Carl Shaw

A devoted family man, Carl Shaw advocates for causes he believes will leave the world a better place for his children. He co-founded Donum4 to help pursue that mission.

Carl has been a practicing trial lawyer for 30 years with an overlapping career in law enforcement spanning 30 plus years. He has played a pivotal role in some of the nation’s most visible landmark cases. Carl Shaw has earned the recognition and respect of the legal community and his clients as a capable and compassionate attorney who will not flinch in the face of opposition.

During much of his 20-year tenure as a lawyer handling high profile cases with O’Quinn Law Firm, Carl also served at South Texas College of Law as an adjunct professor in a mock trial to Associate Dean Gerald Treece, widely known for his KHOU-TV appearances informing citizens of their legal rights. Carl is AV rated, the highest independent rating for trial lawyers awarded by the Martindale Hubbell Group.

Currently, Chief Shaw also serves as a command staff officer for a local law enforcement agency, Harris County Constable Precinct 1, where he manages security and other operational issues for the Downtown Houston Courthouse Complex, employment/other legal challenges, training, warrants and other related issues. Through his work in law enforcement and the Harris County District Courts, Carl has a thorough understanding of the behind-the-scenes workings of our legal system, the perspectives of judges, and other courtroom influences that greatly impact the outcome of a case. He also did an internship at the Texas Court of Appeals.

Carl began his career in law at the Harris County Sheriff’s Department – a firsthand experience that gave him great empathy for, and commitment to, the people he represents in the legal system today. Carl holds a Master Peace Officer Certification in the State of Texas.

Carl earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas in Austin and his law degree from South Texas College of Law, where he was commended as the year’s outstanding male graduate by the Student Bar Association. He is an often-requested speaker in the community and spends time doing work with various organizations in the community.