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Biography

G. Calvin Sharpe is a Director in the Firm and an experienced trial attorney. The majority of his practice focuses on matters involving medical malpractice, products liability and insurance. G. Calvin also has an established Native American law practice representing both Native American and non-native clients in tribal courts.

G. Calvin has spent his entire legal career inside Oklahoma courtrooms, defending the business interests of a diverse group of national and regional clients, including doctors, pharmacies, product manufacturers, and energy producers. He is a member and past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization devoted to the preservation of the jury trial system and the promotion of civility in the courtroom. He is also past president of the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel. As a successful trial attorney, G. Calvin has vast experience in preparing for and trying complex litigation cases and class action suits related to medical malpractice, medical devices, catastrophic injury, automobiles, and wrongful death, to name a few.

Over the years, G. Calvin has gained valuable experience successfully handling environmental matters, including the wind energy project, Big Smile Wind Farm at Dempsey Ridge, located in Western Oklahoma. He also has done extensive work with the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act, which yielded the reported cases of Jones v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and Bond v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.

A Native American deeply connected to the culture and tradition of his ancestors, G. Calvin is an advocate in the community and the courts. He is admitted to practice in the Seminole Nation Tribal Court, Cherokee Nation Tribal Court, Supreme Court of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Court, and Osage Nation Tribal Court.

In 2010, he received The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award for his outstanding contributions to the community and the legal profession.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, G. Calvin is an outdoor enthusiast to the core. He enjoys rowing, hunting, fishing, and nearly every other sporting and outdoor activity.

Education

  • University of Oklahoma (B.B.A., 1982)
  • University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., 1985)

Admissions

  • 1986, Oklahoma
  • 1986, U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma
  • 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • 2006, Cherokee Nation Tribal Court
  • 2007, Supreme Court of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
  • 2008, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Court
  • 2012, Osage Nation Tribal Court
  • 2014, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Court

Professional Organizations

  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (Oklahoma Chapter; Secretary, 2011-2012; President – 2012-2013)
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel (Vice President, 2005-2006; Board Member, 2006-present; President, 2011-2012)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (Diversity Committee, 2005-present; Trial Techniques & Tactics, 1992-present; Products Liability, 1992-present)
  • Defense Research Institute (Trial Techniques, 1998-present; Diversity, 2005-present; Medical Liability & Health Care, & Insurance 1998-present)
  • Federal Bar Association (Native American Law Section member)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association (Chairman, Annual Committee, 1995-1996; Board Member, 1991-1992 and 2010-2013; Young Lawyers Division, 1986-1994; President, 1992)
  • Oklahoma Bar Association (Evidence Code Committee, 1991-1992; Young Lawyers Division, Board Member, 1992-1993; Professional Responsibility Committee, 1992-1993)
  • American Bar Association (Member: Tort & Insurance Practice, Litigation, Trial Techniques, Medicine & Law Sections)
  • National Native American Bar Association
  • Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
  • Luther Bohanon American Inn of Court XXIII

Experience

  • Jonnie Yvonne Vasquez v. Dillard’s, Inc., 381 P.3d 768 (Okla. 2016)
  • Taliaferro v. Shahsavari, 154 P.3d 1240 (Okla. 2006)
  • Cary by and through Cary v. Oneok, 940 P.2d 201 (Okla. 1997)
  • Patton v. Memorial Hosp. of Southern Oklahoma, Inc., 895 P.2d 298 (Okla. App. Div. 4 1995)
  • Jones v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., 894 P.2d 415 (Okla. 1994)
  • Bond v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., 849 P.2d 1100 (Okla. 1993)
  • Lewis v. Dependent School Dist. No. 10 of Pott. County, 808 P.2d 710 (Okla. App. Div. 1 1990)
  • Gay v. Akin, 766 P.2d 985 (Okla. 1988)
  • Trial Training: International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy – Boulder, CO (1993)
  • Representation of clients in jury trials
  • Complex Litigation involving class action and mass tort defense with a focus on products liability/medical devices, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury and insurance defense
  • Representation of both Native American and non-native business clients in tribal courtrooms

Recognition

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™
  • Best Lawyers®: Lawyer of the Year in OKC: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2017, 2020, 2022)
  • 405 Magazine Top Attorney in Medical Malpractice – Defense (2020, 2023)
  • Best Lawyers®: Litigation – Insurance (2022-present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Insurance Law (2020 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2012 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2012 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2019 – present)
  • Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: (2006-present)
  • Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: Top 50 Oklahoma Super Lawyers (2017)
  • Defense Research Institute, Exceptional Performance Citation (2011)
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Distinguished Service Award (2011)
  • The Journal Record Leadership in Law Award (2010)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division – Outstanding Director (1999)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association – Outstanding Young Lawyer (1992)
  • Bess Zeldich Ungerman Scholarship – Outstanding Minority Student (1985)

Community

  • Leadership Oklahoma City (Class XXIV)
  • Infant Crisis Services (Board Member, 2008-present; Resource Development Committee, 2006-present; Capital Campaign Committee, 2006-2007)
  • Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
  • Red Earth, (Board Member, 2007-present; President-Elect, 2008-2010; President, 2010-2012)
  • Rotary Club of Oklahoma City (Club 29)
  • University of Oklahoma Indian Alumni Association
  • Calm Waters (Board Member, 2010-2020)
  • Committee of One Hundred (Oklahoma City)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (Native American Advisory Council, Board Member, 2013-2020)

Publications

G. Calvin Sharpe is a Director in the Firm and an experienced trial attorney. The majority of his practice focuses on matters involving medical malpractice, products liability and insurance. G. Calvin also has an established Native American law practice representing both Native American and non-native clients in tribal courts.

G. Calvin has spent his entire legal career inside Oklahoma courtrooms, defending the business interests of a diverse group of national and regional clients, including doctors, pharmacies, product manufacturers, and energy producers. He is a member and past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization devoted to the preservation of the jury trial system and the promotion of civility in the courtroom. He is also past president of the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel. As a successful trial attorney, G. Calvin has vast experience in preparing for and trying complex litigation cases and class action suits related to medical malpractice, medical devices, catastrophic injury, automobiles, and wrongful death, to name a few.

Over the years, G. Calvin has gained valuable experience successfully handling environmental matters, including the wind energy project, Big Smile Wind Farm at Dempsey Ridge, located in Western Oklahoma. He also has done extensive work with the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act, which yielded the reported cases of Jones v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and Bond v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.

A Native American deeply connected to the culture and tradition of his ancestors, G. Calvin is an advocate in the community and the courts. He is admitted to practice in the Seminole Nation Tribal Court, Cherokee Nation Tribal Court, Supreme Court of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Court, and Osage Nation Tribal Court.

In 2010, he received The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award for his outstanding contributions to the community and the legal profession.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, G. Calvin is an outdoor enthusiast to the core. He enjoys rowing, hunting, fishing, and nearly every other sporting and outdoor activity.

  • University of Oklahoma (B.B.A., 1982)
  • University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., 1985)
  • 1986, Oklahoma
  • 1986, U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma
  • 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • 2006, Cherokee Nation Tribal Court
  • 2007, Supreme Court of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
  • 2008, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Court
  • 2012, Osage Nation Tribal Court
  • 2014, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Court
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (Oklahoma Chapter; Secretary, 2011-2012; President – 2012-2013)
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel (Vice President, 2005-2006; Board Member, 2006-present; President, 2011-2012)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (Diversity Committee, 2005-present; Trial Techniques & Tactics, 1992-present; Products Liability, 1992-present)
  • Defense Research Institute (Trial Techniques, 1998-present; Diversity, 2005-present; Medical Liability & Health Care, & Insurance 1998-present)
  • Federal Bar Association (Native American Law Section member)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association (Chairman, Annual Committee, 1995-1996; Board Member, 1991-1992 and 2010-2013; Young Lawyers Division, 1986-1994; President, 1992)
  • Oklahoma Bar Association (Evidence Code Committee, 1991-1992; Young Lawyers Division, Board Member, 1992-1993; Professional Responsibility Committee, 1992-1993)
  • American Bar Association (Member: Tort & Insurance Practice, Litigation, Trial Techniques, Medicine & Law Sections)
  • National Native American Bar Association
  • Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
  • Luther Bohanon American Inn of Court XXIII
  • Jonnie Yvonne Vasquez v. Dillard’s, Inc., 381 P.3d 768 (Okla. 2016)
  • Taliaferro v. Shahsavari, 154 P.3d 1240 (Okla. 2006)
  • Cary by and through Cary v. Oneok, 940 P.2d 201 (Okla. 1997)
  • Patton v. Memorial Hosp. of Southern Oklahoma, Inc., 895 P.2d 298 (Okla. App. Div. 4 1995)
  • Jones v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., 894 P.2d 415 (Okla. 1994)
  • Bond v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., 849 P.2d 1100 (Okla. 1993)
  • Lewis v. Dependent School Dist. No. 10 of Pott. County, 808 P.2d 710 (Okla. App. Div. 1 1990)
  • Gay v. Akin, 766 P.2d 985 (Okla. 1988)
  • Trial Training: International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy – Boulder, CO (1993)
  • Representation of clients in jury trials
  • Complex Litigation involving class action and mass tort defense with a focus on products liability/medical devices, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury and insurance defense
  • Representation of both Native American and non-native business clients in tribal courtrooms
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™
  • Best Lawyers®: Lawyer of the Year in OKC: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2017, 2020, 2022)
  • 405 Magazine Top Attorney in Medical Malpractice – Defense (2020, 2023)
  • Best Lawyers®: Litigation – Insurance (2022-present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Insurance Law (2020 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2012 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2012 – present)
  • Best Lawyers®: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2019 – present)
  • Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: (2006-present)
  • Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: Top 50 Oklahoma Super Lawyers (2017)
  • Defense Research Institute, Exceptional Performance Citation (2011)
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Distinguished Service Award (2011)
  • The Journal Record Leadership in Law Award (2010)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division – Outstanding Director (1999)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association – Outstanding Young Lawyer (1992)
  • Bess Zeldich Ungerman Scholarship – Outstanding Minority Student (1985)
  • Leadership Oklahoma City (Class XXIV)
  • Infant Crisis Services (Board Member, 2008-present; Resource Development Committee, 2006-present; Capital Campaign Committee, 2006-2007)
  • Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
  • Red Earth, (Board Member, 2007-present; President-Elect, 2008-2010; President, 2010-2012)
  • Rotary Club of Oklahoma City (Club 29)
  • University of Oklahoma Indian Alumni Association
  • Calm Waters (Board Member, 2010-2020)
  • Committee of One Hundred (Oklahoma City)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (Native American Advisory Council, Board Member, 2013-2020)

ALFA International Member

Phillips Murrah is a member of ALFA International, the global legal network. With 145 member firms across the globe (80 in the United States), ALFA International is the premier global network of independent law firms whose success is driven by broad, deep, local relationships all over the world. Click HERE for an informational video about ALFA International, or visit www.alfainternational.com to learn more.