In September 1995, David A. McDowell established his own law office in San Francisco following a 15-year tenure at the law firm of McGlynn, McLorg & McDowell, where he was senior partner for 12 years. Prior to his employment with McGlynn, et al., Mr. McDowell was a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, where he concentrated on felony cases, representing the county in more than 75 jury trials.

Expansion of the firm commenced in 1997 with the addition of an office in Sacramento. This was followed by offices opening in Fresno and San Jose. The original law office, located in San Francisco, was moved to Walnut Creek in 1998, which enabled the firm to direct cost-effective litigation services from a more central location.

In 2005, Peter A. Meshot and Paula M. Shaw became partners in the firm renamed McDowell, Meshot & Shaw.

Mr. Meshot has worked with Mr. McDowell for nine years, managing the Sacramento office since its opening. He continues to do so as a partner in McDowell, Meshot & Shaw. Formerly, Mr. Meshot was a partner in the firm of Colman, Marcus & Meshot and an associate in the firm of Porter, Scott, Weiberg & Delehant, both based in Sacramento. Mr. Meshot serves as an arbitrator and judge pro tem in Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties. He is currently president of the Northern California Fraud Investigators Association, a member of the Association of Defense Counsel for Northern California and Nevada, and for more than 2o years has tried numerous civil cases to verdict before judge and jury.

Ms. Shaw has been practicing law in excess of 20 years. She has devoted her career to insurance defense-related litigation and continues to handle first- and third-party matters in most of the Northern California counties. Prior to joining the firm in 1998, she was a partner in the law firms of Jageman & Shaw, located in Walnut Creek, and Pave, Bogaards & Shaw, located in San Francisco.