Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation
Shults Law Firm’s attorneys have decades of experience litigating complex commercial disputes. All of Shults Law Firm’s attorneys have extensive experience in state and federal courts, through each phase of litigation.
Partner Steven Shults began his professional litigation experience as a clerk for The Honorable G. Thomas Eisele in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Since then, Steve has been litigating complex disputes in private practice. He has spent more than forty years litigating commercial disputes. In that time, he has represented national and multinational corporations and has represented and litigated against some of the world’s largest corporations.
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Partner Peter Shults began his professional litigation experience as a clerk for The Honorable J. Leon Holmes in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Peter then worked for Foley Hoag LLP, where he was involved in complex litigation matters in federal courts, including federal district courts, federal appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in international courts and tribunals. Since 2019, Peter has worked for Shults Law Firm, where he has continued to litigate complex commercial disputes in Arkansas courts, federal courts, and arbitration. Peter has litigated multiple billion-dollar disputes, has represented sovereign States in litigation and arbitration, and has litigated cases involving some of the world’s largest corporations.
Partner Amanda Orcutt began her litigation experience at Holland & Knight LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, and has continued litigating since practicing in Arkansas. Amanda has trial experience in state and federal courts, handling trials that run the gamut from small-claims cases to high-stakes civil litigation.
All of Shults Law Firm’s attorneys have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, among other recognitions, with Peter and Steve being recognized specifically for their work in commercial litigation. Best Lawyers in America also has recognized Shults Law Firm as a Tier 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation.
Education Law
Led by partner Amanda Orcutt, Shults Law Firm assists colleges, universities, and other schools with investigations, litigation, and regulatory matters that cover the gamut of compliance challenges, including those relating to Title IX, Title VII, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Clery Act. Our attorneys also advise educational institutions on issues related to student affairs, employee misconduct, minors on campus, harassment, and discrimination, among other issues. They also have extensive experience serving as a hearing officer, decision-maker, and advisor under the 2020 Title IX regulations. Shults Law Firm also provides trainings to institutions on Title IX and other compliance areas, performs climate assessments, and conducts policy reviews and audits.
Employment Law
Shults Law Firm advises employers on a broad range of employment matters. Our attorneys represent employers in state and federal court litigation, internal investigations, and administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Shults Law Firm is a trusted advisor to employers on a vast array of employment-related issues, including employment and separation agreements, restrictive covenants (non-competition and non-solicitation), independent contractor classification, and day-to-day human resource compliance, such as hiring and firing, employment training, disability accommodation, and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) compliance. In addition, Shults Law Firm helps clients ensure that their employment policies and practices comply with industry standards.
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Shults Law Firm also specializes in high-stakes internal investigations related to employee misconduct, harassment and discrimination, retaliation, sexual misconduct, and other sensitive issues. Our attorneys conduct investigations in both privileged and non-privileged settings, provide written reports, and assist decision-makers in addressing investigative findings and creating corrective actions plans. Our attorneys also conduct climate assessments for employers interested in assessing their environment to address issues related to equity and inclusion, safety, and other issues.
International Litigation
& Arbitration
Shults Law Firm has extensive expertise in international litigation and arbitration and in international law. Led by partner Peter Shults, Shults Law Firm’s public international law practice is unique to Arkansas law firms. Peter has years of experience representing sovereign States in the world’s principal dispute-resolution bodies and in U.S. courts. Peter’s experience in sovereign-State representation includes investor-State disputes, State-to-State disputes, enforcement of foreign arbitral awards, and application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, among other areas.
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Peter’s public international law practice extends beyond State-to-State and investor-State disputes. He has represented sovereign States in their attempts to extradite high-profile fugitives from the United States. He also has represented professional athletes in disputes with the World Anti-Doping Agency and other organizations that govern international sports.
Peter’s experience in international law has led him to serve as counsel to international and constitutional legal experts on two amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, both of which involved international law and human rights.
Peter also has taught international law and international human rights law as an adjunct professor for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
Appellate Litigation
Shults Law Firm has a broad appellate practice. Our attorneys have experience in the Arkansas Court of Appeals, the Arkansas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Our appellate practice includes overseeing cases from the trial court through all appeals, as well as taking on cases only at the appellate stage of litigation. The broad experience of our attorneys allows Shults Law Firm to handle a vast range of cases in appellate courts.
Nonprofit & Political
Organizations Law
Shults Law Firm has extensive experience representing nonprofit and political organizations. Our attorneys represent nonprofit and political organizations in all legal matters. Such representation includes counseling these organizations on how to maintain tax-exempt status, ensuring compliance with election and campaign-finance laws, and navigating the myriad laws governing nonprofit and political organizations. Our attorneys also provide trainings on these issues to nonprofit and political organizations.
Shults Law Firm also represents nonprofit and political organizations in any disputes such organizations have, whether in court or in front of regulatory bodies.
Our attorneys have extensive experience counseling clients on state and federal election laws. This includes advising clients on campaign-finance laws, tax laws, and other election-related laws. Our attorneys also engage in litigation related to election law, including litigation related to legislative redistricting and to political organizations.
Election Law
Shults Law Firm has extensive practice litigating state and federal constitutional issues. These cases involve challenges to the constitutionality of Arkansas or federal statutes, attempts to vindicate individual rights, attempts to protect fundamental freedoms and human rights, and other constitutional matters. Our attorneys have been involved in constitutional cases at the highest levels of state and federal courts, including the Arkansas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.