Paul L. Navarro
- Firmwide Chair, Latin America Practice
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
Paul counsels emerging companies across the United States and Latin America through all stages of the startup lifecycle.
Paul Navarro guides emerging companies from incorporation to exit. Founders, directors, and investors rely on Paul to help strategize and execute high-value transactions.
Paul is a trusted advisor to companies in industries such as fintech, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and entertainment. His extensive experience includes equity and debt financings, general corporate governance, exit events, restructurings, recapitalizations, founder break-ups, and much more.
A native Spanish speaker with cultural roots in Latin America, Paul has a lifelong passion for the region. In his active pro bono practice, he has helped establish and counsel nonprofits that address sexual harassment, combat hate crimes, and provide comprehensive mental-health counseling.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Boston College Law School, J.D., 2010
- Stanford University, M.A., History, 2007
- Stanford University, B.A., history, highest honors, 2006
Bar and Court Admissions
-
California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Related Employment
- Morrison & Foerster LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Partner, 2022-2023
- Perkins Coie LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Partner, 2022; Counsel, 2020-2022; Associate, 2015-2020
- Goodwin Procter LLP, Associate, 2014-2015
- Morrison Foerster LLP, Associate, 2010-2014
- Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Government Bureau, Legal Intern, 2009-2010
- Judicial Extern for the Honorable Carlos T. Bea for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2008
Additional Languages
- Spanish
Professional Recognition
Super Lawyers Magazine “Northern California Rising Star,” 2013-2020
State Bar of California Wiley W. Manuel Award, 2013
Impact
Community Involvement
- Riverside County Latino Commission, Advisor
- Harvard Westlake High School, Assistant Wrestling Coach
News
Professional Experience
Latin American Transactions
Fintech Companies
Represented numerous fintech companies (e.g., payment platforms, digital banks, financial fraud detection networks, and more) in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia in debt and equity financings as well as general corporate matters, security breaches, founder disputes, and more.
Crypto Exchange
Represented crypto exchange in general corporate matters, financing, and secondary transactions.
Blockchain-Based Travel Platform
Formed Company and represented in SAFE financing and product counseling.
E-Commerce Platform
Represented supply chain software company for small businesses in general corporate matters and equity financings.
FoodTech Company
Counseled company on general corporate matters, Series A and Series B financing, and various SAFE financings.
Sustainable Apparel Sourcing Platform
Formed and counsel Company with SAFE financing, commercial transactions, and other general corporate matters.
International Fashion Company
Counseled Company on corporate restructuring.
Insurance Technology Company
Counseled company in executive compensation and other general corporate matters.
Real Estate Purchasing Platform
Counseled company in financing corporate restructuring.
Entertainment Transactions
Production Studio
Helped form and counsel streaming content company on SAFE financing, trademark matters, and general corporate advice.
International Production Studio
Helped company negotiate documentary licensing with streaming service.
Talent Management Software Company
Counseled a company developing SasS talent management platform on company formation, debt and equity financings, and general corporate issues.
Virtual Reality Company
Formed and provided legal counsel regarding general corporate and IP issues for entertainment virtual reality company, including SAFE and Series A financing.
Markup Accessory Company
Formed and counseled company on IP issues and SAFE financing as well as general corporate matters.
Talent Representation
Counseled Grammy Best Music and Best Rap Song nominated artist in commercial licensing matter.
Exit Transactions
Sale of CoreOS
Represented CoreOS in its sale to Red Hat, Inc.
Sale of SignifAI, Inc.
Represented SignifAI, Inc. in its sale to New Relic, Inc. (NYSE: NEWR)
Sale of Mapping Software Company*
Represented mapping software company in its sale to a leading on-demand car service company.
Sale of Voice App Company
Represented artificial intelligence company focusing on voice software in its sale of assets to multinational technology company.
Sale of Advertising Platform*
Represented advertising platform company in its sale to a leading social media company.
Sale of Goanna Software Pty, Ltd.
Represented Goanna Software Pty, Ltd. in its acquisition by Synopsys, Inc.
* Prior experience
Litigation
Reiser v. Reiser*
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
Represented Rory and Noriline Reiser pro bono in a wrongful death action against their father and secured a $60 million verdict for clients. The Recorder magazine recognized the verdict as a top 10 California verdict in 2012.
Smartphone Litigation*
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Member of team that successfully tried a high-profile smartphone case leading to a jury verdict of over $1 billion.
W. L. Gore & Associates v. GI Dynamics Inc.*
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
Represented Gore as to patent, contract and trade secret claims arising from a joint development project for a gastric sleeve.
AIG v. Air Lease Corporation*
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County
Represented AIG and its subsidiary, International Lease Finance Corporation, in its breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation case against a competing aircraft leasing company.
Cullen v. Netflix*
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represented the leading provider of subscription-based streaming videos on appeal after obtaining published dismissals without leave to amend of class claims alleging misrepresentation and disability discrimination relating to Internet-based closed captioning practices.
* Prior experience