New York, NY. Law firm Nixon Peabody LLP has added experienced litigator and trial lawyer Paul F. Downs, continuing to expand the firm’s Complex Disputes practice at a time of increased commercial litigation across many industries.
Paul joins Nixon Peabody as counsel based in the New York City office, marking the second time in recent weeks Nixon Peabody has expanded the practice. Prominent litigator and trial lawyer Stephen P. Younger, a past president of the New York State Bar Association, also joined the law firm’s Complex Disputes practice at the start of February.
Paul represents entities and individuals in complex disputes involving commercial, trade secret, real estate, and contractual issues. He has tried cases before courts and arbitration tribunals, including those involving multi-million-dollar claims, and he has particular experience representing clients in the renewable energy, banking and finance, life sciences (biotech and pharmaceutical), real estate, and technology industries.
“A nationwide trend toward arbitration has been continuing at the same time we are seeing and assisting with emerging trends with trade secrets—particularly for clients in the technology, biotech, and pharmaceutical space,” said Nixon Peabody partner John Ruskusky, who leads the firm’s Complex Disputes practice. “Paul’s background and client experience align seamlessly with these areas of rising client demand. We look forward to introducing him to our clients.”
Paul helps businesses of all sizes, as well as individual clients, navigate high-stakes legal disputes and achieve favorable outcomes. He has defended several Fortune 500 companies in trade secret disputes and several Fortune 100 companies in complex contract disputes. Paul’s recent client experience includes representing a pharmaceutical company in a federal trade secrets dispute, a biotech company in commercial arbitration, a professional sports league and certain member clubs in multiple litigations concerning the relocation of a franchise, and a major airline in complex contractual disputes.
“The opportunity to add an attorney with such in-demand experience complements the breadth and depth of our strong litigation team in New York,” said Ilana Kameros, managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s New York City office. “Paul has a reputation for being deeply committed to his clients’ success, whether in or out of the courtroom, and also for being an excellent colleague. We’re thrilled to welcome him to our office.”
Paul earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and his BA from Centre College in Kentucky. He previously served as law clerk to Hon. David. J. Hale of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
