Un hombre de pelo oscuro y barba poblada, vestido con traje oscuro, camisa azul claro y corbata a rayas, posa para un retrato profesional sobre un fondo borroso en un despacho de abogados.

Benjamin J. Morris

Socio

Benjamin Morris is a construction lawyer advising and counseling owners, developers, contractors, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout all phases of complex construction projects and construction litigation. He is a partner in the firm’s Construction and Commercial Litigation Practices.

Benjamin guides clients through contract drafting and negotiation, risk management analysis, delay analysis, lien filing, and defense and claim enforcement on both private and public projects. During his career, Benjamin has worked on various projects ranging from large commercial and industrial facilities to mixed-use residential and commercial buildings, highways and railways, and large data centers. He also guides clients on regulatory compliance issues related to contractor licensing.

Benjamin also handles business and complex litigation, including defense of trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, unfair competition, and consumer class action claims. His commercial clients have included biopharmaceutical companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, technology companies, consumer products companies, and banks.

With a strong commitment to pro bono work, Benjamin routinely mentors others working on pro bono matters. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, serves on the firm’s National Pro Bono Committee, and is the Pro Bono Chair for the firm’s San Diego office.

Prior to joining Foley, Benjamin was an associate with a global intellectual property law firm. He has served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Patricia D. Benke of the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Division One (2007) and as a law clerk in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (2006).

Experiencia representativa

  • Represented owner of a large California multi-family project on claims against performance bond surety following default and termination of general contractor.
  • Represented large subcontractor on federal government construction project related to construction and installation of Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities.
  • Advised large HVAC-tech company regarding contractor license regulatory issues related to installation of clean energy upgrades at facilities nationwide.
  • Represented developer of senior living conversion project on claims against general construction for delay and cost issues.
  • Successful resolution of significant non-payment claim for subcontractor on large Northern California public works project.
  • Representation of the receiver of a national electrical contractor in arbitration concerning the US$1.3bn Utah Data Center constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers for the National Security Agency.
  • Represented the owner in litigation related to engineering and construction defects present in a major cathedral complex.
  • Represented high net worth owner on construction defect claim related to significant water intrusion and building envelope failures stemming from multimillion-dollar new construction and renovation project.
  • Represented local nonprofit church in defense of claims by general contractor for breach of contract during renovation project.
  • Assisted a worldwide leader in architectural, engineering, planning, and construction services in the development of a multimillion-dollar claim measuring the cumulative impact of hundreds of owner-imposed changes, delays, and disruptions on a major public highway project.
  • Obtained judgment against client’s subcontractor for significant additional costs incurred from subcontractor’s breach of contract and abandonment of project.
  • Full recovery of engineering client claims plus attorney fees after client wrongfully terminated for cause by owner.
  • Obtained TRO and preliminary injunction against former officer of California bioscience company when the officer abruptly disappeared with company computer and records amid investigation of financial irregularities. Obtained forensic evidence that the officer copied and then deleted files from the computer after being served with turnover order from the court.

Premios y reconocimientos

  • Selected by San Diego Business Journal  as one of the Nonprofit Board Leaders of Influence (2025)
  • Selected by San Diego Business Journal  as one of the Top 100 Leaders of Influence in Law (2024)
  • Casa Cornelia Law Center’s 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award (2021)
  • Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services, California Lawyers Association (2021)
  • San Diego Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars list (2015, 2016 and 2017)

Afiliaciones

  • Vice Chair, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Board of Directors (SDVLP); Board Member Since 2021
  • Member, Build & Serve Committee, Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter
  • Barrister, Honorable William B. Enright Chapter of the American Inns of Court
  • Member, American Bar Association (including Forum on Construction Law)
  • Member, San Diego County Bar Association (including Construction Law Section)

Presentaciones y publicaciones

14 de noviembre de 2025 Puntos de vista de Foley

Se acabó el 10% de retención: California impone un tope de retención del 5% en los proyectos de construcción privados

A partir del 1 de enero de 2026: es hora de actualizar sus contratos Si su empresa se dedica a la construcción privada en California, es fundamental...
November 10, 2025 Foley Viewpoints

Is Your Private Project Ready for California's New Change Order Law?

The Clock is Ticking: SB 440 Takes Effect January 1, 2026 The new year brings a mandatory shakeup to California's private construction...
April 1, 2025 Honors and Awards

Benjamin Morris nombrado líder influyente de juntas directivas sin ánimo de lucro por el San Diego Business Journal

Benjamin Morris, socio de Foley & Lardner LLP, ha sido nombrado Líder Influyente de Juntas Directivas sin Ánimo de Lucro para 2025 por el San Diego Business Journal.
October 28, 2024 Honors and Awards

Abogados de Foley nombrados Líderes de Influencia en Derecho por el San Diego Business Journal

Los socios de Foley & Lardner LLP Paul Hunter, Benjamin Morris y Jaikaran Singh son reconocidos como Líderes de Influencia en Derecho 2024 por San Diego Business Journal.
January 23, 2024 Foley Viewpoints

Combinación de filantropía con la ejecución de proyectos P3 para proyectos de construcción

Aunque muchos en el sector del desarrollo y la construcción están familiarizados con el modelo de colaboración público-privada (P3) para la ejecución de...
Dos personas se sientan a una mesa mientras otra, posiblemente uno de los mejores abogados de Chicago, revisa y se dispone a firmar un documento en un portapapeles con un bolígrafo.
December 19, 2023 Foley Viewpoints

Prompt Payment Laws Continue to Trend in Favor of Contractors

Prompt payment laws continue to disrupt the construction industry, eliminating past practices by requiring timely payments for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.