Carl G. Roberts

Carl G. Roberts is a partner in the Litigation Department and Practice Leader of the Real Estate and Construction Litigation Group. He is also a member of the Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Capital Recovery; Commercial Litigation; Construction; Energy and Project Finance; E-Discovery and Data Management; Securities; and Life Sciences/Technology Groups, and the Climate Change and Sustainability Initiative.

Mr. Roberts has been involved in a wide variety of commercial and real estate litigation matters in federal and state courts in Pennsylvania and other parts of the country. He focuses his practice on construction litigation and workout matters related to project finance and other lending transactions. He has handled several complex actions concerning the construction or financing of facilities applying fluidized combustion technology to waste products and was involved for several years as owner's counsel in construction litigation regarding a themed casino resort hotel in Nevada.

Mr. Roberts has considerable experience in electronic discovery issues and document management retention policies and practices. He regularly counsels clients on such issues and the new Federal Rules of e-discovery. He also has significant experience in noncompetition and trade secrets litigation, particularly involving technology concerns in computer software contracting litigation, securities transactions, and broker-dealer litigation.

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Mr. Roberts practiced law and served as Assistant Managing Partner for Systems at another Philadelphia law firm. In that capacity, he designed and coordinated the transition of that firm from one not using technology in its practice to one using fully integrated, state-of-the-art technology across six offices nationwide.

Pro Bono Experience

Mr. Roberts regularly participates in Ballard Spahr's pro bono program, particularly for adoption matters. In the past decade, he has devoted more than 600 hours in handling dozens of pro bono cases, including adoptions, child advocacy and immigration cases, guardianships, and appeals for public benefits.

Judicial Clerkships

Hon. Herbert A. Fogel, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1974-1976

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
Member, Standing Committee on Technology and Information Systems; past Chair, Law Practice Management Section; past member, Section Council; past Columns Editor, Section magazine

Philadelphia Bar Association
Past member, Board of Governors; past Co-chair, Law Practice Management Division

BIM Forum
Member, Leadership Committee; Vice Chair, Legal Subforum

Recognition & Accomplishments

Recipient, Ballard Spahr's 2012 Pro Bono Award, for significant pro bono service

Publications

Author, "Federal Rules" chapter, E-Discovery (PBI Press, 2008)

Author, Pennsylvania chapter, Fifty-State Construction Lien and Bond Law (Aspen L&B)

Author, Pennsylvania chapter, "LienLawOnline," a Web publication on mechanics' lien laws (www.lienlawonline.com)

Author and lecturer on applications of computer technology to the practice of law, computer use in litigation, and related ethics matters

Speaking Engagements

Instructor, "BIM Contract Negotiation and Risk Allocation," 92nd Annual Convention of The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Las Vegas, March 25, 2011

Speaker, American Bar Association, industry conferences, and CLE courses on electronic discovery issues, the new Federal Rules, and document management retention policies and practices

Instructor, "EDD from 10,000 Feet," a Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE course, Philadelphia, December 8, 2009

Community Activities

Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, Financial Management Committee, past Member

Board Memberships

Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, past Board Member

Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania, past Chairman, Overseers Board

The Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble, Board Member and past President

University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D. 1974)
Member, University of Pennsylvania Law Review

Harvard College (B.A. 1970, cum laude)

Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania 

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Claims

U.S. Supreme Court