About
Sean C. Coughlin is a veteran litigation attorney at NoonanLance in San Diego, California. With over three decades of experience, Mr. Coughlin focuses his practice on complex business and real estate litigation, lender liability defense, and bankruptcy matters. He is known for delivering strategic legal solutions designed to meet each client’s specific business goals, whether through litigation, arbitration, or trial.
Mr. Coughlin earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law in 1993 and his B.A. from the University of San Diego in 1989.
Throughout his career, Mr. Coughlin has represented clients in hundreds of high-stakes disputes in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts. His legal approach is both strategic and practical, focusing on bottom-line results for his clients. He is admitted to practice in all California courts, multiple U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He also has Pro Hac Vice admission to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware.
Highly respected by his peers, Mr. Coughlin holds an AV Preeminent® Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for legal skill and ethics. He has been consistently recognized for his excellence in real estate and business litigation, including honors from San Diego Magazine as one of the city’s “Top Lawyers” from 2013 to 2022 and selection to Super Lawyers – San Diego Edition for business litigation in 2024.
In addition to his legal practice, Sean C. Coughlin is active in the legal community. He is a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers San Diego, the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, and the San Diego County Bar Association. His involvement demonstrates a continued commitment to professional growth and contributing to the development of the legal field in Southern California. Clients rely on Mr. Coughlin for his courtroom experience, sound judgment, and dedication to delivering favorable outcomes in complex legal disputes.
Law Office Affiliations
- Of Counsel, Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach, LLP
- Member, San Diego County Bar Association
- Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers San Diego
Licensed State
- California
Education
- California Western School of Law
Juris Doctor (JD) - University of San Diego
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Awards & Badges


- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
- Commercial Real Estate
- Litigation