John Hale Shenefield

John Hale Shenefield passed away peacefully at his home in Great Falls, Virginia on December 9, 2024. John was a man of extraordinary accomplishments in both public service and the legal community. He set the tone for honor, integrity and transparency in everything he did.

Born on January 23, 1939, in Toledo, Ohio, he grew up in Washington, DC and attended Beauvoir and St. Albans schools on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral. He attended Harvard College (Class of 1960), served in the United States Army and then attended Harvard Law School (Class of 1965).

John has a brilliant legal mind with expertise and experience hard to match. He was a leading light of the U.S. antitrust bar in both public service and private practice. He handled some of the most complex antitrust matters of his time for a stellar roster of global companies by developing an enviable record of success before the United States Supreme Court.

After law school, he began his legal career at Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Virginia. He joined Morgan Lewis after an Illustrious career with the U.S. Department of Justice from 1977 to 1981, where he served as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division and as Associate Attorney General of the United States. He served as Chair of Morgan Lewis from 1996 to 1999.

John left an indelible mark on antitrust law, serving as Chairman of the National Commission to Review Antitrust Laws and Procedures in 1978 and 1979 and on the Antitrust Modernization Commission from 2004 to 2007. He co-authored “The Antitrust Laws: A Primer,” a highly acclaimed book covering antitrust laws and court decisions.

He also played an essential role in the development, evolution and expansion of Morgan Lewis during his tenure as Chair. He was known for his strategic vision, intellectual curiosity, selfless service and deep civic engagement, including his decades-long service as Chair of the Chapter of the Washington National Cathedral, President of the National Cathedral Association (NCA), and Chair of the Board of St. Albans School. His Cathedral journey began as a boy chorister at the age of seven. In 2022 he became an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral.

His talents and interests were diverse. He was an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Richmond in 1975 and at the Georgetown Law Center from 1981 to 1983. He was appointed to the Virginia Racing Commission by Governor Baliles in 1989 to guide the development of regulations for horse racing in Virginia. He served as Chair for nine years. From 1992 to 1995 he served as Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security. He was a strong proponent of the “rule of law” and of the importance of expanding the field and understanding of national security law. He served for nine years on the Board of WETA, proudly chairing The Radio/TV/Production Committee. His legacy of leadership and dedication will be remembered with deep gratitude and respect.

In retirement, John pursued his love of travel, art, and music, including listening with great joy to every piece of music written by his beloved Mozart. He was an avid fan of his Boston Red Sox and of the Premier League. He enjoyed staying in touch with his friends and colleagues and continued to be a mentor to many of the children of his friends and colleagues. He loved retirement and encouraged his friends not to wait too long. There was so much to do and enjoy every day.

John is survived by his wife, Judy Simmons Shenefield, sons Stephen and Christopher Shenefield, his sister, Anne Dowd, his niece, Allison Kassir, and three grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held for John at The Washington National Cathedral on January 30, 2025 at 11:00am. I lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Washington National Cathedral.