Biography
Daniel Morris is a trial and business lawyer, handling all types of cases from inception through trial and appeals. Dan represents public and privately held companies nationally in commercial and corporate disputes, intellectual property issues, and employment matters, with a focus on trade secrets theft, disputes with former executive employees, real estate construction cases, software and technology litigation, and M&A litigation.
Dan has extensive experience litigating trade secret, non-compete, non-solicitation, raiding, and other restrictive covenants matters in numerous industries including medical device, telecommunications, financial services, and pharmaceuticals. Along with prosecuting and defending employment mobility issues in state and federal courts nationwide, he regularly counsels corporate clients on the scope and enforceability of restrictive covenant agreements.
Dan also regularly handles a wide range of corporate disputes, including controversies between shareholders, partners, and members.
In addition to his trial experience, Dan devotes significant time to preventive counseling on behalf of clients, and conducts corporate internal investigations.
In 2019, The Legal Intelligencer named Dan as a Professional Excellence Award Winner and “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” a designation given to only 25 lawyers throughout the Commonwealth under the age of 40 determined to have influenced the legal community based on the development of the law, commitment to the community, and service to the bar.
Super Lawyers named Dan as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” in Business Litigation from 2015 through 2019.
Outside the Firm
Outside of the office, Dan enjoys spending time at the beach with his wife and children. He also enjoys cycling and playing squash.
Experience
- Telecommunications company in a trade secrets dispute; full defense verdict and defeated $82 million contract and fraud claims following federal jury trial, and won sanctions and attorneys’ fees for destruction of evidence.
- Secured significant financial settlement and injunctive relief on behalf of technology company against agricultural corporation following litigation in Delaware, Minnesota, and Kansas federal courts.
- Successfully represented real estate developer with $30 million construction project, and secured significant financial settlement for breach of Operation and Easement Agreement.
- Medical devices manufacturer; secured an injunction in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania enforcing the terms of a non-compete against a former senior sales executive, prohibiting him from taking a position with a direct competitor for a period of 18 months.
- International professional services and consulting firm; defense of proposed class and collective action alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act.
- President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate in connection with political gerrymandering challenges to the Commonwealth's Congressional Districts; secured complete dismissal of an action commenced before a three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Fraud action against derivatives trading website; secured verdict in California state court, upheld as a nondischargeable debt in federal bankruptcy proceedings in Texas, affirmed by Texas federal court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and review denied by U.S. Supreme Court.
- Financial services company in software implementation and customization dispute with custom software developer; defeated a $170 million trade secrets lawsuit, and obtained a permanent injunction in federal court securing intellectual property rights, followed by contempt order for violations of injunction. Action was litigated in three courts, including Pennsylvania state and federal, and California federal court.
- Pharmaceutical sourcing and distributing services company; defense of multi-count complaint for defamation, negligent supervision, tortious interference, and false invasion of privacy. Action voluntarily dismissed after filing of Preliminary Objections in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
- Cyber school management and services provider; secured injunction protecting trade secret curriculum and confidential information.
- Minority shareholder in intra-corporate dispute with directors and officers of private pharmaceutical distributor; prosecuted derivative action in federal courts in New York and Georgia, and negotiated buyout of shares.
- Minority LLC member in dispute with Managing Member over distribution rights to custom software; compelled arbitration in an action filed in California state court, defeated request for stay of related litigation pending in Germany and proposed derivative claims for breach of fiduciary duty, and secured award for dissolution of LLC.
News & Views
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Event
Litigation and Employment Law Issues for In-House Counsel CLE Event
Leigh Ann Buziak, Amy Joseph Coles, Michael A. Iannucci, Travis K. Jang-Busby, Stephanie Gantman Kaplan, Evan H. Lechtman
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Case
Blank Rome Secures Class Action Victory for Simon Property Group
James T. Smith, Daniel E. Rhynhart, Evan H. Lechtman, Daniel S. Morris, Jeffrey N. Rosenthal, William R. Cruse
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Deal
Blank Rome Represents Reaction Biology Corporation in Growth Investment from Cobepa
Francis E. Dehel, Tyler J. Hill, Jourdan S. Garvey, Jeffrey M. Rosenfeld, Stephen C. Zumbrun, Daniel S. Morris
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Media Coverage
2019 Lawyers on the Fast Track: Daniel S. Morris
The Legal Intelligencer -
Media Coverage
Law360 Names Attys Who Moved up the Firm Ranks in Q1
Law360Kevin J. Baum, William R. Bennett III, Susan L. Bickley, Jayme L. Butcher, Justin A. Chiarodo, Beth Bernstein Connors
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Honor
Blank Rome’s Daniel S. Morris Named 2019 Lawyer on the Fast Track by The Legal Intelligencer
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Press Release
Blank Rome Announces 2019 Promotions: 14 Partners, 4 Of Counsel
Beth Bernstein Connors, Ryan C. Craig, Katherine Franco, Andrew T. Hambelton, Joshua A. Huber, Stephanie Gantman Kaplan
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Case
Blank Rome Secures Victory for DePuy Synthes, Enforcing Terms of Non-Compete Agreement against Former Sales Executive
Recognitions
- 2019, “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” by The Legal Intelligencer
- 2015–2019, “Pennsylvania Rising Star” in Business Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers®
Affiliations
Memberships
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Villanova University Alumni Association
Dan serves on Blank Rome’s Recruitment and Retention Committee and co-chaired the Summer Associate Program in 2014, 2016, and 2019.
Dan serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Dan handles a number of pro bono cases each year on behalf of elderly and indigent clients. He was recognized by Blank Rome with its Pro Bono Award in 2014, and he has been named to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania’s Pro Bono Roll.
Credentials
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court - New Jersey
Education
- Villanova University, BA, cum laude
- Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, JD, with honors
- Villanova University, MA, magna cum laude
- Spanish