John P. Dunnigan

Partner   |   Richmond »

John P. Dunnigan

Partner   |   Richmond »

John Dunnigan is a seasoned civil litigator with extensive experience representing individuals and corporations in complex matters involving products liability, construction defect, commercial transportation, and general liability claims. He regularly practices in both state and federal courts throughout Virginia and has built a reputation for his thorough preparation, strategic thinking, and ability to deliver favorable outcomes in challenging cases. Over the course of his career, John has tried more than 50 cases to verdict and successfully resolved more through pretrial motions practice and various forms of alternative dispute resolution.

In his construction practice, John defends general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and design professionals in matters ranging from defect and delay claims to warranty and indemnity disputes. In products liability litigation, he represents manufacturers, distributors, and retailers facing claims of design defects, manufacturing flaws, and failure-to-warn allegations. His transportation practice includes defending motor carriers, drivers, and logistics companies in catastrophic injury cases.

John also has extensive experience handling general liability matters, representing businesses of all sizes in premises liability claims, property damage disputes, breach of contract matters, and other high-exposure tort claims. He understands the operational challenges these cases present for business owners and works to craft business-minded solutions that protect both immediate and long-term interests.

Prior to joining Harman Claytor, John served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Beverly W. Snukals of the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, Virginia where he gained valuable insight into judicial decision-making and trial practice.

Outside of his practice, John enjoys traveling to the beach with his family and attending VCU basketball games.

  • Richmond Bar Association
    • Membership Committee member (2023-2025)
    • Communications Committee member (2020-2023)
  • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
    • VADA Member Spotlight (April 2025)
    • Board of Directors (2024-2025)
    • Chair of Products & Toxic Torts Section (2023-2024)
    • Vice-Chair of Products & Toxic Torts Section (2022-2023)
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Inn of Court (2019-present)
  • Virginia Super Lawyers – Rising Stars (2023-2025)
    • Civil Litigation: Defense
    • Personal Injury – General: Defense
  • Virginia Business Legal Elite (2024)
    • Young Lawyer
  • Author, Res Ipsa Loquitur: Does It Really Speak for Itself? Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. XXXV No. 4 (Winter 2024)
  • Co-Editor, Virginia Civil Benchbook for Judges and Lawyers (2019-2020 ed.)
  • Author, Bargaining Towards Equality: The Effects of Implicit Bias Training on Plea-Bargaining, 21 Rich. Pub. Int. L. Rev. 341 (2018)
  • Co-Author, Personal Injury from A to Z: Damages Pt. 1 & 2, National Business Institute (September 2017)
  • Products Liability Essentials: Early Investigation, Expert Witnesses, and Updates in the Law, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Fall Seminar, Williamsburg, VA (October 2024)
  • Navigating through the PFAS Landscape: Litigation Strategies and Complex Insurance Coverage Issues for the “Forever Chemical,” Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Spring Seminar, Lynchburg, VA (May 2024)
  • Excessive Force, Hanover County Criminal Justice Academy, Hanover, VA (February 2020)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University, B.A., magna cum laude (2015)
  • University of Richmond School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2018)
    • Richmond Public Interest Law Review, Manuscripts Editor
    • Moot Court Board, Member
  • Virginia State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit