Shaun's career began in stockbroking. He worked for 10 years at Laing & Cruickshank in the City, reaching the position of Senior Corporate Finance Partner.

In 1975 he left to establish his own business, Lawson & Partners Limited, which has specialised in venture capital and consultancy work.

Shaun has been a Director of Rickitt Mitchell since 1981 and in the early 1990's he became Managing Director of Priory Investments, a private investor group. He is a strategy advisor to the Consumer Packaging Division of MeadWestvaco Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, and holds a number of other non-executive directorships.