About
About Our Firm
frankel rainey
The attorneys at Frankel Rainey have an unmatched reputation within the trucking industry. We have worked extensively across North Carolina with attorneys and experts on both the plaintiff and defense sides, and nationally with trucking companies and insurers.
With decades of unique experience and proven client results, Shannon S. Frankel and Michael S. Rainey launched Frankel Rainey, PLLC in 2024.
Our Attorneys
shannon s. frankel
shannon@frankelrainey.com
Shannon Frankel is a trucking industry attorney with a proven track record. For more than 18 years, Shannon defended trucking companies, regularly handling multi-million-dollar claims in both the state and federal courts of North Carolina. During her time on the defense, she learned how the trucking industry views and handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, developing relationships with numerous industry executives, national counsel, and expert witnesses along the way. Her experience on the defense provides a unique perspective that allows Shannon to maximize the liability arguments and value of trucking claims for her clients, as she now proudly represents claimants in matters involving serious injury or wrongful death.
Shannon earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and received her J.D. from William and Mary Law School. She holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers numerous years of her practice. After significant involvement and leadership of the Transportation Practice Group for ALFA International, as well as speaking nationally on trucking litigation, Shannon now brings her experience to plaintiff-only organizations, including the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys.
In addition to trucking cases, Shannon also represents landowners whose property is being taken by eminent domain. This area of her practice focuses on ensuring that individuals whose property is taken, in whole or in part, receive their constitutional guarantees of due process and just compensation.
Education
- J.D., The College of William and Mary School of Law
- B.A., Duke University
Admitted in
- North Carolina
- U.S. District Courts for North Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Achievements
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (2021-2023)
- Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers® (2020-2024)
- Selected to the North Carolina Rising Stars list (2014-2015) published by Super Lawyers®
- AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Activities
- Founder of the RMT Conference, a national event for women in the trucking and transportation industry
- ALFA International Transportation Steering Committee (2006-2023)
- Chair, ALFA International Transportation Practice Group (2016)
Publications & Presentations
- “Virtual Focus Groups: How to Leverage Changing Technologies to the Benefit of the Defense,” Trucking Claims Bootcamp 2022
- “Traumatic Brain Injuries and Strategies for Defense and Resolution,” Trucking Claims Bootcamp, 2021
- “Best Strategies for Achieving Early Resolution,” Trucking Claims Bootcamp, 2020
- “Common Mistakes in Catastrophic Accident Investigation and How to Avoid Them,” Trucking Claims Bootcamp, 2019
- “Social Media and Modern Trucking Claims: Getting it, Using it and Avoiding it,” Trucking Claims Bootcamp, 2018
- “Update on Transportation Litigation, Regulations & Verdicts,” Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Sept. 2017
- “Welcome to the Wild, Wild West: The New Frontier in Transportation Law,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Seminar, presenter, Tucson, AZ, 2013
- “Navigating Around the Potholes,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Seminar, presenter, Amelia Island, FL, 2012
- “Asleep at the Wheel: A Wake-Up Call,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Seminar, presenter, Dana Point, CA, 2011
- “Strategies for the Tough Case,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Seminar, presenter, Marco Island, FL, 2010
- “Protecting Post-Accident Work Product,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Seminar, presenter, San Diego, CA, 2009
Disclaimer: The above information may not necessarily reflect the attorney’s entire record, and the outcome of any future matter cannot be predicated on the attorney’s or law firm’s past results.
Michael s. rainey
Michael focuses his practice on the field of complex civil litigation with an emphasis on the prosecution of trucking and transportation cases. He also represents landowners whose property is being taken by eminent domain. He has extensive experience litigating wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims and has spoken nationally and internationally on topics related to trucking litigation, including best practices for post-accident investigation and evidence preservation.
Prior to forming Frankel Rainey, PLLC he was a partner in a mid-sized law firm in Raleigh where he investigated and litigated countless catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims on behalf of some of the largest motor carriers in the nation. His practice is now devoted solely to representing people who are injured or have lost loved ones in trucking accidents, as well as people whose property has been taken by the exercise of governmental eminent domain powers.
Michael is licensed to practice in the North Carolina State Courts and Federal District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected to the North Carolina Rising Stars list (2014-2021) published by Super Lawyers® in the areas of transportation/maritime law.
He received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and graduated cum laude from Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 2007, where he served as Chief Articles Editor of the Campbell Law Review.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Campbell University School of Law, 2007
- B.S., magna cum laude, North Carolina State University
Admitted in
- North Carolina
- U.S. District Courts for North Carolina
Achievements
- AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected to the North Carolina Rising Stars list (2014-2021) published by Super Lawyers®
- Selected to 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
Activities
- Raleigh Board of Adjustment (June 2018 – December 2023)
- Program Chair, Trucking Industry Defense Association 25th Annual Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 2017)
Publications & Presentations
- “Climate Change Hits the Road: The Impact of Climate Change on the Transportation Industry,” Trucking Claims Boot Camp, Lloyd’s of London, London, England, June 2023
- “Best Strategies for Achieving Early Resolution,” Trucking Claims Boot Camp, Omaha, Nebraska, March 2020
- “Best Strategies for Achieving Early Resolution,” Trucking Claims Boot Camp, Denver, Colorado, March 2020
- “Common Mistakes in Catastrophic Accident Investigation And How to Avoid Them,” Trucking Claims Boot Camp, Lloyd’s of London, London, England, July 2019
- “Common Mistakes in Catastrophic Accident Investigation And How to Avoid Them,” Trucking Claims Boot Camp, New Jersey, June 2019
- “Social Media Tips and Tricks for Pre-Litigation Claims,” ALFA International Product Liability and Complex Torts Seminar, Charlotte, North Carolina, April 2019
- “The Ethical Discovery of Social Media,” DRI Product Liability Conference,” presenter, Las Vegas, NV, 2015
- Panelist on “Best Practice Procedures: What to Say and Not Say After a CMV Incident,” North Carolina Trucking Association, Safety & Human Resources Council Meeting, Jan. 20, 2015
- “Navigating the Internet: The Ethical Use of Social Media in the Trucking Litigation Context,” American Conference Institute’s 4th National Forum on Defending and Managing Trucking Litigation, presenter, Chicago, IL, 2014
Disclaimer: The above information may not necessarily reflect the attorney’s entire record, and the outcome of any future matter cannot be predicated on the attorney’s or law firm’s past results.
Experience You Can Trust
With decades of experience defending some of the toughest claims imaginable, we bring a unique perspective when it comes to trucking industry law.
It takes attorney experience and deep industry roots to successfully navigate a victim’s rights and maximize results following a trucking accident.
We have a proven track record of achieving significant, high-impact results for our clients.
