Jonathan Scott Goldman

Biography

CHAIR, STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL TEAM

Jonathan Scott Goldman leads Blank Rome’s State Attorneys General Team and represents the interests of clients in litigation, investigations, strategy development and other behind-the-scenes business advocacy matters before offices of state attorneys general and various state government agencies nationwide.

Jonathan is an experienced trial and appellate attorney, a creative legal and business strategist, and a trusted adviser. He represents and counsels businesses, municipalities, and individuals in general disputes and complex litigation matters in federal and state courts, as well as in administrative proceedings, across the country. Jonathan has negotiated complex settlements and taken cases through full jury trial and appeal.

In addition to his government-focused work, Jonathan maintains a diverse practice in such areas as commercial litigation, including contract disputes and “deals gone wrong,” as well as real estate and insurance litigation; employment litigation, including employee defection, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and unfair competition; bankruptcy litigation on behalf of individual creditors, creditors’ committees, debtors, and trustees, including fraudulent transfers and preference claims; and trusts and estate litigation, including fee disputes and will fights.

In addition to his diverse trial and commercial litigation practice, Jonathan maintains an active tax practice focused on state and local tax considerations for clients.

Jonathan served as Executive Deputy Attorney General (“EDAG”) at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (“OAG”) from 2017 to mid-2019 where he ran the Civil Law Division and was a top executive to then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

As EDAG, Jonathan oversaw the Civil Litigation, Appellate Litigation, Tax Litigation, Torts Litigation, Legal Review, and Financial Enforcement Sections of the OAG, supervising approximately 130 attorneys, investigators, and other employees in multiple offices across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in the formation and operation of the Impact Litigation Section, through which General Shapiro led and collaborated with other state attorneys general across the country on key national legal issues and engaged in multistate litigation.

At the OAG, Jonathan was actively involved in many litigation matters of state and national importance, including:

  • Contraceptive Care Mandate – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Trump, et al., 17-4540 (E.D. Pa.) – Obtained a national preliminary injunction to block the implementation of new, additional sweeping exemptions for employers with religious or moral exemptions to the Affordable Care Act’s requirements that preventative services such as contraceptives for women be covered by insurance without co-payments, deductibles, or other costs.
  • Golden Living Nursing Homes – Commonwealth, AG Shapiro v. Golden Gate National Senior Care LLC, et al, 16 MAP 2017 (Pa.) – Lead appellate counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in briefing and argument before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sued a chain of nursing homes for violating Pennsylvania’s Consumer Protection Law by making promises to seniors and their families that they could not and did not keep. Won reversal of a Commonwealth Court order sustaining nursing homes’ preliminary objections to complaint. The Supreme Court found that the Commonwealth Court’s declaration that Golden Living’s statements were merely “puffery” as a matter of law was “improper,” held that the Consumer Protection Law does not only apply to advertising, and held that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a “person in interest” entitled to seek remedies including “restoration” under section 4.1 of the CPL. 
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)/Highmark – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, et al. v. UPMC, et al., 334 MD 2014 (Cwlth. Ct.); Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, et al. v. UPMC, et al., 39 MAP 2019 (Pa.); UPMC Pinnacle, et al. v. Joshua D. Shapiro, 19-0298 (M.D. Pa.); UPMC Pinnacle, et al. v. Joshua D. Shapiro, 19-2051 (3d. Cir.) Lead counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a trial before the Commonwealth Court concerning the parties’ understanding of the modification clauses contained in consent decrees among UPMC, Highmark, and the Commonwealth. The matter ended in the announcement of a new 10-year contract between UPMC and Highmark, ending a longstanding dispute and ensuring that Highmark patients will have access to UPMC’s doctors and facilities.
  • 3D Printable Guns – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, et al. v. Defense Distributed, et al., 18-3208 (E.D. Pa.); see also Defense Distributed, et al. v. Grewal, et al., 18-0637 (W.D. Tx.) Lead counsel representing Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Governor Tom Wolf, and the Pennsylvania State Police in an injunction matter against Defense Distributed, a company that sought to bypass established legal requirements to distribute downloadable gun files that would deliver real, operational firearms to any Pennsylvanian with an Internet connection and a 3D printer. Following an emergency hearing, the company agreed to make its websites inaccessible to Pennsylvania users and not upload any new 3D gun files.
  • Gerrymandering – League of Women Voters of PA, et al. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, et al., 261 MD 2017 (Cwlth. Ct.). Lead counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a challenge to political districting and representation in Pennsylvania.

At the OAG, Jonathan worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and was substantively involved in tax matters, directing the chiefs of the OAG’s tax and appellate litigation sections in their representation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in tax litigation before the Commonwealth Court and Pennsylvania Supreme Court. His experience in public service has provided additional insights into Pennsylvania’s Department of Revenue and the Commonwealth’s litigation of tax matters.

He previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Rochelle S. Friedman on the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Outside the Firm

In addition to spending time with his family and friends, Jonathan enjoys fine art photography and is a Board Member and Chair of the Governance Committee for TILT Institute for Contemporary Image, a Philadelphia non-profit that supports contemporary photographers and image makers of every level by fostering a space to learn, network, create, and engage in socially conscious dialogue through exhibitions, fine art printing, free programs, artist residencies, youth education, and classes. He also enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.

Experience

  • Worked with team and led strategy to advise nursing home facing “bet the company” investigation by Pennsylvania Department of Health (“DOH”); worked with Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel, DOH, Department of State, OAG and, separately, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) at Federal level to resolve investigation.
  • Leading teams advising top Fortune 500 U.S. companies on legality of and complex implementation strategy for multi-state armed security forces to travel with and protect top executives.
  • Representing top gaming company, including leading communications and strategy with OAG, advising client in high-stakes, multipronged litigation over “skill games,” and leading important, related Right-to-Know Law appeal strategy and litigation.
  • Advising board of public state pension fund; representing fund in various litigation matters and implementing complex strategy related to class action litigation.
  • Successfully tried multi-day litigation in Pennsylvania Orphans’ Court regarding control of church following death of church’s founder who left church without bylaws; advising clients on related issues.
  • Representing multiple businesses and individuals across various industries in litigation and other efforts to achieve tax relief from Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (“DOR”), in litigation before Commonwealth Court defended by OAG, nunc pro tunc and other actions defended by OAG and DOR, and tax appeals before Pennsylvania Board of Appeals and Board of Finance and Revenue.
  • Led successful defense of investigation of investment firm by Pennsylvania Department of Banking and provided strategic and regulatory advice to client.
  • Represented cancer practice in high-stakes hospital competition litigation affecting patient care; leading separate communications and strategy development with OAG.
  • Defending private dental practice in Medicaid fraud investigation by OAG.
  • Lead counsel for hearing and post-hearing briefing on fee petition following successful firm representation in eminent domain matter.
  • Lead counsel for real estate investment company in eminent domain matter following condemnation of commercial property by state government to enlarge roadway.
  • Representing client in negotiations with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources over potential donation and preservation of hundreds of acres of land to state park system.
  • Representing client seeking grants and other economic relief from multiple state agencies in response to significant unexpected capital expense that threatens plant production and jobs.
  • Obtained a $40 million settlement on behalf of the liquidator of an insurance company in an actuarial/accounting malpractice suit against a major accounting firm.
  • Second-chaired a multi-week jury trial to verdict concerning real estate and employment issues arising from the theft and use of agency information and improper customer solicitation by an agent defecting to a competitor, including breach of restrictive covenant, tortious interference with contract, breach of duty of loyalty, conspiracy, and additional claims of fraudulent concealment and spoliation of evidence.
  • Defended a Fortune 500 company against patent and misappropriation of trade secrets claims relating to a key technology platform and service, prevailing on a motion for judgment on the pleadings prior to the commencement of discovery and upholding a winning judgment on appeal.
  • Represented a college in the defense of multiple actions by disgruntled neighborhood groups alleging violations of zoning and restrictive covenants on real property to stymie development of the campus; prevailed on summary judgment and upheld the judgment on appeal.
  • Advised and represented a municipality with respect to employment and labor issues arising out of a state takeover act in several legal forums, including state agency and trial and appellate courts.
  • Represented a Chapter 7 trustee in a complex multidistrict litigation and numerous bankruptcy disputes involving thoroughbred horses, oil and gas, and tax issues.
  • Defended a public company in a high, six-figure breach of contract suit, settling efficiently for less than one-third the damages sought, to be paid over more than two years.
  • Obtained an $800,000 settlement on behalf of a major bank on a temporary restraining order and fraud action against a mortgage broker.
  • Represented a major bank in matters concerning fee disputes with trust beneficiaries arising out of its role as trustee of irrevocable trusts.
  • Represented interested parties regarding documents sought by business competitors through Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law.
  • Served as counsel to a creditors’ committee of a gaming business in bankruptcy litigation involving its Chapter 11 reorganization.
  • Represented a death row inmate in post-conviction proceedings seeking to obtain a new trial and reversal of the death penalty sentence.

News & Views

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Recognitions

2024–2025, Commercial Litigation, Philadelphia, listed in Best Lawyers in America©

Affiliations

Memberships

  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
Professional Activities

Jonathan serves as Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s 2025 State Policy Committee, and in 2024 served as Co-Chair of the Legislative Liaison Committee.

Jonathan is actively committed to pro bono service and handles a number of pro bono cases each year on behalf of indigent clients and entities protecting voting rights. He has been named to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Pro Bono Roll of Honor every year he has practiced law at Blank Rome.

Jonathan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and serves on its Committee for Social Responsibility. He is also Chair of its Jewish Community Relations Council (“JCRC”), which works through community relations, government affairs, social action, and advocacy, together with Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, to improve inter-group understanding and advance a just and pluralistic society.

Statewide, Jonathan serves as Chair of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, a nonpartisan, statewide organization, formed in 1981, that represents Pennsylvania’s various Jewish communities across the state before state government and with other Pennsylvanians, and works on issues of importance to these communities, including public policy initiatives, and funding and regulation of the delivery of human services. In his role as Chair, Jonathan is often called upon to speak with the media and in the community.

He also serves as the Assistant Secretary of the Abraham J. Cohen Family Charitable Foundation.

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

  • Princeton University, AB
  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD
  • Tufts University, MFA