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Our Lawyers
Shannon R. Falon
Lawyer & CEO
Shannon is a native South Dakotan who attended college at South Dakota State University and law school at the University of South Dakota. She graduated at the top of her class and was awarded the prestigious gavel award by vote of the law school faculty.
GET TO KNOW SHANNON
Early Years
in her Career
She was also a member of the Sterling Honor Society. After graduating first in her law school class, Shannon had the distinct honor of clerking for the Lawrence Piersol, United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. After her two-year federal clerkship, Shannon joined a preeminent litigation firm in Sioux Falls. She spent the next nineteen years developing her litigation skills and learning from some of the most successful and most experienced litigators in the Midwest.

Shannon quickly distinguished herself as a legal intellect and became the go-to lawyer for complex legal cases, earning her the nickname the Wizard among her former partners. She has the ability to breakdown complicated legal issues into succinct and simple concepts. Whether the case involves intricate trust litigation questions or the complexities of state and federal regulations regarding products liability or insurance law, Shannon can navigate the legal pitfalls for her clients with ease and expertise.
Shannon's legal acumen is only second to her compassion and commitment to her clients. Over the course of her career, Shannon has represented families that have lost loved ones, individuals that have experienced devastating injuries as a result of someone else's actions, and countless cases involving family disputes over trust and estate matters. All of these situations can be emotionally difficult and have the potential to become all-consuming for clients. Shannon understands the impact that these experiences have on the every day life of her clients, and she works tirelessly to be their advocate while also supporting them and guiding them through the litigation process.

Clients appreciate Shannon's communication style. She is an active listener who devotes time to ensuring that clients understand their case and that she understands their objectives and goals in the litigation. She cultivates a partnership between the firm and the client that is particular to the needs and desires of each client. Some clients want a hands- off approach to their case, and Shannon will manage the litigation and only reach out to the client when necessary. Other clients want to be actively involved in each stage of their case and consulted on all litigation issues. Shannon prides herself on meeting each clients expectations and respecting their opinions about their case.
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FIELD OF FOCUS
Areas of
Expertise
Shannon has over twenty years of litigation experience touching on a wide variety of areas. Her primary areas of practice are the following:
  • Trust Litigation
  • Estate Litigation
  • Insurance Litigation/Bad Faith Litigation
  • Business Litigation
  • Personal Injury — Plaintiff
  • Professional Malpractice Law
  • Guardianships and Conservatorships
  • Contract Disputes
  • Multi-District Litigation
  • Product Liability
Educational
Background
01 | University of South Dakota School of Law
Vermillion, South Dakota
J.D. – 2001
Honors: With Honors
Honors: Top of her Class
Honors: Prestigious Gavel Award by Vote of the law School Faculty
02 | South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota
B.S. summa cum laude – 1997
Major: Political Science
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Professional
Associations
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  • South Dakota Bar Association
  • Second Circuit Bar Association
  • United States District Court Western Washington
  • United States District Court of South Dakota
  • Wealth Counsel
  • International Fraud Group
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2023 Martindale-Hubbell Award
Corey Denevan
Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal & Ethical Standards
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings have been an integral part of Martindale-Hubbel's services to the legal community since 1887. The Peer Review Rating process which evaluates lawyers in the United States and Canada is solely based on peer review.
The AV Preeminent Rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubbel.
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Best Lawyers Recognition Badge
Shannon R. Falon
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication company in the legal profession
Recognition by Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by their peers. For more than four decades, our publications have earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.
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Meghann M. Joyce
The AV Preeminent Rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubbel.
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Erin N. Ballard
The AV Preeminent Rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubbel.
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TESTIMONIALS
Our Clients
Success Stories
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Shannon is Smart, Committed, Dedicated to her craft, and Responsive – Hard to get a better combination than that.

Client

I have had the opportunity to work closely with Ms. Falon, as a corporate representative,  on a multi-year bad faith case involving a large regional insurance carrier. Ms. Falon is very detail oriented, but yet understands the big picture of our lawsuit. Ms. Falon has a very pleasant personality and has been a pleasure to work with.

Client

In my parents’ final years, I found myself dealing with a sibling who had stopped talking to me and was exerting influence over our parents. I needed help protecting my aging parents, my visitation with my parents, the management of their estates, and the administration of their estate plan. With the assistance of the lawyers at Denevan Falon Joyce, I was able to continue my relationship with my parents, provide input into their care, obtain information about their estates, protect their estate planning, and make sure their estate was distributed according to their wishes.

Client

I just can’t say enough good things about this firm. Corey, Shannon and Meghann were exceptional! Our case was more than just a case to them. They were so dedicated and actually cared so much about what happened to us! Their dedication was outstanding! They were there when we needed them and we were treated with respect and so much kindness ! I highly recommend them and would definitely give them 5 stars ! I will always be thankful that they were recommended to us and took our case .

Client