Shawn M. Rodgers

Mr. Rodgers is a partner at Goldstein Law Partners, LLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of constitutional law and civil rights, appellate advocacy, commercial litigation, and employment law. He represents a diverse client base, which includes corporate entities, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, and private individuals. As an experienced litigator, Mr. Rodgers appears regularly before federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He has litigated cases involving sophisticated commercial matters, ERISA transactions, FOIA violations, constitutional challenges, and a variety of employment issues.

Mr. Rodgers is co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, and devotes much of his focus to appellate advocacy. He regularly practices before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and each of Pennsylvania’s appellate courts. Before entering private practice, Mr. Rodgers spent two years clerking for the Honorable Sallie Updyke Mundy, who currently sits on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court following her appointment by Governor Wolf in June of 2016. There, he gained firsthand exposure to appellate litigation. He has considerable experience briefing appellate arguments and detailed knowledge of appellate procedures.

Although Mr. Rodgers is primarily a litigator, he devotes a component of his practice to business and transactional law. He counsels his business clients using the insight that he has gained from his years as a litigator. He recognizes that his clients are often more interested in avoiding litigation altogether, rather than prevailing after it has been initiated. With this precept in mind, Mr. Rodgers spends substantial time and effort advising his clients about ways to prevent common pitfalls that often spark future disputes and controversies.

In addition, Mr. Rodgers has extensive knowledge and experience in handling all facets of employment law. Before joining the firm, Mr. Rodgers worked for a prominent employment law boutique in Chester County. He currently handles matters involving: retaliation and discrimination under Title VII, ADA, ADEA and FLSA; sexual harassment; whistleblower complaints; wrongful termination; the enforceability of restrictive covenants; and breaches of employment contracts. Mr. Rodgers serves as co-chair of the Employment Law Section of the Chester County Bar Association.

Mr. Rodgers graduated Cum Laude from the Villanova University School of Law, ranked as one of the top students in his class.  Mr. Rodgers received his undergraduate degree Summa Cum Laude from Villanova University, where he was inducted into the prestigious honor society of Phi Beta Kappa.  He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Western District of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

• Prevailed on a summary judgment motion and secured a $6 million judgment for corporate client in an action for breach of a commercial licensing agreement
  • Am Outdoorsman, Inc. v. Shadow Beverages & Snacks, LLC, 2014 WL 7335027, 13-cv-00443 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 19, 2014).
• Successfully represented an American multi-national auction house against baseless allegations asserted by known criminal regarding multimillion-dollar coin collection, securing dismissal of all claims and award of fees and costs
  • SEC v. Princeton Econ. Int’l, Ltd., No. 99-cv-09667 (S.D.N.Y. July 16, 2019) (Dkt. No. 533); SEC v. Princeton Econ. Int’l, Ltd., No. 99-cv-09667 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 5, 2019) (Dkt. No. 570).
  • Antoniak v. Armstrong, 18-cv-01263, 2020 WL 2539194 (E.D. Pa. May 19, 2020)
• Represented non-profit think tank in filing amicus curiae brief with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, addressing the narrow issue of procedural due process violations related to government shutdown orders
  • Cty of Butler v. Wolf, No. 20-2936 (3d Cir. 2020) (Dkt. Nos. 65 & 70).
• Represented amicus curiae before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, arguing that certain licensing requirements for real estate brokers violated Pennsylvania’s Constitution
  • Ladd v. Real Est. Comm’n, 230 A.3d 1096 (Pa. 2020) (holding that licensing requirements for real estate brokers violate Pennsylvania’s Constitution)
• Successfully represented law school professor in motion to intervene and unseal court documents under the First Amendment right to access judicial records
  • Doe v. Gov. of Pennsylvania, No. 18-cv-01370 (M.D. Pa.)
• Achieved successful settlement for small manufacturing company in litigation involving alleged trade dress violation under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125
  • Jeffers Handbell Supply, Inc. v. Schulmerich Bells, LLC, 16-cv-03918 (D.S.C. 2017)

• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
• Chester County Bar Association
• Co-Chairman of the Employment Law Section of the Chester County Bar Association
• Member of Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry
• Member of White Manor Country Club
• Member of French Creek Golf Club