Paul Sweeney is a member of the Commercial Litigation practice. He focuses his practice on the defense of lawsuits and trials — both individual actions and class actions — alleging claims of unfair business practices (e.g., violations of California laws such as the Unfair Competition Law, the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and the False Advertising Law), as well as violations of privacy laws, such as the California Invasion of Privacy Act. Paul also represents clients in lawsuits involving commercial contracts, consumer contracts, business torts, civil rights, and various federal and state statutes and regulations. He has also handled employment arbitrations and lawsuits involving claims of discrimination, wage-hour violations, wrongful termination, and theft of trade secrets. Paul advises clients across numerous industries, including entertainment, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, retailing, and technology.
Paul served as a White House fellow, working for the White House Chief of Staff and the President’s Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs. He has also volunteered as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Branch, where he handled misdemeanor jury trials. For many years, Paul has been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers list.
Experience
- Electronics manufacturers in defense of multiple class actions alleging illegal website data tracking in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act.*
- Hospital system in relation to a class action alleging false and deceptive marketing of services it provided.*
- A manufacturer in a class action alleging false advertising of watercraft products.*
- An online ticket marketplace against allegations of deceptive marketing.*
- A company in connection with a commercial real estate dispute.*
- Major electronics manufacturer in a dispute with a distributor.*
- Major financial institution in an action alleging violation of the terms of customer account agreements.*
- Major manufacturer in a class action alleging capture and recording of personal information in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act.*
- Won a case in the California Court of Appeals on behalf of a major beverage manufacturer in which the Court affirmed the dismissal of a trade secrets action brought against the manufacturer.*
- Financial institutions in employment and wage hour class actions.*
*Represents experience with previous employer.
Perspectives
Recognition
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Columbia Law School
- B.S., University of Southern California, cum laude
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California