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Paul Smith

Paul Smith

Attorney
Overview

With an extensive background in litigation, Paul defends manufacturers in asbestos and other toxic tort cases.

Paul knew he’d be a litigator from the beginning of his legal career: he sees himself first and foremost as a problem solver who thrives on finding answers and developing arguments. With a gift for thinking on his feet, Paul excels at presenting a winning narrative in court and during mediation. Based in California, he is especially adept at working in difficult jurisdictions.

Throughout a nearly 20-year career, Paul has handled a wide variety of litigation, including professional liability, intellectual property, and construction defect; however, he has focused primarily on asbestos and toxic tort since 2018. He values working in such a personal field filled with individual stories, and he loves digging through the facts of a case, getting to the answers, and developing a solid narrative.

With a heavy focus on manufacturing clients, Paul has worked frequently with power equipment manufacturers for the energy industry and electrical component manufacturers, and he focuses much of his current practice on a multinational conglomerate corporation. Paul serves on the firm’s national coordinating counsel teams, assisting with client toxic tort needs in jurisdictions across the country. His goal is simply to make matters easier for clients by finding straightforward solutions to complex problems.

Industries

Services

Education

  • J.D., Pepperdine University School of Law
  • B.A., Occidental College

Admissions

  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Experience
  • Led numerous highly sensitive and strategic client cases from implementation to final resolution, often managing several major projects and teams simultaneously in sophisticated product liability, toxic tort, wrongful death, personal injury, and premises liability cases in state and federal courts.
  • Served on litigation team representing a general contractor in an action involving a large mixed-use development; analyzed extensive volume of documents regarding alleged property defects.
  • Drafted and negotiated a wide range of contracts including software license agreements (SaaS), sales agreements, non-disclosure agreements, business associate agreements, and consulting agreements.
  • Provided counsel and legal support to a software developer through contract negotiation and document review, legal advice and representation, analysis of business/legal issues, participation on committees and special projects and assistance with regulatory filings and examinations.
  • Counseled clients on matters pertaining to professional liability, general casualty matters, and business litigation including construction defect, premises liability, personal injury claims, and claims made under the interstate commerce clause.
  • Provided representation and legal counsel for clients in matters in both state and federal court including drafting and arguing dozens of motions, including discovery motions, demurrers, and motions for summary judgment.
Outside the Office

Paul is an avid bike rider who enjoys taking advantage of California’s beautiful weather to ride around the San Francisco area. He also fosters senior rescue dogs through a local rescue—two of which he’s adopted as long-term pets.

Community Leadership

Paul fosters dogs through Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.