Paul Derby litigates a variety of matters, including complex business disputes, fraud, breach of contract, partnership disputes, employment, securities, class actions, trade secrets, misappropriation of likeness, real estate, professional negligence, entertainment, dissolution and accounting, and business valuation. Paul has also been involved in other types of litigation related to bankruptcy, insurance, products liability, and personal injury. Paul is a trial lawyer with a national litigation practice, handling matters in state and federal courts and also appeals.
Paul has been named a “Super Lawyer” every year since 2013, placing him among the top 5% of all practicing lawyers in Southern California, and was named a “Rising Star” every year from 2006 through 2011, placing him among the top 2.5% of Southern California lawyers under 40 years of age. Paul has also been named a Top 500 Litigator in America by Lawdragon each of the three years the award has issued, and Paul’s civil litigation group in Los Angeles is ranked by Chambers & Associates. Paul is also rated AV Preeminent (5.0 out of 5.0, highest rating) by Martindale Hubbell, and 10.0 out of 10.0 by Avvo.
- Defended alternative energy company in billion-dollar trade secrets lawsuit. After years of litigation, the matter was favorably settled for nuisance value.
- Represented developer in a computer software dispute. Hired after the client’s claims had already been dismissed in the trial court, obtained a reversal in the court of appeal, litigated the claims through fact discovery, and then confidentially settled the dispute on favorable terms.
- Obtained unanimous reversal by Ninth Circuit of trial court dismissal of $150 million ERISA class action. See Johnson v. Carpenters of Western Washington Board of Trustees, 2023 WL 3338214 (9th Cir. 2023). Litigation is ongoing.
- Represented Global 100 company in multi-million-dollar contract dispute, with client receiving 100% of its claimed damages, fees, and costs in settlement.
- Represented VR company investor after sale to public health company. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, after only the defendant’s deposition.
- Represented auction house in dispute with Kobe Bryant regarding ownership and right to sell certain sports memorabilia. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented one of top land investors in America in competing federal lawsuits against public REIT regarding hundreds of millions of dollars of ground leases. The lawsuits were favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Obtained complete dismissal on summary judgment of claims against partner in COVID-related contract to supply PPE to State of California.
- Represented VR software developed in trade secrets dispute with VR hardware contract partner. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented The Walt Disney Co. against hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty claims. The company successfully sought terminating discovery sanctions against the plaintiff. See Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. Walt Disney Co., 155 Cal. App. 4th 736 (2007).
- Represented manager in breach of contract dispute with sports icon. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, prior to the commencement of any litigation.
- Represented plaintiff seeking interest in large resort and spa through 2.5-month trial, with jury siding with client on ownership. Bench trial results still on appeal.
- Liaison counsel in the dozens of class actions filed nationwide by pay-per-view purchasers in connection with the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
- Represented Rabobank, the third largest Dutch bank, in a $500 million fraud action against the largest Canadian bank related to the sale of certain Enron-related securities. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Defended contract and tort claims against prominent restaurant through trial. After success on summary judgment, a partial nonsuit, a directed verdict, and the jury verdict, plaintiff prevailed on only a small fraction of millions of dollars of claims.
- Represented dissenting shareholders in a statutory appraisal proceeding in Delaware Chancery Court, resulting in successful verdict for tens of millions of dollars. See Crescent/Mach I Partnership, L.P. v. Turner, 2007 WL 2801387 (Del. Ch. 2007).
- Represented an actress on misappropriation of likeness claims against Belvedere Vodka and other defendants. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, after only a couple months of litigation.
- Defended various employment claims through trial, resulting in one plaintiff owing money prior to costs, and the other plaintiff recovering only $7,000, despite the total claims totaling close to $1 million.
- Successfully reversed federal district court summary judgment ruling, permitting various securities fraud claims to proceed to trial. See Mausner v. Marketbyte, LLC, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 18929 (9th Cir. 2016).
- Represented Maguire Properties against breach of lease claims. See Quick Loan Funding, Inc. v. Maguire Properties – 3121 Michelson LLC, 2006 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 5400 (2006). This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented an Oregon non-profit company against wrongful termination and other employment related claims. All claims were dismissed on summary judgment.
- Represented group of shareholders in connection with fraud and securities claims against publicly-traded entertainment company. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Successfully arbitrated claims related to the dissolution of a wind energy partnership, accounting for the partnership’s assets, and fraud. Each of plaintiffs’ nearly one dozen tort and contract claims was adjudicated in clients’ favor.
- Represented a prominent inventor against various contract and employment-related claims. The former employee’s claims, which totaled many millions of dollars, were settled for pennies on the dollar.
- Handled appeal of alter ego determination against client, obtaining complete reversal, and subsequent payment of fees incurred on appeal. See Saleigh v. C.M. Meiers Co., 2014 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 989 (Feb. 6, 2014).
- Represented a major insurance company in connection with fraud claims by the California Insurance Commissioner. See Low v. Altus Finance S.A., 136 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (C.D. Cal. 2001).
- Represented dozens of others plaintiffs and defendants in partnership and related business disputes, including many with business and real estate valuation issues.
- Represented dozens of other plaintiffs and defendants in employment disputes, including class and PAGA actions.
- Named one of Top 500 Litigators in America by Lawdragon (2023-2025)
- Named a Super Lawyers by California Super Lawyers (2013-2025)
- Named a Rising Star by California Super Lawyers (2006-2011)
- Spotlight ranking of Los Angeles civil litigation group by Chambers & Associates.
- Martindale Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.5 (highest rating)
- Avvo, Rated 10.0 out of 10.0 (superb rating)
- Former Membership Chair, Real Estate Committee, American Bar Association Section on Litigation.
Professional Activities
- California Bar Association
- Business Trial Lawyers
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Former Membership Chair, Real Estate Committee, American Bar Association Section on Litigation
Community Service
- Voluntary Settlement Conference Officer, Los Angeles Superior Court
Education
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Law School
- Managing Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Winner, UCLA Moot Court Competition, “Best Team” 1999
- Winner, American Jurisprudence Award, UCLA Law, Moot Court
- University of Redlands, California
- B.A., History
- B.A., Government with college and departmental honors
- Judicial Externship
- Judicial Extern for Hon. Alex Kozinski, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Spring 1999)
Bar & Court Admissions
- State Bar of California
- District of Columbia
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- Defended alternative energy company in billion-dollar trade secrets lawsuit. After years of litigation, the matter was favorably settled for nuisance value.
- Represented developer in a computer software dispute. Hired after the client’s claims had already been dismissed in the trial court, obtained a reversal in the court of appeal, litigated the claims through fact discovery, and then confidentially settled the dispute on favorable terms.
- Obtained unanimous reversal by Ninth Circuit of trial court dismissal of $150 million ERISA class action. See Johnson v. Carpenters of Western Washington Board of Trustees, 2023 WL 3338214 (9th Cir. 2023). Litigation is ongoing.
- Represented Global 100 company in multi-million-dollar contract dispute, with client receiving 100% of its claimed damages, fees, and costs in settlement.
- Represented VR company investor after sale to public health company. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, after only the defendant’s deposition.
- Represented auction house in dispute with Kobe Bryant regarding ownership and right to sell certain sports memorabilia. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented one of top land investors in America in competing federal lawsuits against public REIT regarding hundreds of millions of dollars of ground leases. The lawsuits were favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Obtained complete dismissal on summary judgment of claims against partner in COVID-related contract to supply PPE to State of California.
- Represented VR software developed in trade secrets dispute with VR hardware contract partner. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented The Walt Disney Co. against hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty claims. The company successfully sought terminating discovery sanctions against the plaintiff. See Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. Walt Disney Co., 155 Cal. App. 4th 736 (2007).
- Represented manager in breach of contract dispute with sports icon. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, prior to the commencement of any litigation.
- Represented plaintiff seeking interest in large resort and spa through 2.5-month trial, with jury siding with client on ownership. Bench trial results still on appeal.
- Liaison counsel in the dozens of class actions filed nationwide by pay-per-view purchasers in connection with the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
- Represented Rabobank, the third largest Dutch bank, in a $500 million fraud action against the largest Canadian bank related to the sale of certain Enron-related securities. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Defended contract and tort claims against prominent restaurant through trial. After success on summary judgment, a partial nonsuit, a directed verdict, and the jury verdict, plaintiff prevailed on only a small fraction of millions of dollars of claims.
- Represented dissenting shareholders in a statutory appraisal proceeding in Delaware Chancery Court, resulting in successful verdict for tens of millions of dollars. See Crescent/Mach I Partnership, L.P. v. Turner, 2007 WL 2801387 (Del. Ch. 2007).
- Represented an actress on misappropriation of likeness claims against Belvedere Vodka and other defendants. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms, after only a couple months of litigation.
- Defended various employment claims through trial, resulting in one plaintiff owing money prior to costs, and the other plaintiff recovering only $7,000, despite the total claims totaling close to $1 million.
- Successfully reversed federal district court summary judgment ruling, permitting various securities fraud claims to proceed to trial. See Mausner v. Marketbyte, LLC, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 18929 (9th Cir. 2016).
- Represented Maguire Properties against breach of lease claims. See Quick Loan Funding, Inc. v. Maguire Properties – 3121 Michelson LLC, 2006 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 5400 (2006). This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Represented an Oregon non-profit company against wrongful termination and other employment related claims. All claims were dismissed on summary judgment.
- Represented group of shareholders in connection with fraud and securities claims against publicly-traded entertainment company. This dispute was favorably settled on confidential terms.
- Successfully arbitrated claims related to the dissolution of a wind energy partnership, accounting for the partnership’s assets, and fraud. Each of plaintiffs’ nearly one dozen tort and contract claims was adjudicated in clients’ favor.
- Represented a prominent inventor against various contract and employment-related claims. The former employee’s claims, which totaled many millions of dollars, were settled for pennies on the dollar.
- Handled appeal of alter ego determination against client, obtaining complete reversal, and subsequent payment of fees incurred on appeal. See Saleigh v. C.M. Meiers Co., 2014 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 989 (Feb. 6, 2014).
- Represented a major insurance company in connection with fraud claims by the California Insurance Commissioner. See Low v. Altus Finance S.A., 136 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (C.D. Cal. 2001).
- Represented dozens of others plaintiffs and defendants in partnership and related business disputes, including many with business and real estate valuation issues.
- Represented dozens of other plaintiffs and defendants in employment disputes, including class and PAGA actions.
- Named one of Top 500 Litigators in America by Lawdragon (2023-2025)
- Named a Super Lawyers by California Super Lawyers (2013-2025)
- Named a Rising Star by California Super Lawyers (2006-2011)
- Spotlight ranking of Los Angeles civil litigation group by Chambers & Associates.
- Martindale Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.5 (highest rating)
- Avvo, Rated 10.0 out of 10.0 (superb rating)
- Former Membership Chair, Real Estate Committee, American Bar Association Section on Litigation.
Professional Activities
- California Bar Association
- Business Trial Lawyers
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Former Membership Chair, Real Estate Committee, American Bar Association Section on Litigation
Community Service
- Voluntary Settlement Conference Officer, Los Angeles Superior Court