Joseph Dow "Chip" Sheppard III

Chip Sheppard is a shareholder in the Litigation/Dispute Resolution and Transactional Practice Groups of Carnahan Evans PC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of medical marijuana, hemp, licensing, business, real estate, employment, acquisitions, banking, contracts, municipal, planning and zoning, securities and intellectual property transactions, litigation and dispute resolution. A substantial portion of Mr. Sheppard’s practice is focused in Missouri’s newest industries: medical marijuana and hemp; representing business groups across the state seeking licensing and certifications, as well as advising doctors, medical practices and health systems and others navigating the newest Article to the Missouri Constitution and Missouri’s new hemp law. Mr. Sheppard’s practice also includes securities and other fraud and fiduciary duty related claims, both as an arbitrator and as counsel for the parties. Mr. Sheppard has tried a combined total of more than 50 arbitrations, state and federal trials, both jury and non-jury, in his areas of concentration. Other areas of concentration are various business transactions, acquisitions, real estate development and related litigation and probate litigation.

In 2019 Mr. Sheppard was named Lawyer of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

Mr. Sheppard received his bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University in 1980 and his law degree, as an E. Eugene Mason Endowed Scholar, in 1983 from Southern Methodist University School of Law. He is a past board member and past President of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, current board member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Chairman of the Non-Partisan Court Plan Committee, member of the American Bar Association, the Missouri Bar and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. He is also a member of the National Cannabis Bar Association; Board of Directors, Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association, Inc.; member of Missouri Cannabis Industry Association; and continues to be a medical marijuana advocate. In 2005 he was elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Association, an honor bestowed upon less than .5 percent of the Bar and was selected in 2005 and 2006 and again in 2010-2017, to the “Super Lawyer” list by Law & Politics Magazine (top 5% according to peer review). In 2008, he Co-Chaired the Greene Countians for Fair and Impartial Judges Committee which was responsible for bringing the Missouri Court Plan to Greene County, was a finalist for Missouri Lawyer of the Year and received the Missouri Bar Association and Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association President’s Awards in recognition of extraordinary service to those Associations and the legal profession. Finally, he has been named to the “Best Lawyers in America” list by the publication of the same name. Mr. Sheppard is a former arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, New York Stock Exchange, and has served as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA f/k/a NASD) since 2000. Mr. Sheppard’s community involvement includes serving as former Trustee and Chair of the Ozarks Technical Community College, former Chair of the OTC Foundation Board, former director of Hickory Hills Country Club (2003-2011) and member of the Chamber of Commerce Governmental Relations Legislative Policy, Voice of Business and Emerging Issues Committees. He also serves as an Elder and Trustee at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. Mr. Sheppard has also served on the Board of Directors for Leadership Springfield, and the Housing Authority of Springfield and other community non-profits.