Carlton L. Johnson

Mr. Johnson focuses his practice on commercial and complex litigation matters. He represents a wide range of clients, including individuals, commercial businesses, non-profit organizations, and government and public entities in state and federal courts, in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mr. Johnson represents clients in a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, civil rights, labor and employment, real estate, government affairs, insurance matters, criminal matters, business torts, contractual disputes, professional negligence actions, as well as personal injury and property loss matters. He handles all aspects of litigation, from pleadings through appeals.

One of the areas of focus in Mr. Johnson’s practice is on minority and women-owned businesses. Along with litigation matters, Mr. Johnson provides general business counseling and assistance to minority and women-owned companies. Mr. Johnson is an active member of Archer’s Diversity Committee, and along with other Committee members, works to carry out the firm’s vision to grow diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, as well as to implement firm policies and procedures, and foster programs to promote diversity throughout the firm.

Mr. Johnson represents and counsels a number of clients, including real estate development companies, with regard to Government Affairs, with a focus on real estate matters. He advises clients regarding licenses and inspections, real estate acquisitions and development, zoning, real estate tax matters, real estate title issues and disputes, as well as litigation matters related to real estate. Mr. Johnson works with clients to best accomplish their objectives, and to provide his assistance navigating the landscape surrounding the various city and state agencies.

In the heavily regulated and growing cannabis industry, Mr. Johnson provides counseling and assistance to businesses engaged in matters relating to the cannabis sector. Areas in which Mr. Johnson works with clients include real estate, licensing and regulatory compliance, lobbying, financing and banking, taxation, administrative law, and business services. He assists many types of businesses, including cultivators, manufacturers, transporters, distributors, researchers, testing labs, and retailers.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Johnson served as the Chief Deputy City Solicitor of the Civil Rights Unit for the City of Philadelphia. In his position, Mr. Johnson managed the defense of civil rights cases brought against the City of Philadelphia and provided risk management advice to client departments and officials to minimize future litigation and losses. Mr. Johnson also managed court supervised agreements to resolve decades-long structural and operational challenges that exposed the government to potentially significant financial liability. During his tenure with the Law Department, Mr. Johnson handled all of the litigation matters arising out of the Republican National Convention (RNC 2000). He also represented the City in general liability and tax matters and provided advice and counsel to several City Solicitors to help resolve organizational challenges within the Law Department itself.