Business Law Attorney - Paul S. Schleifman

Nearly 30 years of experience at your disposal

Paul S. Schleifman is the founder and managing attorney of the firm. Paul is a skilled legal advisor and persuasive advocate. He focuses his practice on the needs of businesses and specializes in a wide variety of transactional matters, litigation and alternative dispute resolutions. Paul’s philosophy is simple: analyze the legal dispute; fully discuss the issues with the client and jointly determine the desired strategy and outcome; and pursue that goal in a zealous, yet efficient and cost-effective manner. Paul represents his clients with an untiring work ethic and the will to win or resolve disputes on the most favorable terms.

A successful negotiator of business and commercial contracts and agreements

Paul’s transactional experience is both deep and broad. He has negotiated and drafted numerous types of commercial transactions, including joint marketing agreements, master service agreements, operating agreements, material transfer agreements, partnerships and joint venture agreements, teaming agreements, purchase and sale agreements, acquisition agreements, service agreements, commercial leases and executive compensation and separation agreements. His strength is drafting precise language that protects his clients and fully and clearly sets out the rights and obligations of each party to the contract.

A seasoned litigator who resolves complex commercial and business disputes

Paul has extensive litigation and trial experience. He has handled all manners of complex commercial and business disputes. His history of successful results in complex litigation has clients seeking him out for their most difficult problems. Some of his litigation matters include:

• Lead counsel representing captive insurer in federal court litigation seeking coverage for underlying bodily injury and property damage claims. Recovered in excess of $35 million
• Lead counsel representing the working interest owner in gas royalty action in New Mexico. Recovered in excess of $50 million.
• Lead counsel representing pharmaceutical manufacturer against unfair trade practice and other claims brought by the Attorneys General of numerous states
• Lead counsel defending major retailer in FCRA and ECOA class action
• Lead counsel defending officers and directors of printing business against fraud claims
• Defended branded pharmaceutical manufacturer against antitrust and Hatch Waxman claims brought by generic manufacturer
• Represented manufacturer in class actions and MDL involving unlawful pricing claims
• Represented corporation and directors and officers against claims of fraud by minority shareholders

A business lawyer with in-depth knowledge of insurance coverage issues

For the past 20 years, Paul has also litigated and counseled businesses on insurance coverage matters. Paul has extensive experience representing both policyholders and insurers in connection with first and third-party coverage disputes, with a special focus on general liability and specialty insurance, including D&O forms. Paul also handles bad faith and unfair claims practices litigation involving primary and excess insurance carriers.

A lawyer focused on businesses in the Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland - and beyond

Paul's practice is focused on businesses operating in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.  However, Paul often works with business clients located outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and has appeared in federal and state trial and appellate courts in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico and California. Paul has also appeared before the U.S. Tax Court of Federal Claims, as well as the FCC, FTC and FERC.

Background

Bar admissions

• District of Columbia, 1982
• Virginia, 1983
• U.S. Tax Court, 1983
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 1989
• Maryland, 1990
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1990
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, 1991
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

Education

• George Mason University, J.D. with distinction, 1982
• State University of New York at Oswego. B.S., 1976

Previous law firm positions

Paul was a partner at a large international law firm before forming Schleifman & Komis, PLLC. Prior to that, he was a partner at a regional firm located in Washington, D.C. and earlier was an associate at a business and tax litigation boutique.

Email Paul directly at pschleifman@schleifmanlaw.com