Paul Chander
Biography
Practice Focus
Paul is a trial and appellate litigator whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation. He handles a broad range of commercial matters including: contract disputes, securities litigation, unfair competition, business fraud, antitrust, false advertising, class actions, and trade secrets. Paul also advises clients involved in governmental investigations and enforcement actions involving the SEC, DOJ, and CFPB.
While he manages all aspects of litigation, Paul is often sought after for his superior written and oral advocacy. He regularly drafts dispositive motions and appellate briefs which have secured major victories for his clients. Paul has also argued numerous dispositive hearings, including appeals, and he has twice reversed a trial court’s tentative ruling based on his oral argument.
Paul clerked for three judges at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Hon. David Sotelo, Hon. Dennis J. Landin, and Hon. Craig D. Karlan). Before clerking, Paul worked as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in Detroit, Michigan, where he provided transactional legal services to small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs.
Representative Legal Matters
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First-chaired an arbitration hearing on behalf of the world’s largest online search company and obtained a complete defense award in a breach of contract and unfair competition action.
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Won dismissal of securities fraud class action against pharmaceutical company by drafting 12(b)(6) motion which was granted in full.
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Won dismissal of securities fraud claim against corporate officer by drafting 12(b)(6) motion in case against special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) also involved in parallel litigation and investigation by the SEC.
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Won dismissal of consumer class action against interactive entertainment company by preparing 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss which led to plaintiff's voluntary withdrawal of case.
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Successfully convinced trial court to reverse its tentative ruling on defendants’ demurrer and allow client’s economic interference claims to proceed, after previously being dismissed in full, based on oral argument at hearing.
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Prevailed in emergency application for relief in ICDR international arbitration on behalf of claimant by briefing application and second-chairing emergency arbitration hearing.
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Represented plaintiff in civil RICO case seeking enforcement of USD 150 million arbitration award.
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Advised global corporation in DOJ and SEC investigations involving the FCPA.
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Advised US company on premerger antitrust review and investigation.
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Represented client in white collar antitrust matter involving bid rigging and investigation by multiple government agencies.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Constitution Society - Los Angeles Chapter, Board Member
- South Asian Bar Association of Southern California, Board Member
Clerkships
- Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Corporate Responsibility
Paul maintains an active pro bono practice focused on constitutional law, where he has acted the following matters:
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Successfully overturned a state law restricting voter-registration organizations on the grounds it infringed on their First Amendment rights and discriminated against racial minorities in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
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Authored an amicus brief in a case before the Florida Supreme Court to protect reproductive choice based on the right to privacy under the state’s constitution.
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Filed a challenge to a state law banning LGBT+ education on the grounds it violated the First Amendment and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Paul also serves as an Adjunct Professor at USC Gould School of Law, where he teaches Constitutional Law.
Admissions
- California~United States
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California~United States
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California~United States
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California~United States
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California~United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit~United States
Education
- Columbia Law School (JD, Tony Patiño Fellow, Lowenstein Fellow)
- University of California, Los Angeles (BA, Political Science, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)