Sean C. Coughlin
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in San Diego, California
Noonan Lance & Boyer, LLP
Practice areas: Business Litigation, Bankruptcy, Real Estate
Licensed in California since: 1993
Education: California Western School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026 Noonan Lance & Boyer, LLP
701 Island AvenueSuite 400
San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: 619-795-9350 Email: Sean C. Coughlin Visit website
Details 
Mr. Coughlin handles complex business and real estate litigation. Much of his practice focuses on real estate finance disputes, including the enforcement of commercial real estate loans for institutional and private lenders, lien disputes, foreclosures, lender liability defense, and the defense of foreclosure trustees. Mr. Coughlin also has substantial experience handling litigation matters in bankruptcy court. Finally, Mr. Coughlin has a successful track record of appellate work in state court and in federal court, including bankruptcy appellate matters.
First Admitted: 1993, California
Professional Webpage: https://noonanlance.com/attorneys/sean-c-coughlin/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers; San Diego Bankruptcy Forum; San Diego County Bar Association; Irish American Bar Association, 2022
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Successfully defeated an objection to a client’s claim in Bankruptcy Court on a disputed area of law (resulting in a reported decision). In re Van Buren Plaza (1996) 200 B.R. 384, 1996
- Obtained reversal on appeal for a lender of an adverse Superior Court ruling on the lender’s claims against an escrow company leading to a favorable settlement for the client. Bates v. Chicago Title Company, 2013 WL3753062., 2013
- Defeated borrower’s attempt to obtain TRO restraining foreclosure on commercial property and ultimately obtained dismissal of Federal lawsuit against a lender for alleged federal regulatory violations following Motion to Dismiss. Acevedo v. The Loan Company of San Diego, L.P. 2020 WL 4596760., 2020
- Successfully defended claims for breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful foreclosure against a commercial lender by prevailing on demurrer. Successfully defended the judgment on appeal. Newman v. The Loan Company of San Diego, L.P. 2016 WL 7048006, 2016
- Prevailed at trial on a quasi-contract claim on behalf of a contractor; obtained a judgment in the full amount of damages sought, plus attorneys’ fees, interest and penalties; collected full amount of the judgment from the defendant for the client., 2004
- Obtained a tentative ruling granting complete summary judgment for a client in the defense of a preferential transfer action filed by a bankruptcy trustee (leading to a favorable settlement for the client)., 2012
- Obtained a reversal on appeal of an adverse summary judgment ruling. Then obtained an affirmance of the reversal in a reported decision by the Chief Justice of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, leading to a favorable settlement for the client on the eve of trial. The reported decision resolved a number of outstanding areas of law in the Ninth Circuit, including the tolling of the statute of limitations for a Trustee to file an avoidance action for a concealed transfer. Gladstone v. U.S. Bancorp; et al. (2016) 811 F.3d 1133. , 2016
- In representing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy Trustee, obtained a 100% distribution to creditors (in what was listed as a no asset estate) by obtaining rulings that the bankruptcy estate had an interest in a commercial building and by successfully negotiating the sale of the bankruptcy estate’s interest to the non-debtor co-owner of the building. The case involved successfully defending multiple appeals of the Bankruptcy Court’s rulings as to the bankruptcy estate’s interest in the commercial building and the order approving the sale of the building. In re Judith Jean Hoffman, 2015 WL 848992., 2015
- In representing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee, obtained a 100% distribution to creditors (in what was scheduled as no asset estate) through successful prosecution of a fraudulent conveyance claim to recover financial assets transferred to an offshore entity. , 2011
- Obtained complete defense verdict after trial on claims by former client against a law firm for alleged breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. The judgment also resulted a ruling validating the client’s claim in excess of $800,000. Assisted client in obtaining full recovery of the claim amount plus interest and attorneys’ fees. , 2018
- Obtained summary judgment for company on claims by departing employee and stockholder asserting excessive stock buyout price and various alleged claims for anticompetitive practices. , 2006
- Represented a commercial lender in a lien priority dispute related to its $600,000 loan (ultimately resulting in a reported appellate decision in the client’s favor and leading to a favorable settlement for the client). In re Mehdi Loloee (1998) 241 B.R. 655, 1998
Pro bono / Community Service
- Volunteer mediator for the United States Bankruptcy Court (San Diego), 2023
Educational Background
- I received my undergraduate degree in Economics and History in 1989 from the University of San Diego I received my law degree in 1993 from California Western School of Law. , 1993
Honors
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review rating, Martindale Hubbell International Law Directory, 2023
- Top Lawyers in San Diego for real estate litigation, San Diego Magazine, 2023
Industry Groups
- Bankruptcy Trustees
- Businesses Of All Sizes
- Commercial real estate lenders
- directors and shareholders of corporations
- managers and members of limited liability companies
- Officers
- partners and partnerships
- Private Fiduciaries
- probate administrators
- Receivers
Office location for Sean C. Coughlin
701 Island Avenue
Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026