D. Samuel Coffman

As leader of the Labor and Employment Practice Group in Dickinson Wright’s Phoenix office, Sam Coffman has over 30 years of experience counseling employers in all areas of employment law, including management and labor practices, hiring, discipline, terminations, terms of employment, and the review and drafting of employment policies, manuals and employee contracts. His strong employment-related litigation background includes representing clients in Title VII claims, breach of contract of employment, wrongful discharge, fraud, defamation and other employment-related torts, and restrictive covenants.

Mr. Coffman also focuses his practice on municipal law, commercial litigation, and tribal law. He serves as General Counsel for the Maricopa Association of Governments and has defended lawsuits brought against municipalities in development, employment and commercial litigation matters. He has litigated development agreements, defended title claims, defended and prosecuted landlord tenant cases and has represented Indian tribes, tribal enterprises, and gaming operations.

Mr. Coffman is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Arizona and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Successfully defended and obtained jury verdict in favor of banking institution against executive alleging claims of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Successfully defended and obtained jury verdict in favor of construction company alleged to have engaged in gender discrimination.
• Obtained jury verdict in favor of real property purchaser alleging fraudulent practices against realtor.
• Obtained dismissal in the Arizona Superior Court, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court in favor of a construction company alleged to have defrauded prior partner.
• Successfully represented tribal agents sued by tribal developer in the Arizona Superior Court and on Appeal.
• Successfully defended tribal gaming enterprise in tribal court in lawsuit brought by former casino executives.

• Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Splits the Baby as It Stays the Private Employer Vaccine or Test Mandate but Keeps the Healthcare Vaccine Mandate in Place,” Dickinson Wright Industry Alert, January 2022
• Co-Author, “Private Employer Vaccine Mandate Moves Forward as Sixth Circuit Dissolves Fifth Circuit’s OSHA ETS Stay,” Dickinson Wright Industry Alert, December 2021
• Presenter, “Proper Documentation: Doing It the Write Way,” Serving the Public Lawyer Seminar, February 2017