Mr. Shepherd received his undergraduate degree in criminology from the University of Albuquerque, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1978. In 1982, Mr. Shepherd graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law in the top 10% of his class. While in law school, Mr. Shepherd was active in student government activities as class representative and as a member of the Board of Governors. He received awards for excellence in Advanced Mock Trial Practice, was awarded the Order of the Coif (top 10% of class), was selected to the Board of Barristers, and on the Dean's List for academic excellence. Mr. Shepherd continues to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honorary Society.

Mr. Shepherd was employed with the Albuquerque law firm of Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, P.A. from 1982 until January 1985, when he became associated with Allen, Shepherd & Lewis, P.A. In January 1987, Mr. Shepherd became a shareholder of the firm. Presently Mr. Shepherd serves as Of Counsel to the firm.

Mr. Shepherd is a member of the New Mexico Bar Association, the New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys and the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has experience trying cases in state and federal district courts and handles cases on appeal in the state and federal appellate courts. He concentrates his practice primarily in insurance defense, including construction defects, professional liability defense for dentists, physicians, hospitals and other health care providers, attorneys, architects, engineers, and accountants; products liability; appeals; bad faith claims; and other areas of general tort litigation. Mr. Shepherd has been listed since 2017 in Best Lawyers in AmericaⒸ in the areas of Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and listed in three areas since the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaⒸ in the areas of Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and annually in Southwest Super Lawyers. Mr. Shepherd is also a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute of the Litigation Counsel of America, which is a peer review organization. He is also Barrister, Order of Justitia for over 100 jury and bench trials to verdict. He has an "AV" rating in the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory. This rating, the highest rating available, is based upon peer assessment by other attorneys in the state.

Selected and Inducted in Roehl Circle Of Honor For Trial Lawyers at the State Bar of New Mexico

US News/Best Lawyers in America – 2017-2023

US News/Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of The Year 2019 – Litigation-Insurance

US News/Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of The Year 2021 – Litigation-Construction

Selected to Southwest Super Lawyers – 2015-2023

Selected in Southwest Super Lawyers – Top 25 in New Mexico – 2018

Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell – 2002 to 2023

Designated in Martindale-Hubbell as Preeminent Attorney - Judicial Edition - 2017-2023

Awarded PRR AV Preeminent Attorney - 2010-2013

ALM media and Martindale-Hubbel Top Rated Lawyers in Litigation and Medical Malpractice

Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society

The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel – 2020 Top Rated Lawyer in Medical Malpractice

Selected to American Board of Trial Lawyer Advocates