Paul J. Coogan

Paul is an experienced litigator focusing on all aspects of commercial litigation and business dispute resolution. He counsels and assists clients across a variety of industries with the goal of resolving business disputes to avoid litigation. If necessary, Paul prosecutes and defends claims for his clients in both federal and state trial courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings. He has extensive experience advising on and litigating claims involving breach of contract, employment and termination issues, non-compete, non-solicitation, and other restrictive covenants, trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and securities claims. Paul has also defended class actions, particularly those involving data breach and privacy claims, and counseled clients who may be involved in consumer and employee privacy disputes.

In addition, Paul is an experienced appellate attorney representing clients on both sides of the bar in state and federal appellate courts. He has won reversals and affirmances of lower court rulings in cases involving insurance disputes, personal injury claims, statutory and contractual construction, and all manner of evidentiary and procedural issues at trial. Paul also counsels clients on trial and post-trial strategy in preparation for appeal and drafts and responds to post-trial motions and petitions for leave to appeal on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants.

Prior to joining Taft, Paul gained extensive legal writing and research experience while serving for two years as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Before his clerkship, Paul practiced at another law firm, focusing on commercial and products liability defense litigation for numerous national and international companies.

• Speaker, “Discovery & E-Discovery,” 14th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts, Pincus Professional Education, Dec. 12, 2024.
• Co-author (with Elizabeth Babbitt), “Chapter 5: Problems in Contract Formation,” Contract Law (2020 edition) published by IICLE.