Profile
Joseph W. Shaneyfelt is a member of the Litigation Practice in Greenberg Traurig's Austin office. With a strong background in trial and motion practice, Joseph is experienced in handling all stages of litigation, and has contributed to numerous high-profile lawsuits in both federal and state trial courts. While representing clients in federal court, Joseph often serves as local counsel in patent litigation cases (particularly in Waco, Texas), where he regularly leads oral arguments, skillfully manages complex discovery disputes, drafts and argues venue challenges, and deposes damages experts in cases involving eight-and-nine-figure claims. Joseph’s patent litigation experience includes both innovative hardware such as batteries, computer servers, computer cooling systems, and LED lighting, as well as emerging software technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning, IoT, cloud services, and other Web 3.0 technology.
Joseph also litigates cases involving energy, antitrust, private equity, real estate, rail, and other commercial cases. Additionally, Joseph represents clients with open records requests, administrative appeals, and judicial review of those appeals.
Before joining Greenberg Traurig, Joseph completed a fellowship with the Texas Attorney General’s Special Litigation Unit—tasked with safeguarding the interests of the State of Texas by pursuing multi-million dollar claims and defending Texas against constitutional and statutory challenges. Joseph was part of a team that went 12-0 in constitutional challenges.
Following law school, Joseph clerked for the Hon. Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Joseph is also well-versed in advising, representing, and advocating for individuals and organizations under the U.S. Sentencing Commission's Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC and GCM Grosvenor, as joint sponsors, in connection with their acquisition of Hallcon Corporation from Canadian private equity firm Novacap. Hallcon is the leading North American provider of mission-critical transportation services and infrastructure for a broad range of customers including railroads, universities, airports, hospitals and health care systems, public transit, technology and industrial companies, and other large employers seeking custom transportation solutions.
- Law Fellow, Texas Attorney General, Special Litigation Unit, 2020-2021
- Office of the Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, 2015-2017
- Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff, 2016-2017
- Special Aide to Lieutenant Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer, 2015
- Law Clerk, Texas Attorney General, Special Litigation Unit, 2018
- Extern, Hon. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 2018
- Intern, Denton County District Attorney, 2017-2018
- Intern, Office of the Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, 2014
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2025
- Listed, Super Lawyers Magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2024
- Committee Member, Red Mass Committee, St. Thomas More Society of Austin
- Committee Member, Civil Life and the Law Committee, Benedictine College
- Member, The Philos Project, Houston Chapter
- Member, The Federalist Society
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Austin Bar Association
- Member, Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
- Student Mentee, Judge Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court, 2018-2019
- Group Leader, World Youth Day, Krakow, Poland, 2016
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
Credentials
-
J.D., Baylor University School of Law, 2019
- Business Litigation Professional Track
- B.A., Benedictine College, 2016
- Hon. Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 2019-2020
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas