LOS ANGELES, February 2, 2026—Duane Morris LLP announced today that Benjamin G. Shatz has joined the firm as a partner in the Appellate Division of the Trial Practice Group in its Los Angeles office. He will lead the firm’s appellate practice on the West Coast. Shatz was previously a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
“Our clients are navigating an increasingly complex litigation landscape, particularly in California, where high-stakes civil disputes and appeals continue to grow,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Ben is widely regarded as one of the preeminent appellate lawyers in the state, and his arrival reflects our continued investment in top-tier advocacy at every stage of litigation.”
“It is a significant step for our national appellate platform to deepen our presence in California with a practitioner of Ben’s caliber,” said Robert M. Palumbos, chair of the firm’s Appellate Division. “He brings not only deep experience before state and federal appellate courts, but also the judgment and strategic perspective that our clients expect in their most consequential matters.”
“Here in Los Angeles, our clients are frequently involved in complex, high-risk litigation where an integrated trial and appellate strategy is essential,” said Cyndie Chang, managing partner of the Los Angeles office. “Ben’s track record and reputation further strengthen our ability to offer that holistic approach. With nearly 200 attorneys across the West Coast, we are well positioned to collaborate across offices and practices to deliver sophisticated, practical solutions.”
Shatz is a certified specialist in appellate law by the State Bar of California and a member of both the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Over the course of his career, he has handled hundreds of civil appeals, writs, and petitions before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, the California Courts of Appeal and other appellate courts nationwide. His matters span complex commercial disputes, class actions, real estate and land use, employment, banking, insurance, product liability, entertainment, copyright, professional liability, wrongful death, punitive damages, unfair competition and anti-SLAPP issues. He is ranked by Chambers and other leading legal directories and is a frequent lecturer and author on appellate practice.
“Duane Morris has built an impressive appellate practice with a national footprint,” said Shatz. “I was drawn to the firm’s collaborative culture, its commitment to excellence in written and oral advocacy, and its focus on partnering with clients to shape favorable outcomes, at trial, on appeal and in the strategic decisions at every stage of litigation.”
Shatz clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Johnston and externed for Judge Dorothy Nelson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1992), where he served as associate editor of the Pepperdine Law Review and assistant editor of the California Supreme Court Survey.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.
