Daniel B. Shapiro, Esq.
Prior to narrowing his practice to representing federal employees suffering from advanced degenerative arthritis of the lower extremities, Daniel B. Shapiro, Esq. had an outstanding career as a trial lawyer in the most serious of injury cases.
A graduate of Boston University and New England Law, Dan is a frequent lecturer on the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) and practices before the Office of Worker Compensation Programs (OWCP) of the Department of Labor. He has participated as a speaker and presented seminars for postal workers, federal public safety personnel and other federal employees engaged in physical occupations. He frequently appears as a guest lecturer at union educational programs and conferences on the issues facing those unfortunate enough to have been caught up in the federal worker compensation system.
Now concentrating his efforts on behalf of those federal employees who suffer from advanced degenerative arthritis of the lower extremities, Dan has developed a reputation as the leading practitioner in the country on this condition, which is particularly prevalent among veteran employees whose physical responsibilities have left them with significant lower extremity issues. His medical knowledge and that of his colleagues is unparalleled by any other FECA/OWCP lawyer or law firm. As a result, Dan is personally responsible for the Department of Labor now accepting advanced degenerative arthritis of the lower extremities as an occupational disease.
J. Lance DeGeneres, Jr.
Attorney at Law.
Senior Attorney at Shapiro and Associates.
Lead attorney in the adjudication section of the firm.
What’s your work history and what lead you to work Shapiro & Associates?
- B.A. in General Studies from Louisiana State University
- J.D. for Louisiana State University
- 28-year career as a litigation/trial attorney in Louisiana. Involved in cases in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
- Senior partner in a law firm in Baton Rouge, LA from 1993 to 2012.
- Senior attorney in a national law firm, New Orleans location, from 2012-2018.
- Senior attorney with Shapiro and Associates since 2019.
My entire law career has involved help injured individuals. The type of law practiced at Shapiro and Associates allows me to draw on my 28 years of litigation experience and medical knowledge. For me, Shapiro and Associates was a perfect fit.
What qualities do you think is important to have to do your job?
- Compassion. To be able to listen to and understand our client’s problems.
- Good Judgment. The ability to analyze a great deal of information and make sound decisions.
- Tenacity. Success in obtaining awards in federal WC osteoarthritis claims requires aggressively overcoming the many obstacles presented during the process, not matter how long it takes.
- Good Communication Skills. This not only includes the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, but to listen as well.
- Medical Knowledge. Our extensive knowledge and understanding of osteoarthritis conditions is a key factor in our high success rate of recovery for our clients.
What is your biggest client win?
I recovered $10,000,000.00 in a personal injury case involving a mild traumatic brain injury. However, I have many recoveries in the “millions” for my clients.
Why do you love working at Shapiro & Associates?
It truly is a “team” effort at Shapiro and Associates. Our entire office is involved in the processing of the claim of each and every client. Also, there is a great sense of pride working here because Shapiro and Associates is recognized nationally as the premier law firm representing injured federal workers with osteoarthritis claims.
Kelley Greski
Senior Paralegal and General Manager
What lead you to work Shapiro & Associates?
- Bachelors of Arts Criminal Justice Roanoke College 2004 Magna Cum Laude
- Bachelor of Arts Political Science Roanoke College 2004 Magna Cum Laude
- Master of Arts Political Science Northeastern University 2006 Magna Cum Laude
- Certificate of Paralegal Studies Northeastern University 2007
- Certificate of Business Salem State University 2012
I started at Shapiro & Associates in 2007 as a litigation legal assistant. In 2008 the practice area changed to focus exclusively on FECA law, specifically obtaining benefits for employees with work related post-traumatic injury or occupational disease lower extremity joint arthritis. Over my thirteen years of experience, Shapiro & Associates has grown into a national practice area helping hundreds of federal employees file claims and obtain benefits for permanent disabilities.
What qualities do you think is important to have to do your job?
The ability to be detail oriented while handling a large volume of cases is critical. Communicating and developing a trusting relationship with our clients are also important qualities to possess because in this arena we often need clients to be cooperative and advocate with us to obtain a successful resolution of their claim. Collaboration among the team is a large part of what makes this operation successful. Above all, a continuous critical analysis of the claim from the intake stage, to development, through appeals, and final decisions to maximize the claimant’s financial benefits and address their medical concerns is key.
What is your biggest client win?
I don’t think the biggest win is something that has a monetary value. Sure, we have had those big victories but coming to work every day to help hardworking people obtain the benefits they deserve is rewarding. It’s also fun, as a small firm, to go head to head with a federal agency and come out on top!
Why do you love working at Shapiro & Associates?
I really love the people I work with and the environment at Shapiro & Associates. Every team member has to do their part or it just won’t work. We all have the same goal which is to work hard and do the best that we can for our clients. We are constantly learning and educating ourselves to be better advocates and improving our systems and processes to offer the best representation and services to our clients. It’s great to work in a place where the vision is always growing.
Is there anything else you think it is important for the client to know about you?
It’s amazing to see the transformation of the firm over the years. What started out as an idea has grown into our small office becoming one of the leading firms in the country in this practice area and it has been exciting to be a part of that journey from the beginning. I am looking forward to our continued expansion while maintaining the quality of representation that we have built our reputation on.
Ria Shimabukuro
I’m originally from Honolulu, HI and I’m currently a senior at Boston University studying Economics and I’m an intern at Shapiro & Associates.
What lead you to work Shapiro & Associates?
I heard about Shapiro & Associates through my father who is a federal firefighter. My dad serves as President for his Local IAFF branch and met Dan at a union convention. I felt a strong personal connection to the work that S&A does for federal employees because my dad is one of them. I hope to attend law school in the near future and I know that my experience here is preparing me for that.
What qualities do you think is important to have to do your job?
I’ve learned that organization and compartmentalization is key to managing the many different tasks I do daily. I also think that learning to communicate effectively with different types of clients is really important in building a relationship with clients.
Why do you love working at Shapiro & Associates?
It’s rewarding to know that the benefits that we help federal employees obtain can really make a difference in their quality of life.
Gina Correia
Legal Administrative Assistant/Paralegal
What lead you to work Shapiro & Associates?
Previously, I was a court reporter/stenographer for over seven years. I decided, at that point in time, I wanted to transfer into a paralegal/legal administrative role, which is how I began working at Shapiro & Associates. I took a special interest in Shapiro & Associates for the work they do for the federal employees, such as my father. I know how hard the federal employees work, and I wanted to be a part of them obtaining the benefits they deserve.
What qualities do you think is important to have to do your job?
I believe you have to be able to be empathetic, teamwork, professionalism, focus, organizational skills, good communication skills, prioritizing, attention to detail, and self-discipline.
What is your biggest client win?
I personally believe the biggest vindication is when we continue to appeal, fight, and never give up until a decision is overturned and the client, in turn, receives the benefits they are deserving of.
Why do you love working at Shapiro & Associates?
I love working at Shapiro & Associates because of the hard-working team I have around me. It’s a family-like atmosphere, and we all work together to achieve success in our clients’ cases. All of us are very hands on with each and every case. We each go above and beyond to make sure the client is always satisfied, have a clear understanding of their case status, and explaining at length what our plan is for each case. It is a great feeling to be able to help people obtain the benefits they deserve and work closely with them each step of the case.
Is there anything else you think it is important for the client to know about you?
I am very dedicated to making sure I give my all to each case that I work on. It is very important to me that my work ethic and dedication is part of the success and resolution of each case. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and doing freelance makeup on the weekends.
Kassandra Toppi
Legal Administrative Assistant
What lead you to work Shapiro & Associates?
- Bachelor of Arts Psychology Lesley University 2017, Summa Cum Laude
- Associates Degree Psychology Bunker Hill Community College 2015, High Honors
Prior to starting at Shapiro & Associates, I was employed as a paraprofessional in the Malden school district. I interned at the Malden District Court from 2016 to 2017 while completing my degree. I wanted a new challenge where I could utilize the skills I had developed in college and during my internship to continue to help people. After meeting the team and obtaining a general understanding of FECA, I knew that this is a place where I could learn and be a successful advocate for our clients.
What qualities do you think is important to have to do your job?
I think it is important to have a strong work ethic, attention to detail, to utilize the resources available to me, and to establish a commitment to the work and the clients.
What is your biggest client win?
Being able to answer the concerns of our clients and alleviate the stress of the claims process is my priority. If the client feels we have their case under control then I have done my job well.
Why do you love working at Shapiro & Associates?
Shapiro & Associates gave me the opportunity for a new and challenging career which allows me to help people while developing my analytical and technical skills.
