Patrick G. Compton

Partner

Denver

Tel 303.454.0521
Fax 303.296.3956

Patrick Compton is an experienced trial attorney with a practice focused on complex distressed real estate and construction litigation matters, which he handles throughout the country. In addition to his trial work, Patrick also routinely counsels clients in advance of litigation on risk avoidance and risk mitigation strategies.

Patrick represents lenders, property owners, special servicers, general contractors, developers, property managers, commercial landlords, and court-appointed receivers. He has tried over a hundred cases to verdict or judgment and has argued dozens of cases on appeal. His combination of industry and trial experience gives Patrick a strong appreciation of the needs of his clients, as well as an understanding of how best to achieve their goals.

In his construction litigation practice, Patrick was also one of the first litigators in the nation to become a LEED® Accredited Professional.

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

Served as lead trial counsel defending a bank against a $7 million lender liability claim stemming from a failed real estate development project. The trial resulted in dismissal of all claims against the bank and a verdict in the bank’s favor of over $9 million, with judgment upheld on appeal.
Served as lead counsel defending a bank through pre-trial proceedings against a $10 million lender liability claim involving a dispute over the workout of a real estate acquisition loan, with all claims resolving shortly before trial.
Obtained dismissal on motions practice of a $5 million lender liability claim made by a guarantor involving a failed real estate development project.

Served as lead trial counsel defending a real estate developer at trial in a partnership dispute alleging over $3 million in damages. The trial resulted in dismissal of all claims against the developer, and a judgment in the developer's favor of over half a million dollars.
Served as lead trial counsel to a national general contractor at trial in a payment dispute with a national developer. The trial resulted in a judgment in favor of the general contractor of over $1.2 million in damages.
Served as lead counsel to a telecommunications conglomerate in mechanics' lien actions filed across the United States, stemming from the default of a prime contractor on significant ongoing infrastructure projects.
Defended a real estate developer in a construction defect action alleging over $16 million in damages, resulting in a favorable settlement and dismissal of all claims against the developer shortly before trial.
Served as lead counsel on behalf of a real estate developer in a multi-million dollar casualty dispute, involving the acquisition of a large multifamily property in Midland, Texas.
Served as lead trial counsel to a publicly-traded natural gas producer in a contract dispute over development rights associated with a $1.5 billion gas-to-liquids conversion facility. The trial resulted in an award of approximately $700,000 in favor of the natural gas producer on its counterclaim.
Served as lead trial counsel to a publicly-traded natural gas producer in a multi-million dollar lawsuit involving disputed reservation charges claimed by a natural gas pipeline.
Served as trial counsel to a steel fabricator and its president in defense of a $7 million lost profit claim. The trial resulted in dismissal of all claims against the president on directed verdict, a full defense verdict in favor of the steel fabricator, and a counterclaim judgment for the steel fabricator.
Prosecuted contract claims on behalf of a metropolitan district over a wastewater treatment facility, where total damages claimed exceeded $50 million. Settlement resulted in that district acquiring full ownership of the facility.
Prosecuted claims on behalf of a mutual ditch company against the federal government regarding the improper imposition of FLPMA terms and conditions on a high-altitude reservoir.
Handled lease exit disputes across the country involving a variety of property classifications, many of which were favorably resolved prior to litigation.
Obtained judgment through trial, motions practice, and settlement of over $500 million on behalf of various lenders and commercial landlords.
Successfully recovered over $750 million in commercial real estate through workout, receivership sale, judicial, and non-judicial foreclosure.

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

LEED® Accredited Professional

Board Memberships & Community Service

Texas Exes (University of Texas Alumni Association), Member

Publications

Contributing author, Thomson Reuter’s Practical Law Real Estate, ongoing

"Brace for the Next Wave of COVID-19-Related Disputes," Colorado Real Estate Journal, February 17, 2021

"Lessons from the Great Recession: Battered but Unbroken." Colorado Real Estate Journal, May 6, 2020

"Force Majeure Provisions in the Age of COVID-19," Mile High CRE, April 27, 2020

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

University of Texas School of Law (J.D. 2001)

University of Texas (B.A. 1997)

Admissions

Colorado

Texas

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico