Eric R. Burris

Eric focuses on commercial litigation, representing companies in complex, high-stakes disputes. With 35 years of litigation experience, he develops strategies around clients’ business objectives, whether a matter calls for an early resolution or proceeds to trial. His work spans alternative dispute resolution, American Arbitration Association claims, administrative hearings and trials, and jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts.

Eric has represented high-profile clients in health care, financial services, real estate and other highly regulated industries. His contentious matters have included product liability disputes, construction and delay claims, employment and labor issues, antitrust claims and class actions. Companies that have relied on him include CenturyLink/Qwest/Lumen, GlaxoSmithKline and Phillip Morris. Across these matters, his approach encompasses both preventing disputes and resolving them when they arise, with attention to the client’s broader business goals.

In addition to his litigation practice, Eric is the managing partner of the firm’s Albuquerque office and a member of its Pro Bono Committee. He previously chaired Brownstein’s Litigation Department.

• Counsel to RV Management Corp. and its subsidiary, Renal Ventures Management, LLC in the sale of 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Renal Ventures Management, LLC to DaVita Inc. Renal Ventures Management, LLC owned and operated approximately 40 renal dialysis clinics in the states of Texas, Iowa, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey. The sale included a full sale process run by Raymond James, comprehensive negotiations with DaVita Inc., a detailed antitrust review process before the Federal Trade Commission, the divestiture by DaVita Inc. of several clinics (including three acquired clinics), and the spin-off of the infusion and vascular lines of business post-closing.

• Served as lead counsel for Flintco, LLC and Flintco West, Inc. in a state level qui tam action brought regarding alleged fraud in the procurement and billing of the $60 million dollar renovation of the University of New Mexico Arena (the “Pit”). In what may be the first state level false claims act case to be tried to a jury, Eric and his team were able to get a complete defense verdict on all claims.

• Served as lead counsel to Defiant Technologies, Inc. in claims that Defiant undertook to unlawfully obtain licensing of certain intellectual property technology from Sandia National Laboratory, thereby depriving the Plaintiff of the ability to continue its economic development of similar technology. After obtaining complete summary judgment on all of Plaintiff’s claims against Defiant, Eric tried a claim of malicious abuse of process against the original Plaintiff to a jury in Federal Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, asserting that Plaintiff brought suit against Defiant to wrongfully prevent Defiant from gaining a competitive advantage in the market. As a result of the trial, Eric obtained judgment against the Plaintiff for $2 million and was able to collect same.

• Counsel to The Wellbridge Company in connection with its ownership and operation of health club facilities located in various states. This representation includes corporate structuring; real estate and club acquisition, development and financing; dispositions and leasing; contracts incidental to operations; and coordination of employment and labor matters and litigation prosecution and defense.

• J.D., 1988, Southern Methodist University
• B.S.B.A., 1984, Tulsa University, cum laude

• New Mexico
• U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Chambers USA, 2014-2026

• “He is top-notch, both as a practitioner and in his knowledge of the bench and bar throughout New Mexico.” — Chambers USA, 2024
• “The courts can be hard to get your head around, but I would trust him to handle anything.” “He handles trials really well – he can make himself the everyman, relating to the judge and the jury. He is able to translate into the vernacular, which is hugely important.”  — Chambers USA, 2022

The Best Lawyers in America, 2015-2027; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Lawyer of the Year, Albuquerque, 2024, 2027

Southwest Super Lawyers, 2022-2024, 2026

IP Star – New Mexico, 2014-2022

IP Star – Global, 2018 

Benchmark Litigation, 2010-2023 – “Local Litigation Star,” New Mexico

• Albuquerque Bar Association
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Defense Research Institute
• New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association
• New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
• State Bar of New Mexico, Former Secretary, Commercial Litigation Section

• CFPB Flexes Nonbank Supervisory Authority—State AG Targets Should Take Note
  Brownstein Client Alert, May 3, 2024