Benjamin Morris is a construction lawyer and Vice Chair of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Construction Practice Group. Benjamin advises and counsels owners, developers, contractors, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout all phases of complex construction projects and construction litigation. He is a partner in the firm鈥檚 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 large data centers. He also guides clients on regulatory compliance issues related to contractor and engineering licensing.
Benjamin also handles business and complex litigation. His commercial clients have included biopharmaceutical companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, real estate developers, global manufactures, 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 Chair of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, serves on the firm鈥檚 National Pro Bono Committee, and is the Pro Bono Chair for the firm鈥檚 San Diego office.
Prior to joining 麻豆传媒, 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鈥檚 Office (2006).
Representative Experience
- Represented REIT and large real estate developer on claims against geotechnical engineer and environmental consultant.
- Represented owner of multiple self-storage facilities on claims related to design and construction defects against project architects and general contractors.
- 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鈥檚 subcontractor for significant additional costs incurred from subcontractor鈥檚 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.
Awards and Recognition
- Selected by San Diego Business Journal聽 as one of the Nonprofit Board Leaders of Influence (2025)
- Selected by San Diego Business Journal聽 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, 2023, 2024)
- San Diego Super Lawyers庐聽鈥 Rising Stars聽list (2015, 2016 and 2017)
Affiliations
- Chair, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program鈥檚 Board of Directors (SDVLP); Board Member Since 2021
- Member, Build & Serve Committee, Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter (Committee Chair 2024-2025)
- Barrister, Honorable William B. Enright Chapter of the American Inns of Court (2019-2024)
- Member, American Bar Association (including Forum on Construction Law)
- Member, San Diego County Bar Association (including Construction Law Section)
Presentations and Publications
- Author, 鈥淣o More 10% Retainage: California Mandates 5% Retention Cap on Private Construction Projects,鈥 麻豆传媒 Viewpoints, November 14, 2025
- Author, 鈥淚s Your Private Project Ready for California’s New Change Order Law?鈥 麻豆传媒 Viewpoints, November 14, 2025
- Author, 鈥淐ombining Philanthropy with P3 Project Delivery for Construction Projects,鈥 麻豆传媒 Viewpoints, January 23, 2024
- Author, 鈥淧rompt Payment Laws Continue to Trend in Favor of Contractors,鈥 ABA Construction, December 6, 2023
- 鈥淐alifornia Construction Law Update,鈥 Association of General Contractors San Diego Chapter, June 23, 2021
- 鈥淐onstruction Law Update and Year in Review,鈥 California Lawyers Association, August 6, 2020
- Author, 鈥The Importance of Knowing and Complying With Your Contract鈥檚 Notice Provisions,鈥 Piledriver , Vol. 14 No. 6 (2017).
- Author, 鈥溾 Under Construction, Vol. 19 No. 2 (2017).
- Co-author, 鈥,鈥 ABTL Report, Volume XVIII No. 2 (2011).
- Author, 鈥淎 Door Left Open? National Railroad Passenger Corp. v. Morgan and its Effect of Post-filing Discrete Acts,鈥 W. L. REV., 43, 497 (2007).
- 鈥淲hat鈥檚 New?: Construction Law Update,鈥 Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter (August 2023 & June 2021)
- 鈥淩ecent Developments in California Construction Law,鈥 California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section (July 2021)
- 鈥淩ecent Developments in California Construction Law,鈥 Construction Law Section San Diego County Bar Association (June 2018 and June 2019)
麻豆传媒 Advises Velocity One in Acquisition of Kaney Aerospace
麻豆传媒 Represents DLB in Sale of Majority Stake to Accenture
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No More 10% Retainage: California Mandates 5% Retention Cap on Private Construction Projects
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