Eric Pérez-Ochoa
Eric Pérez-Ochoa is the Chair of the firm's Litigation Practice Group. He has a broad civil and commercial litigation practice with a focus on distribution and franchising, commercial lending litigation, bankruptcy litigation, products liability, mass tort claims and class action defense, representing clients at the trial and appellate court levels, particularly in the federal court. He was recognized by Chambers & Partners Latin America 2011 guide as one of the top litigators in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Pérez-Ochoa also has significant experience in commercial arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings and has acted as lead counsel in mediation proceedings, and numerous arbitration trials.
Throughout his career, Mr. Pérez-Ochoa has successfully represented clients in a wide range of civil and class action matters in a variety of areas, including antitrust, RICO, government bids and procurement, securities, mass torts, finance, construction, creditor's rights and insurance matters. He has tried cases as diverse as the prosecution of fraud claims arising from the refurbishment of a complex petrochemical facility, the defense of an energy company in a mass tort action arising out of a tank terminal explosion, and the defense of one of Puerto Rico's largest banks in a federal securities class action suit. He has also considerable experience in insurance related matters and disputes, having represented insurance companies and their insured in claims covered by policies, as well as insurance companies in coverage and bad faith denial of coverage suits.
Mr. Pérez-Ochoa is also considered a business leader and active in numerous trade and business associations and professional groups. He is called upon frequently to act as speaker or lecturer in litigation related conferences and seminars.
Areas of Practice
- Litigation, Appellate and Trial Practice
Bar Admissions
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. District Court District of Puerto Rico
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
- J.D. - 1990
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- B.A. - 1986
Published Works
- Economy and Government Functioning, Private-Sector Roundtable, Participant, Caribbean Business Special Edition, 2010
Representative Cases
- Coors Brewing Company v. Juan Carlos Méndez-Torres, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44988 (D.P.R. 2011)
- In Re Puerto Rican Cabotage Antitrust Litigation, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90338 (D.P.R. 2010)
- Rodríguez Barril, Inc. v. Conbraco Industries, Inc., 619 F.3d 90 (1st Cir. 2010)
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria v. Wiscovitch-Rentas, 2009 I.S. Dist. LEXIS 39393 (D.P.R. 2009)
- Hill et at v. Culebra Conservation and Development Authority et al, 2009 US Dist. LEXIS 48004 (D.P.R. 2009)
- Somascan, Inc. et al v. Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V., 2009 US Dist. LEXIS 1069777 (D.P.R. 2009)
- Wylie v. Stipes, 595 F. Supp 2d 179 (USDC-PR 2009)
- Rolon Machado v. Torres Sanjurio et al, 559 F. Supp. 2d 167 (D.P.R. 2008)
- The Plan Administrator v. El Comandante Management Co., 2008 US Dist. LEXIS 90455 (D.P.R. 2008)
- D.I.P.R. MFG, Inc. et al v. Perry Ellis International Inc. et al, 472 F. Supp. 2d 151 (D.P.R. 2007)
- Melendez Benitez v. United States of America et al, 498 F. Supp. 2d 460 (D.P.R. 2007)
- Phico Insurance Company v. Pavia Health, Inc., 413 F. Supp. 2d 76 (D.P.R. 2006)
- Rosario Properties, Inc. v. Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority et al, 2006 US Dist. LEXIS 40833 (D.P.R. 2006)
- Sealink, Inc. v. Frenkel & Co., Inc., 441 F. Supp. 2d 374 (D.P.R. 2006)
- CBR Holdings. LP v. Hotel Development Co., 203 F. Supp. 2d 131 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Figueroa Lopez, et al v. Hilario Padilla, et al, 200 F. Supp. 2d 78 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Metlife Capital Corp v. Westchester Fire Ins, et at, 224 F. Supp. 2d 374 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Outek Caribbean v. Echo Incorporated, 206. Supp. 2d 263 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Ramirez Commercial v. Flexcon Company, Inc. et al, 242 F. Supp. 2d 113 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Caribe Industrial Sy v. National Starch, et al, 212 F.3d 26 (1st Cir. 2000)
- Zambrana Torres v. Gonzalez, et al, 71 F. Supp. 2d 14 (D.P.R. 1999)
- Commonwealth of P.R., et al v. The M/V Emily S, et al, 13 F. Supp. 2d 147 (D.P.R. 1998)
- Davila Aleman, et al v. Feliciano Melecio, et al, 992 F. Supp. 91 (D.P.R. 1998)
- Banco Popular v. 1st American Title, 1997 US Dist. LEXIS 14697 (D.P.R. 1997)
- Malagon Melendez v. Equifax Credit Infer, et al, l997 US Dist. LEXIS 10297 (D.P.R. 1997)
- Raytheon Catalytic v. Gulf Chemical Corp., et al, 959 F. Supp. 100 (D.P.R. 1997)
- The Radiology Inst. v. North American, et al, 956 Supp. 92 (D.P.R. 1997)
- Gulf Chemical Corp. v. Raytheon Catalytic, 931 F. Supp. 955 (D.P.R. 1996)
- Polyagro Plastics v. Cincinnati Milacron. et al, 903 F. Supp. 253 (D.P.R. 1995)
- The Radiology Inst., et al v. Padilla Rodriguez, et al, 818 F. Supp. 477 (D.P.R. 1993)
- Vitin Garment Mfg. v. Schreck Wholesale, et al, 827 F. Supp. 847 (D.P.R. 1993)
Classes/Seminars
- Litigation Seminar, USDC-PR, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), Organizer and Host, 2005
- Lecturer, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Bar Review Course, PR Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 2004
- Civil Discovery Seminar, USDC-PR, 2003
- Superior Deposition Strategies in Puerto Rico Civil Trial Practice, NBI, 2002
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Antitrust Law, Member
- American Bar Association, Business Law, Member
- American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution, Member
- American Bar Association, Tort & Insurance Practice, Member
- American Bar Association, Litigation, Member
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Puerto Rico Bar Association, Member, Committee on Insurance, 2004 - 2006
- Federal Bar Association, Puerto Rico Chapter, President, 2004 - 2005
- United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Member, District Examination Comm., Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 2006 - Present
- Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Puerto Rico, Director, 2007 - Present
- Foundation of the Federal Bar Association, Fellow
Past Employment Positions
- Martínez Odell & Calabria, Partner, Litigation Department
- O'Neill Fernández Gilmore & Pérez-Ochoa, P.S.C., Litigation Division, Founding Partner and Chair
- Fernández & Pérez-Ochoa, LLP, Litigation Division, Founding Partner and Chair
Languages
- Spanish
- English
