Paul B. Lewis
Biography
Paul B. Lewis is a complex civil litigation partner in Haynes Boone’s Boston office. He represents clients in contract litigation, consumer class actions, wrongful death actions, franchise disputes, real estate matters, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93A claims, and False Claims Act litigation. Paul also handles disputes involving alleged extortionate business practices, Massachusetts Wage Act and retaliation claims, closely held partnerships, and requests for temporary restraining orders.
Paul has first-chair trial and appellate experience in federal and state courts, including dispositive motions, jury trials, appeals, and precedent-setting matters. He represents technology, retail, healthcare, digital marketing and advertising, consumer services, and hospitality clients in litigation involving arbitration, issues of first impression, statutory interpretation, class-action defense, interlocutory appeals, and removal and remand strategy.
Paul also maintains a substantial pro bono practice. He has represented indigent criminal defendants in federal court, families affected by unsafe housing conditions, foster children in a significant case involving federal entitlement benefits. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has repeatedly recognized his service by naming Paul to its Pro Bono High Honor Roll.
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- Secured dismissal of wrongful death action on behalf of hospitality client in Hampden County (Massachusetts) Superior Court, via judgment on the pleadings. John F. Bonafini Personal Representative for the Estate of Michael C. Bonafini vs. G6 Hospitality Property, LLC et al, Hampden Superior Court C.A. No. 1879CV00056 (September 16, 2020). Subsequently, as appellee, successfully defended trial-level judgment to precedent-setting appellate decision through Massachusetts appellate court of last resort. Bonafini v. G6 Hosp. Prop., LLC, 101 Mass. App. Ct. 612, 194 N.E.3d 234 (2022); Bonafini v. G6 Hosp. Prop., LLC, 491 Mass. 1101 (2022).
- At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, defeated Petiton for Writ of Mandamus and/or Prohibition on procedural issue following dismissal. Talasazan v. United States District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles, No. 24-7726-014 (9th Cir. Jan. 22, 2025).
- Successfully defended against putative class action by removing case to the U.S. District Court under the Class Action Fairness Act and then immediately certifying salient legal question to the Massachusetts appellate court of last resort, which then issued a precedent-setting interpretation of a nineteenth-century notary fee limitation statute based on centuries-old source material. Richardson v. UPS Store, Inc., Civil Action No. 18-cv-12338-ADB, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104796 (D. Mass. June 24, 2019); Richardson v. UPS Store, Inc., 486 Mass. 126, 156 N.E.3d 177 (2020).
- Secured early dismissal of federal putative class action, on behalf of international technology company, through argument grounded in choice-of-law analysis.
- At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, secured dismissal in collateral appeal following Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) dismissal at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In re: Harel Talasazan, No. 23-1780 (1st Cir. Apr. 10, 2024).
- On behalf of an international retail establishment, secured defensive judgment on the merits against claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, unfair business practices, and promissory estoppel, in the Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Superior Court Business Litigation Session. Lululemon USA, Inc. v. -CWB Retail Limited Partnership, Suffolk Superior Court C.A. No. 2084CV00205 (February 19, 2021).
- At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, secured precedent-setting appellate victory (regarding limits of so-called “Burford” abstention) on behalf of a national preschool company, while simultaneously averting imminent pandemic-era eviction. Forty-Six Hundred LLC v. Cadence Educ., LLC, 15 F.4th 70 (1st Cir. 2021).
- At the Massachusetts Appeals Court, secured vacatur and remand of interlocutory order in connection with a civil restraining order proceeding. M.B. v. A.G., 105 Mass. App. Ct. 1110, 250 N.E.3d 598 (2025).
- Prevailed in appeal of interlocutory discovery order before the Single Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, as appellee. Department of MA Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US, Inc & another vs. Donovan Properties LLC & another, Massachusetts Appeals Court SJ No. 2024-J-0521 (August 29, 2024).
- Secured dismissal on the merits of federal action against international technology company for its alleged participation in government entity’s misconduct through use of its software. Talasazan v. Microsoft Corporation et al, 1:22-cv-11764-DJC (D. Mass., June 21, 2022).
- At the Massachusetts Appeals Court, secured reversal of trial court’s denial of technology company’s motion to compel arbitration, through argument hinging on interpretation of the Federal Arbitration Act. Cuneo v. Nat'l Delivery Sys., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 1112, 178 N.E.3d 899 2021 Mass. App. Unpub. LEXIS 689 (November 5, 2021).
- Convinced Plaintiff’s attorney to voluntarily dismiss Trafficking Victims Protection Act action filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, due to a myriad of legal deficiencies that would otherwise have been exposed via motion to dismiss. Asia Graves v. Marriott International Hotel, Inc. et al., 1:24-CV-10532-DJC (D. Mass., June 11, 2024).
*Some of these representations were handled by Paul prior to joining Haynes Boone.
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- Member, Boston Bar Association Business and Commercial Litigation Steering Committee, (2023 - present)
- Board of Directors, Riverside Children’s Center in Newton Massachusetts
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- One to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, (2023-2026)
- Top Lawyer, Commercial Litigation, Boston Magazine, (2025-2026)
- New England’s Best Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, One to Watch, (2025)
- New Leader in the Law, New England Legal Awards, ALM/Law.com, (2024)
- One to Watch in New England, The American Registry (Boston Globe affiliate), (2024-2025)
- Excellence in the Law Award - Up & Coming Lawyer, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, (2023)
- Stand-Out Lawyer for outstanding client service, Thomson Reuters, (2023)
- Pro Bono High Honor Roll, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, (2019, 2025)
- Pro Bono Honor Roll, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, (2019-2025)
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Bylines
- Co-author, "Appeals Court ruling deepens circuit split surrounding plaintiffs' burden in False Claims Act cases," DLA Piper Insights, April 4, 2023
- Co-author, "More signs that the major questions doctrine from West Virginia v. EPA may impact the SEC's authority on proposed climate and cybersecurity disclosure rules," DLA Piper Insights, October 31, 2022
- Co-author, “When Federal Courts Remand Eviction Actions Back To States," Law360, March 26, 2021
- Co-author, "The Pandemic's Toll On Criminal Defendant Rights: Part 2," Law360, December 2, 2020
- "The Pandemic's TollOn Criminal Defendant Rights: Part 1," Law360, December 2, 2020
- "Consistent Rules of Prior Statements: Advocating for the Substantive Use of prior Consistent Statements in Massachusetts Courts," 48 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 305, Spring 2015
- "Death for Association: Assessing the Constitutionality of Gang-Related Aggravating Factors in State Death Penalty Statutes," Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law 16 2 145-186, Spring 2015
- "A Gateway to Future Problems: Concerns about the State-by-State Legalization of Medical Marijuana," 13 U. New Hampshire Law Rev. 1-49, Fall 2014
Seminars
- Presenter, "State and Federal Interlocutory Appeals In Massachusetts: What You Didn't Know You Didn't Know," Boston Bar Association Webinar, March 25, 2025
- Presenter, "Topics in Diversity Jurisdiction in Federal Court: Removal, Certified Questions, and Pitfalls for Closely Held Companies," Boston Bar Association Webinar, April 9, 2024
- Presenter, "Recent Developments in Removal and Remand Litigation Procedure in D. Mass and the First Circuit,” Boston Bar Association Webinar, March 16, 2023
- Guest Lecturer, Affirmative Duties to Rescue in Non-Custodial Settings, Boston College Law School, November 29, 2023
- Guest Lecturer, Legal Research and Writing, Boston College Law School
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Education
- J.D., Boston College, 2014
- B.A., Tufts University, 2009
Clerkships
Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Mark G. Mastroianni of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Admissions
- Massachusetts
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
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What types of disputes do you handle?
I handle complex civil disputes, including contract litigation, consumer class actions, wrongful death actions, franchise disputes, real estate matters, Chapter 93A claims, and False Claims Act litigation. I also represent clients in Massachusetts Wage Act and retaliation claims, closely held partnership disputes, and requests for temporary restraining orders.
What experience do you bring to trial and appellate matters?
I have first-chair trial and appellate experience in federal and state courts. My work includes dispositive motion practice, jury trials, appeals, and matters that have produced precedent-setting decisions.
Which industries do you represent in litigation?
I represent clients in the technology, retail, healthcare, digital marketing and advertising, consumer services, and hospitality industries. Their matters have involved arbitration, issues of first impression, statutory interpretation, class-action defense, interlocutory appeals, and removal and remand strategy.
What role does pro bono work play in your practice?
I maintain a substantial pro bono practice alongside my commercial work. I have represented indigent criminal defendants in federal court, families affected by unsafe housing conditions, and foster children in a significant matter involving federal entitlement benefits.
