Paul J. Laurin specializes in the areas of business litigation and creditors' rights. He is particularly experienced representing lenders, media and entertainment companies and individuals in the assertion and defense of their rights in state, federal and bankruptcy courts. Paul guides clients through the full spectrum of litigation, from pre-judgment provisional remedies and extraordinary relief through law and motion and trial. As necessary, he represents clients in post-judgment execution and bankruptcy proceedings. Paul also has considerable successful experience in state and federal appellate courts.

Paul works extensively with his clients to analyze and understand the effects of insolvency and zone-of-insolvency conduct as that impacts each client's business and disputes, including mega-bankruptcies, trans-border business relations and other complex situations. He has extensive experience in how insolvency issues inform litigation and rights and remedies under the Bankruptcy Code and other insolvency laws. He brings to bear substantial courtroom advocacy, jury trial and appellate experiences to achieve practical and effective results for his clients. 

Notable Representations and Results:

Media and Entertainment 

• Bankruptcy counsel to global media companies in professional sports franchise bankruptcies.  
• Successfully prosecuted involuntary bankruptcy against television production company for non-payment of production fees and expenses.
• Represented media broadcaster in obtaining numerous writs of attachment against production entities and achieved recovery of substantial library of popular television series.
• Represented international bank which, together with the talent Guilds, proposed and confirmed one of the largest creditor plans of reorganizations in entertainment bankruptcy history (bank's claim was in excess of $100 million).
• Represented creditors, including a world renowned film producer, special effects artist and a leading entertainment industry trade publication, with approximately $15 million in claims in involuntary chapter 7 bankruptcy against MGM Studios.

Real Estate  

• Successful defense of continuing guarantor of commercial warehouse lease affected by bankruptcy of principal tenant. 
• Represented bank in successful writ of supersedeas appellate proceedings pursuant to which Superior Court was stayed from further proceeding pending appeal of denial of petition to arbitrate. Further successfully represented bank in obtaining reversal of denial of petition for arbitration as required under commercial lease.
• Represented purchaser of a distressed real estate portfolio from the FDIC. Accomplished the appointment of numerous rents and profits receivers pending foreclosure. Successfully handled multiple guaranty litigation cases against personal guarantors and a declaratory relief trial in the Superior Court, where the court interpreted variable interest rate adjustment language in three similar commercial real estate promissory notes.
• Represented individual investors and lenders in real estate development partnership that procured funding via tax exempt municipal bond financing backed by real estate in involuntary chapter 7 bankruptcy case. S.E.C. investigation ensued, with prosecution resulting in criminal conviction of promoter.
• Represented chapter 11 trustee of national retailer, The Liquor Barn, in sales of estate assets, including dozens of leasehold interests.

Ponzi Litigation 

• Represented over 50 individual victims of a Ponzi scheme who were targeted by a bankruptcy trustee for the recovery of fraudulent transfers and preferences. Case resulted in a published decision in favor of clients regarding the standard of "good cause" for the removal of a bankruptcy trustee. In re AFI Holdings, Inc. (Dye v. Brown) 355 B.R. 139 (9th Cir. BAP 2006). Won reversal of all the cases on the applicability of substantive affirmative defense of "good faith" to Ponzi transferees in published decision. In re AFI Holdings. Inc. (Mackenzie v. Barclay) 525 F.3d 700, 2008 WL 1734583 (C.A.9 (Cal.)).

Court Admissions:

• All state and federal courts in California

Publications:

• Los Angeles Daily Journal

Paul also has contributed to Fox News Channel

Awards & Recognition:

• Martindale Hubbell "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5" Rated

Memberships & Community Involvement:

• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member of Judicial Appointments Committee
• Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, Member
• California Receiver's Forum, Member
• American Bankruptcy Institute, Member