Paul Chander

Paul is a trial and appellate litigator whose practice focuses on complex commercial and securities litigation. He handles a broad range of complex commercial matters including: contract disputes, unfair competition, business fraud, false advertising, class actions, antitrust, and trade secrets. Paul has also advised clients involved in governmental investigations and 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.

• 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.

• Won dismissal of securities fraud class action against pharmaceutical company by drafting 12(b)(6) motion which was granted in full.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Successfully opposed a plaintiff’s attempt to serve foreign interactive entertainment company in contravention of the Hague Convention by drafting opposition which led to denial of plaintiff’s motion for alternative service.

• Successfully defended high-profile technology platform in multiple arbitrations regarding content moderation issues, First Amendment, and Section 230 defenses.

• Advise multiple cutting-edge tech start-ups on legal issues involving NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and digital assets.

• Represented client in white collar antitrust matter involving bid rigging and investigation by multiple government agencies.

• Won dismissal of entire complaint at demurrer stage in multimillion dollar breach of contract case against international bank. Convinced judge to completely reverse her tentative ruling and rule in client’s favor based on oral argument presented at hearing.*

• Served as lead associate on trial team for plaintiff in alter ego liability case and obtained stipulated entry of judgment against defendant corporation five days before trial. Drafted successful opposition to motion for summary judgment which led to favorable outcome for client.*

• Won dismissal of complaint with prejudice in complex breach of contract case against national insurance company by drafting 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss which was granted in full.*

• Prosecuted breach of contract action by eliciting key testimony from defendant’s deposition leading to favorable settlement for client right before trial.*

• Defended communications company by preparing Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss complaint alleging it violated 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the constitutional right to privacy.*

*Denotes experience at another firm prior to joining Baker McKenzie in 2021.

• 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

Paul also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on constitutional law, where he has acted the following matters:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.