CowanPerry PC - Roanoke, VA

Strategic Outside General Counsel and Commercial Advocacy in Roanoke

Established in 1991, CowanPerry PC has built a distinguished regional practice centered on the specialized legal needs of businesses, entrepreneurs, and real estate developers. Located at 1328 3rd Street SW in Roanoke, with an additional primary office in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, the firm provides accessible, full-spectrum legal counsel across Southwest Virginia and neighboring states. Under the leadership of firm chairman James K. Cowan, Jr. and David E. Perry, the practice delivers a practical alternative to hiring full-time in-house counsel through predictable monthly retainer arrangements and outside general counsel programs. From emerging technology startups to established manufacturing corporations and financial institutions, business owners seeking to find a lawyer who pairs high-level corporate acumen with deep regional connections consistently partner with CowanPerry.

Commercial Real Estate, Land Use, and Corporate Structuring

Real estate acquisitions and corporate capitalization represent core operational pillars for commercial enterprises. Functioning as experienced commercial real estate lawyers, the firm attorneys represent property owners, developers, and commercial lenders through every phase of property development. Their capabilities include negotiating commercial purchase contracts, performing title examinations, structuring commercial leases, and securing vital municipal zoning and land use approvals. Simultaneously, their attorneys act as adept business formation lawyers, structuring corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships while managing mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. The firm also assists business principals alongside estate planning lawyers and wills, estate planning and probate lawyers, designing comprehensive business succession plans that protect family wealth while minimizing tax liabilities.

Management Labor Counsel, ERISA Benefits, and Intellectual Property

Managing modern workforce regulations requires proactive compliance and decisive legal direction. Acting as trusted employment and labor lawyers, the practice advises corporate management on navigating complex state and federal workplace statutes. Their litigators serve as workplace discrimination lawyers and wage and hour lawyers, defending companies against Title VII, ADA, and FLSA claims while conducting internal audits and drafting non-compete agreements. In addition, their employee benefits team counsels businesses on ERISA compliance, executive compensation packages, and qualified retirement plans. As financial and ip lawyers, trademark lawyers, and copyright lawyers, the firm also registers and protects trade secrets, commercial branding, and intellectual assets. When urgent executive controversies or regulatory enforcement actions arise and company leadership teams need an attorney urgently, the firm provides immediate and strategic counsel.

• Comprehensive outside general counsel and fixed-fee monthly advisory services
• Commercial real estate development, zoning permits, and commercial lease drafting
• Employer labor counsel, workplace discrimination defense, and ERISA employee benefits
• Business litigation, contract dispute resolution, and intellectual property protection

High-Stakes Business Litigation and Distinguished Legal Acumen

When commercial negotiations break down, CowanPerry delivers formidable courtroom trial advocacy. Acting as skilled business litigation lawyers and contract lawyers, the firm litigators defend and prosecute claims involving breach of contract, shareholder disputes, trade secret misappropriation, and complex construction conflicts across state and federal courts. Their legal team is licensed across Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and New York. The firm exceptional standards are reflected in honors including numerous selections to The Best Lawyers in America (with multiple Lawyer of the Year recognitions), Virginia Super Lawyers, Virginia Business Legal Elite, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Companies ready to hire an attorney who will safeguard their commercial interests can schedule an initial consultation to explore tailored legal and general counsel solutions.