Skiermont Derby handles a variety of complex and high-stakes commercial disputes, including business torts, breach of contract, partnership/closely-held corporation divorces, real estate litigation, privacy torts/misappropriation of likeness, entertainment and media litigation, consumer protection, professional torts and negligence, and securities and shareholder lawsuits.

Our complex commercial litigation clients range from multi-national companies to mid-size regional businesses and individuals across a variety of economic sectors, including real estate, hospitality, entertainment, technology, finance, cybersecurity, beauty and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, transportation, construction, telecommunications, agriculture, and gaming.  Our attorneys have ample experience litigating these cases on both sides of the aisle—plaintiff and defense—and represent clients in these disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country.

Recognized as Leaders in Complex Commercial Litigation

Owing largely to this unique approach, Skiermont Derby has quickly become recognized as a leader in the complex commercial litigation field. Some examples of our firm’s and partners’ recent awards and accolades include:

  • Partners Paul Skiermont and Paul Derby have both been named a top 500 litigator in the United States each of the three years that Lawdragon has published this list.
  • Partner Paul Derby has been named a “Super Lawyer” every year since 2013, placing him in the top five percent of practicing attorneys in Southern California, and was named a “Rising Star” prior to that.
  • Partner Paul Skiermont has been named a “Super Lawyer” every year since 2018, placing him in the top five percent of practicing attorneys in North Texas, and was named a “Rising Star” prior to that.
  • Paul Derby is also rated AV Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.5, on Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating, and 10.0 out of 10.0 on Avvo, which is classified as “superb.”
  • Skiermont Derby has been named a BCG Top Law Firm 2024.
  • Four Skiermont Derby attorneys have won Best Lawyers in America awards, and one of the firm’s attorneys has won Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
  • Partner Mane Sardaryan has been named a “Rising Star” every year since 2014, and was profiled in the Southern California Rising Stars Magazine in the feature, “A Figure of Speech.”
  • Partner John J. O’Kane IV has been named to Southern California “SuperLawyers” List for Business Litigation from 2024–25.
…

Diverse Industry Experience

Despite our firm’s relatively short history, our attorneys have amassed a substantial body of work. Our clients operate in a diverse range of industries and professions, from real estate to consumer products and from healthcare to hospitality. The attorneys at Skiermont Derby welcome the opportunity to lend our capabilities to new clients in these industries and others. Our clients rest easy knowing that in all complex commercial litigation matters, we take the same client-first approach focused on achieving favorable results as cost-effectively as possible.

The following is just a sampling of our firm’s diverse industry experience:

  • Aerospace
  • Beauty and Cosmetics
  • Construction
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Hospitality
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Medicine
  • Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants and Dining
  • Security and Surveillance
  • Technology
  • Telecommunications
…

A Global Complex Commercial Litigation Law Firm

Skiermont Derby represents companies of all sizes and at all stages of growth. Our clients include well-known companies with national and international footprints. Our firm is comparatively small by design, allowing us to structure our practices and invest in the technological resources necessary to effectively handle extremely large-scale and high-value litigation not just in the United States but around the world.

They hire cream-of-the-crop lawyers and have hired cream-of-the-crop lawyers because of their reputation, the kind of work they’re doing.

Law360

Famed Dallas IP boutique Skiermont Derby practices at the very highest level in the patent space.

IAM 2016

Fearless trial outfit Skiermont Derby is making quite the name for itself in the world of high-stakes patent litigation[.] It features in some of the most challenging technology altercations going, due to its ability to decode elaborate technical concepts, and package – and deliver – arguments in a way that juries find convincing.”

IAM 2015

In patent litigation, Paul Skiermont does not do things by halves—exceptionally thorough in his upfront preparation and hands on throughout all phases of a case, the seasoned trial lawyer puts heart and soul into getting the right result. He routinely wins difficult cases against the toughest opponents.”

IAM Global Leaders

One of the “Ten Boutiques Giving BigLaw A Run For Its Money,” according to Law360.

Law360

Paul Skiermont, the founding partner of the trial ensemble Skiermont Derby, receives some of the best feedback of any Texas patent litigator. As one client highlights: ‘I’ve worked with many outside counsel over the past decade and Paul’s team is easily at the top in terms of the thoroughness of their legal analysis.’ Another adds: ‘We never fail to be amazed by his command of the details of each case he’s handling–and his recall is instant when you ring him up out of the blue.’”

IAM 2019

Shining a spotlight on Skiermont Derby’s PTAB expertise, one client comments: ‘I have instructed counsel from large and small firms but never worked with anyone who delivers the kind of inter partes review results that Paul’s firm does. They regularly mop the floor with the mega-firms and even get compliments from in-house people on the other side.’”

IAM 2019

One can argue about who is the best in disputes but there is a small group of 10 or so who clearly are in a league their own and Paul is in this group. He is the one to go to for the most important patent litigation cases. Most lawyers work hard and are intelligent – these two attributes are not what set the great ones apart. The truly great counsel also possess the rare capabilities to develop a rapport and effectively communicate with the judge and jury, to provide strategic advice that is not clouded by advocacy instead of merit, and to have the mental foot speed to make critical decisions in real time. Paul has all of this and more. He is a superlative patent litigator. He shows great attention to detail, deep understanding of complicated technology and has a knack for distilling issues down to their essence.”

IAM 2016

Prospective clients of the firm should keep in mind that it is not all about Skiermont; he is flanked by some rising stars, including Sadaf Abdullah, Mieke Malmberg and Sarah Spires.”

IAM 2019

Prospective clients of the firm should keep in mind that it is not all about Skiermont; he is flanked by some rising stars, including Sadaf Abdullah, Mieke Malmberg and Sarah Spires.”

IAM 2019

Patent disputes are the bread and butter of Skiermont Derby, which represents both plaintiffs and defendants with commitment and vigor. The nimble boutique crafts creative, lucid arguments to win the day for companies in the pharmaceuticals, aerospace and computing sectors [and] delivers with finesse in court proceedings and inter partes ”

IAM 2017

“All upper-echelon IP litigators are smart, diligent, outstanding communicators; but what makes Paul Skiermont exceptional is his brilliant litigation instinct. On occasion, sudden developments in cases warrant tossing out the typical lawyer playbook. Paul can process so much information in real time that he executes new moves at just the right time. As well as being a star on his feet, he prepares well by diving deep into the technology, which he often knows as well as, if not better than, the technical experts. He knows the law cold and is an amazing writer; his prose is lucid, his tutorials superb and his use of pictographic material helps to breathe life into the inventor’s story.”

IAM 2015