Eric Pérez Ochoa

Eric Pérez Ochoa represents clients in complex commercial matters and civil litigation, with particular emphasis on class actions and multi-party litigation, distribution and franchising, bankruptcy, real estate, corporate governance, shareholder/member disputes, insurance coverage and defense, appellate and trial practice. His capabilities are lauded in leading peer review guides. During his stellar 34-year career, he has successfully represented clients in high-profile matters and has served as lead counsel in many arbitration tribunals and complicated trials in federal and local courts. Co-chair of ADSUAR’s Litigation Practice Group, he counsels clients in every stage of the litigation cycle.

While his practice cuts across many industries, and subject matters, Eric has experience in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil and commercial litigation, defending companies in mass tort and consumer class action litigation, and representing debtors, lenders, statutory and ad hoc committees in contested matters and adversary proceedings that arise during the lifecycle of complex bankruptcy and PROMESA cases, in particular. Since 2006, he has been a member of the District Examination and Admission Committees of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He is a Past-President of the Federal Bar Association, Puerto Rico Chapter (2005), and a Fellow (2009), having demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership within both the FBA and the federal legal community. He has been consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners as one of the top litigators in Puerto Rico.

Focus Areas

• Civil and Commercial Litigation
• Class Actions & Multi-Party/Group Litigation
• Distribution, Franchising and Sales Representation
• Antitrust & Competition
• Facility and Construction Disputes
• Financial Services Litigation
• Corporate Governance and Shareholder/Member Disputes
• Bankruptcy Litigation and Adversary Claims
• Insurance Defense and Coverage Actions
• Products Liability & Mass Torts

Education

• J.D., Suffolk University Law School (1990).
• B.A., Boston College (1986).

Experience

• The Puerto Rico Soccer Federation as co-lead counsel in defending against civil RICO and antitrust claims brought by the Puerto Rico Soccer League.
• Dean Foods as lead counsel in defending putative class action brought by end-user consumers alleging personal injuries arising from alleged milk adulteration.
• Saks Hudson’s Bay aslead counsel in litigation with mall owners following damages to leased premises after catastrophic hurricane.
• Optum as co-lead counsel in antitrust insuline pricing litigation commended by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Liberty Mutual in coverage and D&O litigation arising from the FDIC’s takeover of Westernbank.
• BP as co-lead counsel defending against multiple personal injury, environmental, and property damage lawsuits by residents as a result of an oil refinery explosion (CAPECO).
• Raytheon as lead local counsel in litigation related to breach of settlement of construction dispute.
• National Public Finance as local lead counsel in Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process and several related adversary proceedings, which is the largest public sector bankruptcy in U.S. history.
• Popular as lead counsel in defending class action claims for restitution of insurance premiums brought by home mortgage borrowers.
• BP as local lead counsel in climate change litigation filed by various Puerto Rico municipalities accusing defendants of colluding to publicly downplay the risks of their fossil-fuel products on climate change and asking for billions of dollars in damages.
• Niagara as lead counsel in trademark infringement litigation.
• Pilgrim’s Pride as local counsel in defending claims by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico alleging that defendants conspired to restrict the supply of, and fixed, raised, and stabilized the price of chicken in violation of federal and state consumer and antitrust laws.
• Messer as lead counsel in multimillion-dollar hazardous disposal fee contractual dispute.
• Philips Medical Systems as lead counsel in various lawsuits by distributors and sales representatives alleging impairment or termination, without just cause, of dealership or sales representative agreements.