Focuses on cross-border corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A)/takeovers and corporate finance.
Acts as outside general counsel for clients in commercial disputes.
Partner-in-charge of the firm’s Irvine office.

Paul Lin primarily handles cross-border corporate transactions, M&A/takeovers, real estate transactions, regulatory and trade work, and corporate finance deals. In addition, he serves in the role of outside general counsel for many clients, coordinating litigation related to general commercial disputes, antitrust, intellectual property, class actions and other areas.

Paul’s clients range from multinational public corporations and Chinese, state-owned enterprises to privately held businesses and family offices. They span a broad range of industries, including technology, consumer products, infrastructure and city development, automotive, green energy and biotech.

Paul also represents a number of the world’s largest consumer electronics and technology companies, as well as digital television monitor manufacturers, in both corporate transactions and intellectual property litigation matters in the United States. He also advises various Asia-based clients in dispute resolution.

Paul is a frequent speaker on cross-border M&A and has participated in forums such as the Caijing Conference in Beijing and the UCLA U.S.-China Business Law Conference in Los Angeles. He serves as a board member on the Dean’s Board of Visitors and Business Advisory Council, University of California, Irvine School of Law. Paul is active in the Asian-American community and cross-border associations and is a member of the Committee of 100, an international, nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that brings a Chinese-American perspective to issues concerning Asian-Americans and U.S.-China relations. He was also selected as one of the top “20 under 40” lawyers in California by Daily Journal, California’s largest legal news provider.

Representative Work

Corporate

Led the team in advising Kingston Technology, one of the world’s largest independent manufacturers of memory products, as a member of a consortium led by Bain Capital, in the $18 billion purchase of Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC). Negotiated a favorable long-term memory supply agreement with TMC, as well as investment documents protecting Kingston’s interests in its participation in the consortium. The deal was the largest M&A transaction in Asia in 2018.
Represented Foxconn Technology Group in its acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of SMART Technologies, a leading provider of collaboration solutions.
Represented the U.S.-based, and world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products, in an agreement with a Taiwanese public company, to acquire certain assets of the Taiwanese company in a deal valued at approximately $200 million. The U.S. company simultaneously entered into a transaction pursuant to which the acquired company will provide foundry services to the buyer for a two-year period in a deal valued at approximately $380 million.
Advising a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturing company in its acquisition of a 90 percent interest in a well-known international consumer electronics company and in certain manufacturing assets related to a television manufacturer from its parent company.
Advising a Chinese company in its acquisition of a publicly listed display technology manufacturer and in a related tender offer.

Litigation

Representing a major global television brand in a first-of-its kind multi-district class action litigation concerning alleged violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act.
Acted as trial counsel for a leading HDTV client in two patent infringement investigations at the International Trade Commission (ITC). At stake in each investigation was the exclusion from importation of virtually all products sold by the client. In the first investigation, the Administrative Law Judge found that the client did not infringe the asserted patents, and the ITC confirmed that finding. In the second investigation, the client settled the matter after an evidentiary hearing and review by the ITC, but before appeal.
Representing the maker of America’s number one brand of LCD HDTVs in connection with a putative nationwide class action regarding allegedly defective component parts in plasma and LCD televisions.
Representing a high-definition television company in federal antitrust and California state law litigation filed against a Japanese communication equipment manufacturer in California federal court.
Obtained a favorable ruling for an electronics technology manufacturer and a digital television and monitor manufacturer in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Representing an electronics manufacturer in a patent infringement dispute with a computer manufacturer involving patents related to various aspects of television technology.

Real Estate

Advised a family trust office in its acquisition of 25 Extended Stay America hotels located in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Texas along with a joint venture partner, sponsor and 10 percent partner.
Represented a family trust in its investment in the acquisition vehicle that acquired the 392-room luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Represented a family trust in the development and ownership and/or sale of a mixed-use project consisting of 97 multifamily units located in San Jose, California.
Counseled a family trust in the development and long-term ownership of a four building, 141-unit multi-family and mixed-use project located in Pasadena, California.

Litigation

Representing a major global television brand in a first-of-its kind multi-district class action litigation concerning alleged violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act.
Acted as trial counsel for a leading HDTV client in two patent infringement investigations at the International Trade Commission (ITC). At stake in each investigation was the exclusion from importation of virtually all products sold by the client. In the first investigation, the Administrative Law Judge found that the client did not infringe the asserted patents, and the ITC confirmed that finding. In the second investigation, the client settled the matter after an evidentiary hearing and review by the ITC, but before appeal.
Representing the maker of America’s number one brand of LCD HDTVs in connection with a putative nationwide class action regarding allegedly defective component parts in plasma and LCD televisions.
Representing a high-definition television company in federal antitrust and California state law litigation filed against a Japanese communication equipment manufacturer in California federal court.
Obtained a favorable ruling for an electronics technology manufacturer and a digital television and monitor manufacturer in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Representing an electronics manufacturer in a patent infringement dispute with a computer manufacturer involving patents related to various aspects of television technology.

Real Estate

Advised a family trust office in its acquisition of 25 Extended Stay America hotels located in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Texas along with a joint venture partner, sponsor and 10 percent partner.
Represented a family trust in its investment in the acquisition vehicle that acquired the 392-room luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Represented a family trust in the development and ownership and/or sale of a mixed-use project consisting of 97 multifamily units located in San Jose, California.
Counseled a family trust in the development and long-term ownership of a four building, 141-unit multi-family and mixed-use project located in Pasadena, California.