Charles Becker
Charles “Chip” Becker has primary responsibility for Kline & Specter's post-trial and appellate practice. He works with firm lawyers on procedural and substantive issues as they arise during cases and supports the full range of cases that the firm handles, including cases arising from medical malpractice, defective products, including drugs and devices, environmental and toxic torts, vehicle crashes, dangerous workplaces, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and civil rights violations. A partner at Kline & Specter, Becker routinely presents argument in Pennsylvania's trial and appellate courts. He has presented argument in other state appellate courts and multiple federal circuit courts as well.
In addition to his work at Kline & Specter, Becker serves as a judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, which exercises jurisdiction over charges of judicial misconduct when filed against Pennsylvania judges. He co-chairs the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Historical Commission, which promotes the Supreme Court's history dating back to William Penn's provincial courts founded in 1684 and encourages civics education in Pennsylvania's schools. He vice-chairs the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Commission on Judicial Independence, which supports public understanding of the judiciary and the importance of judicial independence as a necessary dimension of the rule of law and the American constitutional system.
He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, where he teaches state constitutional law and previously taught appellate practice.
He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a national invitation-only organization that promotes excellence in the appellate courts. He has authored book chapters on substantive and procedural matters and contributes to legal education programs. He served three terms on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Appellate Courts Procedural Rules Committee, which makes recommendations to the Supreme Court on Pennsylvania's appellate rules. Becker is a member of the American Law Institute, a board member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, a past president of the Third Circuit Bar Association. and a past president of Germantown Jewish Centre. A graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School, Becker served as a law clerk for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
In recognition of his efforts, Becker has been consistently selected by Super Lawyers as among the Top 100 attorneys in Pennsylvania. He also has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers and Partners, and Forbes for excellence in appellate practice.
News Featuring Charles Becker:
- Superior Court Upholds $207.6M Birth Injury Judgment Against Penn Hospital, Law.com, 7/10/25
- Pa. Appeals Court Backs Broader Application of Sex Abuse Exception to Sovereign Immunity, The Legal Intelligencer, 6/9/25
- Penn Hospital Says $200M Judgment Imperils Local Care, Law360 2/5/25
- Pa. Superior Court: Sorority's Interview Notes Not Shielded from Discovery in Lawsuit over Student death, The Legal Intelligencer, 1/15/25
- Judge Rejects Exxon Mobil's Challenge to $725M Benzene Verdict, Adds $91M in Delay Damages, The Legal Intelligencer, 9/16/24
- Mitsubishi's Trial Loss Over Defective Seat Belt Upped To $1B, Law360, 5/1/24
- As Stakes Escalate, Kline & Specter Begin Steppin Phila.’s Largest Verdicts Post-Trial, The Legal Intelligencer, 1/31/2024
- Challenge to State Damages Cap Lands Back in Commonwealth Court After High Court Denies Immediate Review, The Legal Intelligencer, 8/2/22
- Pa. Supreme Court Has Low Output So Far This Year, But Observers Say That's Not the Whole Story, The Legal Intelligencer, 6/22/22
- Becker comments on legal contingencies should Lt. Gov. John Fetterman have to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race. ABC27, 6/6/22
- Court Upholds $4.5M Child Abuse Jury Verdict Against Phila. Public Defenders, The Legal Intelligencer, 12/17/20
- Becker quoted on jurisdiction ruling in $12.85M Pelvic Mesh Case, The Legal Intelligencer, 10/21/20
- By pushing to impeach a state Supreme Court justice for his opinions, Pa. lawmakers undermine democracy | Opinion by Charles Becker, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/13/20
- Waiver Issue Sinks Dispute Over Whether Pa.'s Business Registration Law Establishes Jurisdiction, The Legal Intelligencer, 6/26/20
- Court backs new trial after mesh defense verdict, legal Intelligencer, 4/17/20
- Becker Argues Risperdal Statute Issue Before PA Supreme Court, PCN, 5/16/19
- Report must be released, Becker quoted in priest sex abuse grand jury report, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/10/18
- Becker Interviewed On Supreme Court Judge Nominations, CBS 3, 7/9/18
- Pa. Court Won't Junk Risperdal Verdict Against J&J Unit, Law360, 2/20/18
- Superior Court Upholds Reduction of $26.6M Verdict in Knee Injury Case, The Legal Intelligencer, 12/18/17
- Chip Becker Comments On Seth Williams Trial, CBS 3 6/18/17
- Chip Becker Comments On Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Trial, CBS 3, 6/5/17
- Judge Rejects Bid to Overturn $5M Sex Abuse Verdict, The Legal Intelligencer, 3/30/17
- Becker comments on possible U.S. Supreme Court nominees, CBS 3, 1/30/2017
- NCAA Brought Back Into Suit Over Student's Death, The Legal Intelligencer, 5/4/16
- Becker comments on NFL settlement, The Legal Intelligencer, 3/18/16
- Becker interviewed on gun control issue, CBS 3, 1/5/15
- Pennsylvania Ban on Trade Name Use Felled; Remainder of Funeral Industry Law Stands, Becker comments, U.S. Law Week 2/25/14
- Eye on the Bench, First Circuit’s Chief Judge Sandra Lynch, Becker comments, U.S. Law Week 2/25/14
- Pa. Supreme Court refuses to hear Blumer appeal, verdict stands, The Legal Intelligencer 8/14/12
- Government drops appeal in $17.5M Ellison verdict, The Legal Intelligencer 7/23/12
- Appeal of Judge's Decision on Recusal Must Wait for Outstanding Motions, The Legal Intelligencer 6/28/12
- Becker comments on venue decision Appeal , The Patriot-News, 5/16/12
- Becker files amicus brief in Genuardi case, The Legal Intelligencer 4/12/12
- PA Superior Court panel upholds $8.75M Blumer verdict, PA Law Weekly 5/16/11
- Becker comments on GSK ruling, The Legal Intelligencer, 3/28/11
- Kline, Becker win wrongful firing appeal, The Legal Intelligencer 12/30/10
- Becker interviewed on rare King's Bench petition ruling, The Legal Intelligencer 12/16/10
- Firm wins important decision on expert witnesses, The Legal Intelligencer 11/22/10
- Judge cuts Medicaid lien in Mckinney appeal argued by Becker, The Legal Intelligencer 8/26/10
- Becker wins drug lawsuit venue appeal, Legal Intelligencer, 3/22/10
- Becker comments on the Haun v. Phoenixville Hospital case, The Legal Intelligencer 11/30/09
- Specter, Becker, author article on products liability law, The Legal Intelligencer 11/16/09
- Charles Becker interviewed on product liability doctrine, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 9/21/09
- Specter, Becker author op-ed: The Exxon Decision: Another Bad Call on Punitive Damages, The Legal Intelligencer 11/18/2008; A Response and Rebuttal, PA Justice News 1/09
- Specter, Becker obtain key ruling protecting children's medical expenses, The Legal Intelligencer 11/7/08
- Pre-Emption Issue Weighed in Label Cases, The Legal Intelligencer 12/13/07
- U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal, case concluded, The Legal Intelligencer 11/28/2007
- Kline & Specter Starts Appellate Practice With Addition of Becker, The legal Intelligencer 5/16/2007
- Pittsburgh Judge Applies 1925(b) Waiver in Pro Se Litigant's Appeal, The Legal Intelligencer 5/9/2007
- Opinion Could Bring More 1925(b) Confusion, The Legal Intelligencer 4/4/2007
- Big Verdicts, Big Vacancies Top Phila. Courts' Stories in '06, The Legal Intelligencer 12/21/2006
- Key 1925(b) Appeal To Go Before High Court, The Legal Intelligencer 10/30/2006
- Judges Reject 1925(b) Argument, The Legal Intelligencer 8/30/2006
- 2006 Lawyers on the Fast Track, The Legal Intelligencer 8/28/2006
