About Paul
I have a diverse background litigating a wide variety of business disputes as well as complex tort matters. I have successfully prosecuted and defended cases across a broad range of legal issues, including breach of contract, unfair competition, fraud, and commercial claims, as well as business torts. I have also successfully handled numerous products liability and toxic tort cases that involve a variety of products, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and heavy machinery and equipment.
My representative victories include a favorable judgment involving the interpretation of the Uniform Commercial Code which established new precedent and resulted in a published federal court opinion addressing the negotiation of a forged instrument; defense of a seven figure breach of contract action which resulted in the plaintiff paying to settle the action; dismissal of an environmental remediation case where the client was charged with negligent cleanup of hydrocarbon contamination and the California Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the judgment of dismissal; dismissals of multiple products liability actions following successful motions to quash service of the summonses and complaints; voluntary dismissals of multiple products liability cases, including ones brought against a pharmaceutical manufacturer and industrial equipment manufacturer, after summary judgment motions were filed; dismissal of a products liability case brought against a manufacturing client following multiple successful challenges of the plaintiff’s pleading and the California Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the dismissal; and a de minimus, nuisance settlement on behalf of a food flavoring manufacturer client charged with causing serious obstructive lung disease requiring lung transplantations even though other named defendants paid seven figures pursuant to settlement or judgment.
Practice areas
- Litigation: 50%
Litigation involving complex business disputes, breach of contract, unfair business practices, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, products liability and toxic torts.
37 years, 600 cases
- Business: 25%
Complex business disputes,breach of contract, interference with contract, unfair business practices, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
37 years, 300 cases
- Defective and dangerous products: 25%
product liability litigation involving machinery and equipment, consumer products, chemicals, toxic substances, and pharmaceutical products.
37 years, 300 cases
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Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Active | 1985 | 02/13/2012 |
| IL | Retired | 1980 | 03/13/2022 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
|---|---|---|
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2018 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2016 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
| Top Attorneys | Coast Magazine | 2015 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
| Top Attorneys | OC Metro Magazine | 2013 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2013 |
| Top Attorneys | OC Metro Magazine | 2012 |
| AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2012 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | 2018 - Present |
| Senior Counsel | Enterprise Counsel Group, Alc | 2014 - 2018 |
| Attorney | Cadden & Fuller, LLP | 2013 - 2014 |
| Founding Partner | Kaplan Lee LLP | 2001 - 2013 |
| Partner | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP | 1993 - 2001 |
| Associate | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP | 1987 - 1992 |
| Associate | Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas, PC | 1985 - 1987 |
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit | Admitted | 2011 - Present |
| Orange County Korean American Bar Association | Board Member | 2010 - Present |
| Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section | Member | 2010 - Present |
| Orange County Bar Association Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program | Arbitrator | 2010 - Present |
| Orange County Bar Association, Tort and Trial Section | Member | 2009 - Present |
| California State Bar | Admitted | 1985 - Present |
| United States District Court for the Central District of California | Admitted | 1985 - Present |
| Orange County Trial Lawyers Association | Member | 2011 - 2014 |
| ProVisors | Member | 2010 - 2013 |
| Orange County Bar Association, Employment Law Section | Member | 2010 - 2014 |
| Los Angeles County Bar Association | Member | 1987 - 2008 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| OCKABA Newsletter | McDonald's Hot Coffee Case - A Posterchild for Frivolous Lawsuits or a Compelling Example of Corporate Misdeed? | 2012 |
| OCKABA Newsletter | Proposition 65 – A Lurking Pifall For the Unwary Business Owner | 2012 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 1979 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | A.B. cum laude | 1976 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Protect and Grow Seminar | What California Business Owners Need to Know About Prop 65 | 2012 |
| OCKABA Community Law School | Civil Litigation - Commencement of Lawsuit Through Trial | 2010 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| M.G v. G.B. | Judgment in favor of client |
| B.Y. v. B.J. | Seven figure settlement in favor of client. |
| D.K. v. T.M. | Six figure jury verdict in favor of Paul's client |
| R.S. v. R.C. | Confidential six figure settlement |
| K.K v. J.R. | $87,500 settlement |
Excellence, Honesty, Integrity and Trustworthy
5.0 stars
Posted by Robert
May 23, 2013
Confident, intelligent and involved.
5.0 stars
Posted by Joseph
February 22, 2012
Attentive, Motivated, and Professional
5.0 stars
Posted by Hugh
January 20, 2012
Trustworthy and Reliable!
5.0 stars
Posted by Danny
November 14, 2011
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Attorney endorsements
(39)
Nema Daghbandan, Litigation Attorney on Aug 6, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Douglas Borthwick, Litigation Attorney on Nov 25, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Nema Daghbandan, Litigation Attorney on Aug 6, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Douglas Borthwick, Litigation Attorney on Nov 25, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
John O'Brien, Business Attorney on Oct 2, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible.
Hovanes Margarian, Business Attorney on Jul 11, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Michael Waddington, Personal injury Attorney on May 30, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Paul. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
John Phillips, Unknown Attorney on Dec 16, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Attorney Yee. From his answers and time on Avvo, it is clear he is dedicated to serving those in need and his clients. It's rare that lawyers spend so much valuable time helping the community, for free, and I applaud him for doing it to such a great level. Kudos
Brian Crockett, Car accident Attorney on Sep 15, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Attorney Lee has to be one of the hardest working, most compassionate and client oriented advocates to be practicing law. I endorse this lawyer.
Christopher Leroi, Litigation Attorney on Aug 24, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse and would recommend Mr. Lee to everyone and anyone. I have been practicing for 24 years. I was the youngest judge in Colorado history, a magistrate, a prosecutor in three districts, a law professor, and have worked in private practice for years. I still learn from his Avvo answers each and every day. He is a huge credit to the legal system. Hire him.
James Garrett, Personal injury Attorney on May 12, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Paul Lee is a talented and well respected personal injury attorney who I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a lawyer who really cares about his clients.
Robin Mashal, Business Attorney on May 8, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mr. Lee has made a substantial number of contributions on Avvo.com. I have read several of his contributions and have found them to be thoughtful, informative and practical. I endorse this lawyer's work.
Lloyd Mann, Unknown Attorney on Apr 22, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Lee demonstrates his knowledge on almost a daily basis by his clear and concise answers to questions, and by his compassion in responding to people who are not able to afford lawyers. Mr. Lee is a great asset to the AVVO community.
Nadine Jett, Personal injury Attorney on Apr 9, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.I endorse this lawyer. This lawyer's contributions to this site are invaluable. I happily endorse this lawyer's work, ability and charity to those asking for advice. Further, I like to endorse good lawyers, because I find the AVVO rating system to be dishonest and corrupt. Frequently, disgruntled litigants on the opposing side (not your clients) will bash a lawyer on this site, pretending to be "your" client. When this situation is brought to the attention of AVVO, Avvo refuses to do anything to investigate and remove the false, slanderous "client" reviews. AVVO is a mean petty internet blog site trying to make money off of lawyers, and does not care if the public receives truthful information.
Bryce Fetter, Personal injury Attorney on Feb 20, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Adrienne Allen, Personal injury Attorney on Jan 31, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Leeis is a very knowledgeable attorney. I highly recommend him.
Marilynn Mika Spencer, Employment and labor Attorney on Sep 3, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
With every post here on Avvo, Paul Y. Lee demonstrates his exceptional legal knowledge and practical skill. He clearly cares about the profession and his clients. I am so impressed by Mr. Lee that I have added him to the short list of attorneys to whom I refer products liability and other injury cases.
Kevin Sullivan, Litigation Attorney on Aug 19, 2012
Relationship: Other
I endorse Paul Lee. His responses to questions on this site demonstrate very clearly that he is a smart and good lawyer who cares about people.
Michael Greenberg, Unknown Attorney on Aug 15, 2012
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Lee provides solid responses to questions posed by the Avvo community.
James Slominski, Litigation Attorney on Jul 23, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. His AVVO responses are direct, concise, and always appear to be helpful.
Michael Grennier, Defective and dangerous products Attorney on Jul 16, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer without reservation. Paul is a true professional in every sense of the word. He is both diligent in his practice and ethical in all of his dealings. Paul has the knowledge and experience to help you with your matter and I highly recommend his services.
Joel Kofsky, Personal injury Attorney on Jun 3, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Paul Lee has consistently provided detailed analysis on Avvo. He provides thorough, well reasoned answers and demonstrates his knowledge of the subject matter. Additionally, the "warmth" in those answers clearly conveys his compassion for both his current and future clients. It is a pleasure to endorse him.
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