruptcy litigation against eight major investment banks

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Venable LLP: Venable is a Baltimore/Maryland-rooted business law firm with comparable size and overlapping bankruptcy, corporate, real estate, and litigation practices serving similar financial institution and corporate clients.
• Whiteford, Taylor & Preston: Whiteford Taylor & Preston is a Mid-Atlantic business law firm with strong bankruptcy/restructuring and banking practices headquartered in Baltimore, directly competing for Trustee and creditor-committee engagements.
• Saul Ewing: Saul Ewing is a Mid-Atlantic-based law firm with comparable size, Baltimore presence, and overlapping practices in bankruptcy, banking, corporate, and real estate law — directly competing for the same enterprise client base.
• Miles & Stockbridge: Miles & Stockbridge is a Maryland-headquartered law firm of comparable size serving closely held businesses, financial institutions, and corporations with similar banking, bankruptcy, corporate, and litigation practices.

Broad incumbents

• Ballard Spahr LLP: Ballard Spahr is a larger national law firm with a substantial Baltimore/Washington presence and well-developed bankruptcy, banking, real estate, and corporate practices that overlap with Shapiro Sher's core service lines.
• DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with a significant Baltimore/Washington office providing corporate, banking, restructuring, and litigation services — competing for the same enterprise and financial institution clients.
• Hogan Lovells: Hogan Lovells is a major global law firm with strong Baltimore/Washington presence and significant bankruptcy, corporate, and litigation practices that compete for high-profile Mid-Atlantic corporate and distressed-deal matters.

Regional players

• Akerman LLP: Akerman is a national business law firm with significant bankruptcy, real estate, and corporate practices serving financial institution and corporate clients across the Mid-Atlantic and other U.S. markets.
• Frost Brown Todd: Frost Brown Todd is a multi-state business law firm with a comparable bankruptcy/restructuring practice and similar client focus on financial institutions, lenders, and corporate clients.
• McCarter & English: McCarter & English is an East Coast-based business law firm with comparable size and overlapping banking, bankruptcy, and corporate practices, serving similar financial institution and corporate clients across the Mid-Atlantic corridor.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shapiro-sher-guinot-&-sandler

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler