S. Perry Coburn

Perry Coburn is a partner in the firm’s Litigation department. He practices primarily in the area of business litigation, representing companies and professionals in a number of industries and fields, including construction and design trades, manufacturing and distribution, information technology, insurance, and financial services. His cases typically arise from contract, business tort, and property loss disputes, including many that involve or stem from construction and development projects; real estate investments and acquisitions; property management and co-ownership arrangements; and other transactions affecting clients’ interests in commercial realty or related improvements or operations. He also represents clients in cases involving disputes over intellectual property interests, product defect claims, and claims for property damage and personal injuries, and many of his cases involve insurance coverage and claims-handling issues.

Mr. Coburn is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee.

Representative Matters

• Representation of real estate investment firms and property-management companies in business tort and contract disputes with co-investors and management contractors stemming from the co-ownership, use and operation of manufactured home communities and medical clinics in state and federal jurisdictions including Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.
• Representation of a national retailer and anchor tenant in disputes with a shopping center developer and other tract owners over realty interests and the enforcement of real and equitable covenants calling for the reimbursement of special tax assessments levied against the retailer’s tract to finance prior development projects.
• Defense of subcontracting manufacturer of pre-engineered steel structures and framing components in property loss dispute with project owner, general contractor, material suppliers and other subcontractors involved in the design and construction of corporate aircraft hangar buildings.
• Defense of owners and operators of regional and international airports against negligence claims grounded in premises liability and other theories of recovery.
• Representation of national health care provider in property loss dispute stemming from large-scale construction project and tenant upfit of medical facility.
• Defense of prime contractor against subcontractor against claims of fraudulent inducement, tortious interference and breach of contract brought by subcontractor in connection with federal information technology services procurement.
• Representation and defense of national and multinational financial services institutions in creditor suits, garnishment actions, attachment proceedings and foreclosure disputes, many involving statutory conspiracy claims.
• Defense of manufacturers, distributors and dealers against consumer claims of negligence, breach of contract, breach of warranty and products liability.
• Representation of insurers and insureds in coverage disputes stemming from the issuance of accidental death and dismemberment, professional liability (errors and omissions), homeowners and various other types of policies, and in cases involving claims of bad faith and other claims-handling issues.
• Defense and prosecution of claims of misconduct involving intellectual property including patent, copyright and trade dress infringement.
• Representation of architects, engineers and other professional licensees before state regulatory boards.

Select Publications

• Author, Product Liability Desk Reference, Virginia chapter, (Morton F. Daller ed., Aspen Law & Business 2018–2019) 
• Co-author with Michael W. Smith and R. Braxton Hill, IV, Product Liability Desk Reference, Virginia chapter (Morton F. Daller ed., Aspen Law & Business 2009–2017)