Paul is a business trial lawyer who represents major companies, public agencies, and individuals in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, antitrust and unfair competition, class action defense, mass tort, and other business disputes nationwide. His client base spans a broad spectrum of industries, including entertainment, technology, finance, energy, defense, and aerospace. Whether defending household names against damaging claims or recovering millions of dollars on behalf of plaintiffs, Paul has established a two-decade-long track record of success in high-stakes trials and appeals. He has been recognized repeatedly for his work in commercial litigation, including being named the 2021 “Litigation Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association.
Value is a driving principle of Paul’s practice. After diving deep into the intricacies of a client’s business, he steps back to offer a strategic assessment of the “big picture.” He moves quickly to shepherd them through grueling legal processes, relying on more than 20 years of wide-ranging experience to identify the quickest and most efficient route to resolution. His strategies are both creative and cost-effective, focused on out-maneuvering his opponents while providing clients with an optimal return on their investment. Paul also excels at building productive relationships, whether preparing a witness for trial, negotiating with the head of a government agency, persuading a judge, or addressing a jury. His calm demeanor, collaborative approach, and reputation for integrity repeatedly result in favorable outcomes.
While Paul aims to resolve disputes as efficiently as possible—through early motion practice, settlement, or other means—he also stands ready to fight for clients’ interests at trial. As a veteran first-chair trial lawyer, he is at home in any courtroom or arbitral forum. Most recently, he represented Hunter Biden in connection with federal and state law claims arising from the illegal accessing and tampering of computer data. He also served as one of the lead trial lawyers for Fox Corp. and Fox News Network in what The New York Times called “the libel law equivalent of the Super Bowl”: a multibillion-dollar litigation brought against Fox by Dominion Voting Systems. Paul’s other high-profile cases have included the representation of British film and television studio ITV in a $100+ million dispute over profits generated by the hit reality television show “Duck Dynasty," the defense of singer Ozzy Osbourne’s antitrust lawsuit against AEG over venue booking practices, the representation of a Pinterest co-creator pursuing idea theft claims for being cut out of the company’s multibillion-dollar IPO, and the defense of casino mogul Steve Wynn against libel claims brought by the founder of “Girls Gone Wild,” among many others.
Prior to joining CW, Paul was a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP.
Paul is an active participant in the Los Angeles and San Francisco legal communities. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Tahirih Justice Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to the protection of immigrant women and girls, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Paul previously served as the president of the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, the president of the Board for the Irish American Bar Association, and the president of the UC Hastings Foundation. He served as the chair of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property’s Committee 409 (Antitrust Matters), a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar’s Antitrust and Unfair Business Practices Section, and a member of the Board of the Federal Bar Association of Southern California. He was awarded the Katharine Krause Award by the Inner City Law Center for his advocacy for clients facing homelessness and slum housing.
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
Biden v. Ziegler, et al, CD Cal. Case No. 2:23-cv-07593 – Represented Hunter Biden in connection with federal and state law claims arising from the illegal accessing and tampering of computer data.
US Dominion Inc., et al v. Fox News Network LLC – Served as one of the lead lawyers at trial for Fox Corp. and Fox News Network in a high-profile Delaware Superior Court litigation brought by Dominion Voting Systems, which sued Fox for defamation and US$1.6B in damages, after Fox aired allegedly false claims concerning voter fraud following the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. The case settled after jury selection and just before opening statements were about to begin.
ITV Gurney Holding Inc. v. Gurney, Case No. B286442 (Cal. Ct. App.) – Represented British film and television studio ITV in a business dispute arising from its purchase of a majority interest in the television production company that created the hit reality show "Duck Dynasty." For more than two years, the case involved extensive proceedings in the trial court, dozens of hearings before a discovery referee, and two successful trips to the Court of Appeal, including one involving invocation of anti-SLAPP statute.
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne v. Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc., et al, Case No. 2:18-cv-02310 – Represented Anschutz Entertainment Group and affiliated entities in antitrust class action filed by Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy purported to challenge the legality of AEG’s “Staples Center Commitment” policy, which required artists who wished to perform at the 02 Arena in London to play at least one date at Staples Center during a world tour that included Los Angeles dates. Ozzy alleged that the commitment unlawfully restrained competition in violation of Section I of the Sherman Act.
United States of America, et al v. Morpho S.A., et al, Case No. 5:15-cv-00746 – Served as lead counsel for French multinational in False Claims Act case. Represented Safran SA and two of its subsidiary companies in False Claims Act case pending in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Two former high-ranking executives in Russia alleged that Safran made false claims to the U.S. and state government agencies that Safran’s fingerprint identification software was developed in Russia and potentially contained a Russian “backdoor.” After several rounds of briefing, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice and also granted motion for fees.
Mintz v. Mark Bartelstein and Associates Inc., Case 2:12-cv-02554 – Served as lead trial counsel for sports talent agency. Successfully defended multimillion-dollar invasion of privacy and computer hacking claims against a Chicago-based sports talent agency. The case culminated in a federal jury trial before the Hon. Stephen Wilson in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. At trial, the court granted a directed verdict on the plaintiff’s claim for punitive damages, and the jury awarded compensatory damages in an amount that was a small fraction of that sought by the plaintiff.
City National Bank v. Autumn Games (LA Superior Court Case No. BC485137) – Served as co-lead trial counsel for national bank. Successfully prosecuted contract and fraud claims on behalf of City National Bank in connection with multimillion-dollar claims against Autumn Games and Konami Digital Entertainment arising from the defendants’ development and worldwide distribution of a video game entitled “DefJam Rapstar.” The case was judicially referred to the Hon. Richard Neal (ret.). The case settled after a two-week trial and shortly before a final decision was rendered.
California Housing Finance Agency v. Hanover/California Management and Accounting Center Inc. – Served as lead trial counsel for state housing finance agency. Secured more than US$9M in compensatory and punitive damages for state housing finance agency in prosecuting claims for conflict-of-interest, fraud, and unfair competition. The verdict followed an eight-week jury trial in Orange County Superior Court and, at the time, was the largest award ever under California’s conflict-of-interest law. The jury rejected the defendants’ US$20M cross-claim against the agency. Immediately following the verdict, the defendants were arrested by the state attorney general and subsequently were subjected to criminal prosecution. The court awarded the agency more than US$3M in attorney’s fees. The judgment was affirmed in all respects on appeal.
Cinedigm Corp. v. Gaiam Inc., Case No. CV 15-01557 – Served as co-lead trial counsel in working capital arbitration. Represented independent content distributor in connection with dispute arising from US$50M purchase of entertainment business division of international media company. Dispute centered on potential claims that the target company engaged in accounting fraud and other wrongdoing that overstated business division’s value and working capital by more than US$20M.
Prodanova v. H.C. Wainwright and Co LLC, et al, Case No. 2:17-cv-07926 – Served as lead counsel for specialty bank. Represented healthcare specialty bank in stock drop case in which plaintiff class alleged that bank fraudulently inflated the stock of a pharmaceutical company. Following multiple rounds of briefing, the district court dismissed the case with prejudice.
In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust MDL (3rd Cir.). – Served as lead trial counsel for major health insurer CIGNA Corporation in MDL. Secured dismissal of all claims, which consolidated numerous nationwide antitrust, RICO, and ERISA class actions filed after Eliot Spitzer and other attorneys general launched investigations into broker compensation practices in the insurance industry.
Woodrow v. Worldview Entertainment Holdings LLC, et al, Case No. 653125 (Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York) – Served as lead counsel for independent studio. Represented a leading independent motion picture studio that financed, produced, and acquired theatrical quality feature films in connection with a consolidated litigation in New York as well as several arbitrations arising out of disputes with film distribution and production companies, a talent agency, and other business partners.
Cruz v. Ayromloo (LA Superior, Second District Court of Appeal) – Served as lead counsel in bench trial in pro bono slum housing case. Won precedent-setting verdict for tenants of building against former landlord on claims for forcible detainer, wrongful eviction, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The trial before the Hon. Emilie Elias in L.A. Superior Court established important new precedents regarding landlord liability to tenants, the proper calculation of damages in wrongful eviction cases, and a prevailing party’s entitlement to attorneys’ fees. The verdict was affirmed in all respects on appeal.
Harris et al. v. Koenig et al, Case No. 1:02-cv-00618 (D.D.C.) – Served as lead trial counsel for Waste Management Inc. in ERISA class action involving employee stock held by company plan. The court granted summary judgment for client on the key claims based on a statute of limitations defense, and the case was subsequently resolved on favorable terms.
AICCO v. Insurance Company of North America (First District Court of Appeal) – Won major victory for ACE in decade-long battle over the restructuring of its business by convincing the First District Court of Appeal to affirm summary judgment in favor of ACE and against insurance industry competitors, led by a company called AICCO, based on Proposition 64. Paul handled the appeal for ACE.
In re Certain Set-Top Boxes and Components Thereof – Represented Gemstar-TV-Guide International Inc. in a Section 337 investigation before the U.S. International Trade Commission involving patent and antitrust claims relating to interactive program guides used in cable television set-top boxes. Paul was a member of the trial team and was primarily responsible for all motions and evidentiary issues during a three-week trial in Washington, D.C. before the ITC.
Successfully defended California Institute of Technology in federal toxic tort action brought by more than 80 plaintiffs.
Los Angeles News Service v. Reuters Television Intern (9th Cir.) – Won summary judgment for Reuters Inc. in defense of international copyright claims by Los Angeles News Service pertaining to Reuters’ use of the videotape beating of Reginald Denny during the L.A. riots. The ruling was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit on appeal.
Sun Microsystems Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc. (N.D.Cal.) – Successful defense of Hynix Semiconductor in price-fixing actions related to Department of Justice investigation into Dynamic Access Random Access memory (DRAM) market. The case settled on the eve of trial. Paul’s role included defending Hynix in a series of opt-out cases brought by major DRAM purchasers that did not want to participate in the direct-purchaser class settlement. Obtained summary judgment that eliminated several hundred million dollars of alleged damages from plaintiffs’ claims.
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