Shaw is one of only five barristers who between the years 1848 and 2014 successfully argued a case before the Privy Council in relation to a New Zealand criminal matter.
Likewise Shaw along with fellow barrister Greg King also share the distinction of being the first to win a criminal case before the new Supreme Court of New Zealand.
[6] In 2010, Shaw successfully represented flag burner Valerie Morse in the Supreme Court where her conviction for disorderly behavior was quashed.
[8] Shaw also represented New Zealand's only ever airline high-jacker, Asha Ali Abdille, who ultimately pleaded guilty to hijacking Eagle Airways Flight 2279.
In 2023, barrister Robert Lithgow KC and Shaw successfully argued an appeal in the Supreme Court that resulted in a rape conviction that carried a 16.5 year sentence being quashed.
"[18] Subsequently, The District Court at Hamilton dismissed the charges against Rippey noting the complainant had decided she did not want to again give evidence.
R v T - (District Court) Shaw successfully obtained a discharge without conviction for an Airline employee who had been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.
The Court created a benchmark and identified [at paragraph 55 of its decision] what it regarded would now be the 7 "critical considerations" for a grant of Legal Aid.
[28] Mr. Noort had been stopped by the Ministry of Transport (now the Police) and voluntarily submitted to an Alcohol Breath Test which showed he was in excess of the requisite level.
Timoti was 23 when he was convicted of Murder for setting fire to his mother's Mt Roskill house while five people were inside (for which he was serving a life sentence).
The appeal focused on the partial defence of provocation (pursuant to then section 169 of the Crimes Act 1961) relating to a falling out between Timoti and his father prior to him setting alight to the house.
The paper went on to report that after the verdict was delivered "..a relieved Mr McIntyre said a "hellish" two-and-a-half-years fighting the charges were now over and he could get on with his life and farming.
I wasn't expecting this but I was hoping for it," he said.."[11] In 2008, Shaw successfully represented Author and writer of Once Were Warriors Alan Duff MBE.
The Judges verdict followed a 3 day hearing where the Rotorua Daily Post reported that in closing submission Shaw submitted "..Duff gave the police officer who stopped him, Constable Patricia Foden, his driver's licence and address before she went back to her patrol car to make further inquiries about him.
In the Courts written decision Judge McGuire said "..although Duff displayed more anger than may have been wise, he complied with the officer by producing his licence and providing his address..." The Judge went on to say In his written decision that the Police Officers "...request for him to wait while she made further inquiries went beyond the provisions of the Land Transport Act..".
The Judge said that "..whilst there could be very sound practical and pragmatic reasons to "give carte blanche" to inquiries such as those undertaken by the Police officer in Duff's case, ".
Duff had disputed the speed and during the heated exchange that followed he was threatened with pepper-spray, pursued for 3.5km and handcuffed twice before being taken to the police station and charged with failing to remain at a scene.
[7][38] (decision released 2011) [39] In 2010 Shaw also successfully defended a client who had been charged with breaking into the high security New Zealand/US Spy Base.
The New Zealand Herald reported that despite the 3 men admitting that they had broken into the spy base and despite a long and involved trial, the Jury took just two hours to find each man not guilty.