Shana De Caro is a nationally recognized trial attorney and partner at the New York personal injury law firm De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, focusing on traumatic brain injury, catastrophic personal injury, and medical malpractice. She has led the Brain Injury Association of America, tried complex brain injury cases, and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top trial lawyers.
Key credentials
Role: Partner, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
Specialty: Traumatic brain injury, catastrophic injury, and medical malpractice litigation
Leadership: Two-term Chairwoman, Brain Injury Association of America
Governance: Former Secretary and Trustee, Civil Justice Foundation
Honours: Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Litigation Counsel of America
Rankings: New York Super Lawyers (2014–present); The Best Lawyers in America
Awards: President’s Award (NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers); Public Justice Achievement Award
Notable work: Amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the NFL concussion settlement
Publications: Articles in New York Law Journal, National Law Journal, Trial Magazine, Psychiatric Clinics of North America
Speaking: Lecturer for the American Association for Justice, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, and North American Brain Injury Society
Professional profile
Shana De Caro, Esq. is a nationally recognized trial attorney and legal advocate with over 45 years of experience representing individuals with catastrophic injuries caused by negligence, medical error, and wrongful conduct.
As a partner at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, she is widely regarded as a leading authority in traumatic brain injury, catastrophic personal injury, and medical malpractice law.
Practice focus
Represents clients with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic harm.
Handles cases involving surgical negligence, hospital negligence, and complex medical error.
Known for meticulous case preparation, compassionate client advocacy, and clear explanation of complex medical and scientific issues to judges and juries.
Leadership and advocacy
Served two terms as Chairwoman of the Brain Injury Association of America, helping to shape national brain injury policy and protections.
Served as Secretary and Trustee of the Civil Justice Foundation, supporting public interest litigation and access to the civil justice system.
Past President of the Top 25 Brain Injury Trial Lawyers.
Member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Honors and recognition
Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Named to New York Super Lawyers every year since 2014.
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in Best Law Firms of America by U.S. News & World Report.
Recipient of the President’s Award from the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Recipient of the Public Justice Achievement Award for pro bono representation of victims of the September 11th tragedy.
Publications and scholarship
Published in the New York Law Journal, National Law Journal, Trial Magazine, and Psychiatric Clinics of North America on traumatic brain injury litigation, patient rights, and medical ethics.
Contributor to “Telehealth and Traumatic Brain Injury” (Springer, 2020).
Contributor to work on “Current Issues in Neurolaw: Traumatic Brain Injury: Defining Best Practice” in Psychiatric Clinics of North America.
Co-author of a widely cited amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America challenging the NFL concussion settlement.
Frequent contributor to the Huffington Post on brain injury prevention, justice, and legal reform.
Teaching and speaking
Regular lecturer on brain injury litigation, strokes and medical malpractice, and the legal implications of sports-related concussions.
Has presented for the American Association for Justice, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, North American Brain Injury Society, and other professional organizations.
Professional ethos and impact
Recognised for advancing standards of practice in brain injury and medical negligence litigation.
Combines individual client advocacy with broader work on systemic change, education, and fair treatment of people living with traumatic brain injury and other catastrophic injuries.
Shana is admitted to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.
We are based in Manhattan, and serve the entire State of New York including New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens. We also serve Nassau and Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester Counties, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse and surrounding areas.
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