Attorneys
Attorney
Shena E. Burgess
Shena E. Burgess has practiced law in Oklahoma since 2000. Her practice focuses on cases including, but not limited to, insurance defense, civil litigation, criminal defense in municipal, state and federal court. She is licensed to practice in Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Western District of Oklahoma and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. She is also a member of the Cherokee Nation, Muskogee (Creek) Nation and Seminole Nation Bars and licensed to practice in all three. She has represented client in appellate cases before the Oklahoma Supreme Court ,the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeal, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and the 10th Circuit of the United States. She represents citizens accused with domestic offenses, drug charges, property crimes, traffic offenses and homicides. She has extensive experience successfully representing citizens who have been accused with violent crimes with her previous experience as the Deputy Chief Public Defender for Tulsa County.
She is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (serving previously as Vice President and a Board Member), Tulsa Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (Past President and Officer), Inns of Court, Criminal Justice Panel and the Tulsa County Bar Association board of directors. She is a member of the Criminal division of the Oklahoma Jury Instruction committee who are tasked with writing the jury instructions for the State of Oklahoma. Ms. Burgess is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, and a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute.
Ms. Burgess has received awards and recognition from the following: Outstanding Advocate Award 2024, Student Bar Association, University of Tulsa; Tulsa County Bar President’s Award 2018/2019; 2019/2020; Golden Gavel Award 2020; Roger R. Scott Community Service Award 2018/2019; President’s Award from the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2015; Fern Holland Award Honoree 2012 Women's Law Caucus of the University of Tulsa; Adjunct Professor of the Year 2010 and 2020 from the University of Tulsa College of Law; Coach of the Year 2009 Board of Advocates; Outstanding Women Lawyers Award 2008 form the Tulsa Women Lawyers Association; and Young Careerist of the Year 2006 form the Metro Tulsa Business Professional Women's Organization.
Ms. Burgess has the privilege of being a guest lecturer or invited speaker on criminal law and forensics topics at continuing education seminars for lawyers, law schools, in colleges and high schools in Oklahoma. She also continues to teach Trial Skills at the University of Tulsa College of Law as an adjunct professor and coach the American Association of Justice Trial Team that competes against law schools nationwide since 2007.