Paul is an expert in mediation of trade secret-related disputes.  His qualifications and experience include the following:

  • Mediation and Arbitration Panelist, American Arbitration Association, 2004-present;
  • Mediation and Arbitration Panelist, International Center for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), 2008-present;
  • Mediation and Arbitration Panelist, Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center’s Tech List, which lists highly experienced technology mediators;
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association’s List of Mediators and Arbitrators, which lists highly experienced intellectual property mediators;
  • Adjunct Professor of Law at the U.S. News No. 1 ranked dispute resolution program in the country, Pepperdine University School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution teaching trade secret and technology-related mediation in  “Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution: Intellectual Property Disputes,” 2008-present;
  • Former Chair, ADR Committee, American Intellectual Property Law Association;
  • Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property Litigation, 2007-2023;
  • Chapter Chair, Licensing Executives Society of the USA and Canada, 2005-present.

Throughout his  legal career, Paul has been called upon to handle complex  trade secret litigation, often involving prosecuting and defending preliminary injunction proceedings.   In 2006, Paul spent over a year working on one of the largest trade secret misappropriation cases in California involving large semiconductor companies in Taiwan and China leading to a preliminary injunction and a favorable settlement.  Since 2008, Paul has taught trade secret mediation at the U.S. News No. 1 ranked Pepperdine University School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in his course:  “Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution:  Intellectual Property Disputes.”   Paul has been included in Best Lawyers in America® for Intellectual Property Litigation 2007 through 2019.   He is a member of The Sedona Conference’s Trade Secret Working Group, and has served as a Chapter Chair for the Licensing Executives Society for many years.  In 2018, Paul presented a program on trade secrets to the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Diego Chapter.

In 2018, Paul was asked by two AMLAW100 firms to mediate a highly contentious trade secret misappropriation dispute pending in court involving integrated circuit technology with claims exceeding $20 million in damages.  Paul was successful in assisting the parties in reaching an amicable settlement, and by 7:00 pm, the parties had signed a binding settlement agreement resulting in dismissal of the court case.  

Paul Burns experienced arbitrator and mediator

Mediator Paul E. Burns, Esq.
633 West 5th Street, 26th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071 

Tel: 424-303-3066
Email: paul.burns@mediatorpaulburns.com