William Shotzbarger

Senior Associate

  • William Shotzbarger
  • Phone: +1 215 979 1997

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    30 South 17th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
    USA

William Shotzbarger practices in the area of litigation with an emphasis in antitrust, commercial disputes, and government investigations. His practice involves advising on highly sensitive issues across varying industries, including banking and finance and franchising. He has tried jury and bench trials in federal and state courts and appeared in American Arbitration Association arbitration hearings.

In antitrust and competition, he has served as counsel in Multidistrict Litigation concerning price-fixing and bid-rigging, defended a consummated merger, tried cases on price discrimination and Robinson-Patman Act claims, and provides advice to companies on compliance obligations. 

In commercial disputes, he regularly files on behalf of and defends clients in court cases and arbitrations involving breach of contract and related theories of recovery. He has obtained seven-figure arbitration awards on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees. He also litigates matters involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

In white-collar criminal law, he has represented clients in various Department of Justice investigations and responded to Congressional subpoenas from both the Senate and the House. He has also successfully defended clients at trial in state court proceedings.

Areas of Practice

  • Antitrust and Competition

  • Complex Commercial Litigation

  • White Collar Criminal Law and Government Investigations

  • Franchise and Distribution Litigation

Representative Matters

    Antitrust and Competition

  • Trial counsel for publicly traded pharmaceutical distributor in action brought by plaintiff wholesalers alleging price discrimination under the federal Robinson-Patman Act and California state laws.

  • Represents a foreign chemical manufacturer in relation to a Consent Order from the FTC allowing a joint venture with competing manufacturers of PTA and PET to complete the largest PTA and PET plant in North America. In re: Corpus Christi Polymers LLC, FTC Docket No. C-4672

  • Defended leading medical technology manufacturer in action brought by the Federal Trade Commission challenging the consummated merger of two prosthetics manufacturers under the Clayton Act and FTC Act. In re: Otto Bock HealthCare North America, Inc., FTC Docket No. 9378

  • Represented nation's largest network of heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in several antitrust class actions in In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, a Multidistrict Litigation proceeding involving claims for alleged price-fixing of vehicle parts under the Sherman Act and Illinois Brick repealer statutes.

  • Advising on compliance obligations, including hold separate agreements and consent orders.

    • Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Trial counsel for Chair of bank in claims brought by former officer and shareholder for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties.

  • Counsel for technology company in favorable resolution of contractual claims brought by former employee.

  • Outside litigation counsel for a Fortune 200 international company handling dozens of disputes involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, and various other causes of action.

  • Represented independent pharmacies in successfully overturning decisions by Pharmacy Benefit Managers to suspend or terminate the pharmacies from insurance networks.

    • Franchise Litigation

  • Arbitration of franchise dispute for franchisor resulting in seven-figure arbitration award against former area developer and franchisee. Award was confirmed in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
  • Arbitration of franchise dispute for franchisor resulting in complete dismissal of former franchisee/master franchisor’s claims.

  • Arbitration of franchise disputes resulting in seven-figure arbitration award for bathroom remodeling companies against franchisor. Award in clients’ favor was challenged and confirmed in federal court.

  • Defend significant former franchisee in federal case alleging trademark infringement, cybersquatting, and breach of franchise agreement.

  • Arbitration of franchise disputes surrounding breach of contract and related theories.

    • White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations

  • Defending employees of a power plant in a criminal investigation involving allegations of Clean Air Act emissions violations.
  • Investigation and representation of a healthcare system in connection with government investigation into distribution of vaccines.

  • Trial counsel for country club in successful defense of several nuisance and noise violation proceedings brought by township.

  • Investigation and representation of a research university in connection with multi-agency government investigation into research accounting and compliance matters.

  • Responding to Congressional subpoenas served by committees/subcommittees in both houses of Congress.

    • Pro Bono

  • Obtained plenary guardianship of a 21-year-old severely disabled woman in a pro bono representation, on behalf of her mother and primary caregiver, in Orphans' Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County.

  • Represented juvenile lifer in mandatory resentencing proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, reaching a decision that the client found favorable.

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

  • Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2015
    - Order of the Coif
    - Associate Notes Editor, Syracuse Law Review
  • University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 2010

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Senior Associate, 2025-present
    - Associate, 2015-2024

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association
    - Antitrust Law Section

Board Memberships

  • Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars

No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Selected Publications