Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2002, JD, cum laude
University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Research Editor and Board Member
Arthur Littleton and H. Clayton Louderback Legal Writing Instructor
Rutgers University (Rutgers College), 1999, BA (Political Science), high honors
Clerkship
Hon. Edward Rafeedie, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, 2002 – 2003
Admissions
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals:
Third Circuit
U.S. District Courts:
District of New Jersey
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Middle District of Pennsylvania
Western District of Pennsylvania
John S. Stapleton
John S. Stapleton is a business litigator with nearly twenty-five years of high-stakes trial and appellate experience.
John serves on several boards in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, a member of the Board of Governors of the Third Circuit Bar Association, a founding director of the Board of Directors of the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic in Camden, New Jersey, and a member of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Advisory Committee. John previously served as a member of Law360's Pennsylvania Editorial Advisory Board and its New Jersey Editorial Advisory Board, and he was the Chair of the Southern New Jersey Advisory Board of Devereux-New Jersey.
John has received several recognitions for his work as a litigator and a community leader. He is a frequent speaker and published author on substantive legal issues and litigation tactics, including serving as a chapter author and editor in multiple treatises. He has been quoted numerous times in print, radio, and television media.
John’s litigation experience is deep and diverse, covering numerous industries and areas of law. Typical clients include financial institutions, real estate companies, retailers, government agencies, mission-driven organizations, and other businesses and individuals. Typical subject matters of disputes include contracts, restrictive covenants, tax, partnership disputes, fraud, real estate, RICO, government regulations, business torts, and intellectual property rights, among other areas.
John was a leader for the team that successfully defended the Philadelphia Beverage Tax in Williams v. City of Philadelphia, registering victories at every stage from the trial court to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The case received extensive national attention. John also was a leader for the team that obtained the landmark ruling striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples in Whitewood v. Wolf. He argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court during its first-ever televised proceedings.
John routinely logs hundreds of pro bono hours annually. John and his team won affirmance from the Third Circuit and secured the release of a man who had served approximately 20 years of a life sentence in New Jersey state prison. The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey specifically thanked John and his team for their “able and vigorous advocacy,” their “thorough efforts and distinguished advocacy,” and for “play[ing] an integral part in ensuring that justice is fairly meted based on the merits of the arguments rather than the resources of the litigants.” John’s many other significant pro bono matters, as described more fully in SSC's My100 page, include obtaining political asylum for a refugee, striking down advertising bans on public transit vehicles on First Amendment grounds, representing abused and neglected children, and serving as court-appointed civil rights counsel in federal district courts.
Prior to co-founding Stapleton Segal Cochran, John was a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, an associate at Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP in New York, and a federal law clerk in Los Angeles.
Leadership & Community Involvement
Trustee
Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
2025 – present
Governor
Third Circuit Bar Association
2025 – present
Advisory Board Member
Law360 New Jersey Editorial Advisory Board
2024
Advisory Board Member
Law360 Pennsylvania Editorial Advisory Board
2023
Barrister
University of Pennsylvania American Inn of Court
2023 – present
Board Member
Volunteer UP Legal Clinic Board of Directors
2018 – present
Chair of the Board
Southern New Jersey Advisory Board to Devereux – New Jersey
2011 – 2017
Board Member
ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Advisory Committee
2014 – present
Volunteer Child Advocate
Support Center for Child Advocates
2006 – present
Core Class 2011
Leadership, Inc., Philadelphia
Awards & Recognitions
Named an “Influencer of Law” in “Business Litigation” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, 2019
Named one of BillyPenn.com’s “Who’s Next – Law,” 2017
Named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” 2017
Named a “Distinguished Advocate” by the Support Center for Child Advocates, 2017
Named a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 2014
Named by Super Lawyers magazine as one of New Jersey's and/or Pennsylvania's top attorneys as the result of a statewide survey of lawyers, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2026
Named by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star as the result of a statewide survey of lawyers, 2012 – 2017
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Pro Bono Roll of Honor, 2006 – 2019
University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Research Editor and Board Member
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Arthur Littleton and H. Clayton Louderback Legal Writing Instructor
See Award Methodologies here
Selected Speaking Engagements
Facilitator and Presenter
Defamation, Libel, & Slander with a Focus on High Profile Litigation
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
March 12, 2024
Facilitator and Presenter
Federal Pro Bono Representation: Gain Valuable Federal Court Experience While Serving the Community
Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
December 2023
Facilitator and Presenter
Nuts and Bolts for Volunteer Counsel
Volunteer UP Legal Clinic
February 2020
Guest Lecturer
Using a Commercial Litigation Practice to Achieve Social Justice
University of Pennsylvania Law School
November 2019
Presenter
Making the Case for Kids: Stories from the Philadelphia Beverage Tax Litigation
Public Citizens for Children and Youth
April 16, 2019
Facilitator and Presenter
Preparing Corporate Employees for Deposition and Trial
Greater Philadelphia ACC Litigation Institute
September 13, 2018
Facilitator and Presenter
Avoid Making Headlines for the Wrong Reasons: Ethical Issues When Making Statements in the Media
Greater Philadelphia ACC In-House Counsel Conference
April 25, 2018
Co-lecturer
Deposition Boot Camp
University of Pennsylvania Law School
January 2016
Facilitator and Presenter
The Art of the Deposition: Taking, Defending and Preparing for Depositions
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
2015
Facilitator and Presenter
Same Sex Marriage Ruling and Workplace Policies
Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ Annual Municipal Legal Update
2015
Faculty Presenter
Pennsylvania Marriage Equality: A New Dawn
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
2014
Selected Publications
Co-author (with Kali J. Schellenberg and Ken I. Trujillo), Black-Led VC Fund Case Could Hinge On Nature Of Grants, Law360, January 29, 2024
Chapter Author and Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Pre-Trial Practice, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Trial Practice, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Chapter Editor and Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Discovery, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Co-author, SCOTUS Ruling Shows Limits of Securities Exchange Act’s Exclusive Jurisdiction Clause: A look at the implications of Merrill Lynch v. Manning, New Jersey Law Journal, May 20, 2016
Co-author, U.S. Supreme Court’s Splintered Decision on State Voter ID Law: More Questions Than Answers, The Legal Intelligencer & Pennsylvania Law Weekly (Litigation Supplement), July 14, 2008
Chapter Author and Advisory Board Member, Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Representative Cases
Business Litigation
Representing real estate developer of iconic Center City building in lawsuit involving breach of contract, fiduciary duty, promissory estoppel, conversion, fraud, and unjust enrichment claims
Representing financial lending organization in multiple litigations to pursue claims of fraud, including obtaining and collecting upon a multi-million dollar judgment against certain defendants
Representing child welfare organization in adoption-related lawsuit, defending against claims for fraud, negligence, emotional distress, unfair trade practice, and breach of contract claims
Represented affordable housing and community development organization in lawsuit brought by government agency involving trade secret, fraud, fiduciary duty, and breach of contract claims
Represented a civil rights plaintiff in securing a consent judgment of $5 million and an assignment of insurance rights from the defendant municipality and then pursued the insurance company on a coverage dispute before settling
Represented major food manufacturer in a multi-million dollar dispute over supply and processing contract
Successfully settled multi-million dollar partnership and shareholder dispute over ownership and management of 5 real estate companies placed in receivership prior to representation
Represented real estate investment company against New Jersey township and citizen organizations regarding $20 million land purchase and development
Numerous litigations regarding restrictive covenants across various industries including financial institutions, brokerage institutions, gaming, and others
Secured complete victory for major defense contractor after week-long arbitration regarding allegations that the contractor owed millions in fair market royalties under a patent and license royalty agreement for suite of military training software
Secured complete victory for former partner of major international law firm after two-day arbitration against the firm for breach of contract in its attempt to enforce financial penalties for the partner’s departure
Defense of New York hedge funds and individuals accused of RICO and related violations arising from multi-million dollar defaults on trades on a regional transmission organization’s electricity derivative market
Represented major defense contractor against multiple sub-contractors for breaches of supply and servicing contracts
Defense of investment bank and individuals accused of ERISA and related violations arising from sophisticated tax-advantaged financial transaction worth hundreds of millions of dollars
Retained on appeal and obtained the complete reversal of a $19 million medical malpractice jury verdict in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Defense of major food manufacturer and distributor in allegations of breach of supply contract
Brought successful challenge on behalf of Pennsylvania real estate company against major, national home builder for breach of contract, seeking specific performance requiring the purchaser of real estate to close on the contract
Brought successful challenge for California manufacturer of automotive key transponders against Pennsylvania company for copyright and trademark violations arising from infringing software source code and hardware
Defense of international technology company in New Jersey products liability suit arising from allegedly defective refrigeration equipment
Obtained dismissal on summary judgment for national manufacturer and designer of concrete silo against claims for breaches of contract and negligence
Secured dismissal of putative class action against numerous financial institutions arising from a mortgage broker’s alleged Ponzi scheme impacting hundreds of Pennsylvania homeowners
Government Litigation
Defended interstate-federal commission's ban on high volume hydraulic fracking, including obtaining dismissal at District Court level and affirmance by the Third Circuit
In the Third Circuit, prevailed in challenge to strike down ban on political advertising in public transit vehicles
Represented major charter management organization in multi-jurisdictional litigation against School District of Philadelphia for breach of contract and due process claims
Defended the City of Philadelphia and its implementation of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, prevailing at all three stages of litigation, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Representation of major retailer in several tax liability disputes with New Jersey’s Division of Taxation
On behalf of the City of Philadelphia, obtained complete dismissal of massive challenge to the City's entire property tax assessment system
On behalf of cigar and tobacco distributors and retailers, brought successful challenge to invalidate the City of Philadelphia’s “Blunt Ban,” including obtaining affirmance by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Invalidated Pennsylvania’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples
Represented a major outdoor advertising and billboard company against a citizen group’s Constitutional challenge to the erection and maintenance of a digital billboard
Defended state agency against RICO and related claims arising from the agency's debarment of a contractor for violations of state prevailing wage laws
Defended state agency for alleged violations of Pennsylvania’s Administrative Procedures Act
Defended Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State’s certification of electronic voting machines