A member in Dickinson Wright’s Chicago office, Paul is a distinguished litigator known for his success in product liability and complex commercial litigation. With over two decades of experience, he has represented clients ranging from local businesses to multinational corporations nationwide. Paul provides valuable guidance in counseling and risk management across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, food and beverage, construction, and real estate.
Paul has served as coordinating and national counsel for some of the world’s largest companies, litigating high-profile product liability matters in the most challenging of jurisdictions. In addition to his pharmaceutical and medical device clients, Paul defends manufacturers of consumer and industrial products against claims of product defects. He has advocated for clients in putative class actions and multidistrict litigations involving hundreds of cases, including going toe-to-toe with the most prominent mass tort plaintiff attorneys and firms in the U.S. He has also negotiated resolutions to hundreds of claims.
In addition to his litigation practice, Paul also counsels clients on risk management, product safety issues, and regulatory compliance. He is often called in to “parachute” into high-stakes and challenging cases months before trial, as he is able to quickly and efficiently develop a company story and trial themes while preparing for trial.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of California, Irvine
B.A., 1998University of Chicago Law School
J.D., 2001Bar Admission
Spoken Languages
- Spanish
Acknowledgements
- Negocios Now magazine — Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago, 2018 and 2023
- Illinois Diversity Council —Leadership Excellence in the Law Award, 2017
- Leading Lawyers Network —Emerging Lawyer, 2015-2016
Prominent Assignments
Contract, Business, Commercial & Consumer Disputes
- Served as lead counsel representing a healthcare nutritional products supplier in a high-stakes dispute, aggressively pursuing 13 million dollars in damages against a distributor for contractual breaches.
- Successfully defended an automotive component part manufacturer against a 2 million dollar breach of contract lawsuit, skillfully navigating allegations of failure to accept delivery of crucial components.
- Secured a landmark victory for a prominent retailer embroiled in a contract dispute over an iconic sculpture, obtaining a summary judgment affirming ownership rights in favor of our client.
- Led the defense in a complex 5 million dollar breach of contract claim on behalf of a food processing technology client, achieving a favorable resolution through strategic negotiation sessions.
Litigation
- As lead counsel, successfully defended against putative consumer fraud class actions in Illinois and Missouri state and federal courts, which alleged misleading labeling practices on behalf of prominent food and snack clients.
- Triumphed as trial counsel for a logistics provider in multiple cases, securing both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against misappropriation of trade secrets and breaches of restrictive covenants.
- Navigated as lead counsel through a monumental 400 million dollar shareholder dispute in Delaware Chancery Court, representing one of Brazil’s largest employers in a high-stakes conflict with minority shareholders, essential to the company’s future.
- Acted as trial and lead counsel for manufacturers of pelvic mesh in extensive mass tort litigation, ensuring comprehensive representation and strategic defense.
- Skillfully represented a refrigerator component manufacturer client in a 900 million dollar lawsuit as trial counsel, advocating for the client’s interests with precision and expertise.
- Advocated as trial counsel in an 800 million dollar lawsuit brought by grain farmers against a grain supplier client, employing thorough legal strategy to protect the client’s rights and interests.
Real Estate Litigation
- Secured favorable resolution in real estate developer dispute, enabling client’s property development and sale.
- Led 15 million breach of contract arbitration against real estate developer and management.
Professional Involvement
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member, Hispanic LawyersAssociation of Illinois
- Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
- Member, Illinois Bar Association
- Member, Missouri Bar Association
- Volunteer, Catholic Charities LegalAssistance (CCLA) — LegalAdvisory Committee
- Volunteer, Catholic Charities of Chicago
- Volunteer, Equal Justice Works
- Volunteer, National Immigrant Justice Center
- Volunteer, Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin