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Paul M. Huston

Member

[email protected]

+1.858.314.1549

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Paul is an accomplished employment litigator and counselor. Representing clients from around the world, he has developed a particular expertise in employee mobility issues, including disputes relating to trade secrets, unfair competition, and restrictive covenants. Paul’s work has created new case law clarifying the enforceability of restrictive covenants, particularly against individuals working for California employers.

Paul represents both employers and executives in a broad spectrum of employment disputes, including matters involving breach of contract, sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and Equal Pay Act claims. Paul also has significant experience litigating large wage and hour class actions and PAGA representative actions. His practice encompasses all stages of administrative, trial court, and appellate litigation.

In addition to representing clients in litigation and before administrative agencies, Paul counsels clients on pre-litigation matters and risk mitigation, partnering with them to create and implement compliance best practices that best align with the organization’s business needs and HR strategies. He has significant experience in contract formation, independent contractor agreements, executive employment agreements, arbitration agreements, and class action waivers.

Experience

  • Representing an international energy company, Paul crafted briefs that resulted in the dismissal of federal non-compete claims against Filipino workers in California and ultimately a published decision stating there is no “trade secret exception” to the ban on non-competes in California. (Northern District of California)
  • After a two-week jury trial, Paul and the defense trial team obtained a full defense jury verdict in a defamation suit brought by a former employee against a third-party defendant whose statements to the employer allegedly resulted in the employee’s termination. (San Diego Superior Court)
  • Representing an executive and the executive’s new employer, Paul and the Mintz team successfully obtained summary judgment on non-competition claims, creating new published case law relating to the enforceability of foreign choice of law clauses against California workers. (Chancery Court of Delaware)
  • In a disability discrimination case, Paul and the Mintz defense team obtained terminating sanctions against a former employee, and subsequently an award of defendant’s attorneys’ fees, after discovering the employee’s intentional destruction of evidence during litigation and unsuccessful attempt to conceal the same. (Los Angeles Superior Court)
  • In a suit by a former employer against its former executive and the executive’s new technology start-up, Paul and the Mintz defense team obtained dismissal of trade secret theft claims and successfully defeated related discovery motions. (Southern District of California)
  • Representing an international medical company, Paul and the Mintz defense team obtained summary judgment against an employee’s federal age discrimination and breach of contract claims after the employee was terminated for poor performance and alleged that the employer had a policy requiring progressive discipline. (Central District of California)
  • Negotiated various favorable settlements and broad liability releases while representing transportation companies during the yearslong “Port Trucking” litigation in Los Angeles, including after weeks-long trials before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. (Los Angeles Superior Court)
  • Representing a surgeon’s office, Paul worked with forensic experts to uncover evidence that led to the defense team negotiating a nothing-paid full dismissal of an employee’s frivolous harassment and retaliation claims after internal due diligence revealed the employee had apparently stolen company trade secrets. (San Diego Superior Court)
  • Drafted the briefs that led to the dismissal of trade secret claims against a nationwide staffing agency for failure to accurately specify what protectable trade secrets had been allegedly taken. (Southern District of California)
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viewpoints

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As the workplace continues to take a new shape, the distinction between “workplace conduct” and “off duty” conduct continues to fade for many.  After a recent Ninth Circuit ruling, employers must be more vigilant than ever in monitoring and responding to employee social media postings, even when they are personal and “off duty.”

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Major changes to PAGA are now official. Most importantly:

  • Employees must have experienced each of the alleged violations to have standing to sue;
  • Employers can correct inaccuracies on paystubs without penalty; and 
  • Employers who take specific steps to prevent Labor Code violations will be able to substantially reduce liability. 
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On June 18, 2024, Governor Newsom, in collaboration with legislative leaders, unveiled a landmark agreement to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). 

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The worldwide pandemic, focus on social justice, sharp political divisions, quiet quitting and the Great Resignation are all events that have impacted and altered employment relationships. At the same time the modern workplace is becoming dispersed, virtual and vocal, workplace regulation – the laws that form the structure of the traditional employment relationship – is becoming even more challenging for employers struggling to meet the challenges of the next generation of workers.

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California has now joined New York City and Colorado in requiring employers (for Golden State employers, of 15 or more) to publish “pay scales” in job postings. As with many things California, however, the new law (which becomes effective on January 1, 2023) regulates, but doesn’t guide. Pay transparency may be a worthy goal to effectuate parity, but employers face more questions than the new mandate answers. Mintz attorneys Paul Huston and Jen Rubin developed a field guide for pay “rangers” to help human resource professionals tackle this new law.

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Cal/OSHA revised its Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”) following its mid-December meeting and, more recently, made additional revisions to align with the California Department of Public Health’s recommendations.
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Read Mintz’s comprehensive analysis of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard pertaining to workplace COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for employers with 100 or more employees.
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Citing the presence of the Omicron variant in California and the heightened transmission risks surrounding the holiday season, the California Department of Public Health has instituted an indoor masking mandate for public settings effective December 15, 2021 and continuing through January 15, 2022.
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News & Press

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Member Paul Huston was quoted by World IP Review in an article about how ATS Tree Services dropped its lawsuit against the FTC over the agency's controversial non-compete ban.

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187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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ESG Co-chair Jennifer Rubin, Member Paul Huston, and Associate Kevin Kim co-authored an article published in Law360 examining the twenty-year history of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and its impactful role as a road map for managing claims.

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

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We're thrilled to announce the addition of 17 new Members to Mintz. Along with seven attorneys recently elevated to membership in the firm, we’ve welcomed ten lateral Members in 2022. They add depth to our experience and capabilities in life sciences, health care, financial services, private equity, sports & entertainment, technology, and other sectors.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Mintz attorneys Mitch Danzig, Jennifer Rubin, and Paul Huston co-authored a Law360 expert analysis article examining the recent Executive Order issued by President Biden aimed at non-compete agreements and how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)'s interpretation of the order could impact employers nationwide.
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Mintz Associate Paul M. Huston authored an expert analysis article published by Law360’s Employment Authority that examined the issue of whether an employer may discipline an employee for off-duty conduct, and to what extent, specifically in the context of the Capitol riot and COVID-19 pandemic.
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On August 26, the Delaware Chancery Court granted partial summary judgement in favor of Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (Alphatec), a medical device company dedicated to revolutionizing the approach to spine surgery, and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Miles, in litigation brought against Mr. Miles and Alphatec by competitor, NuVasive, Inc. based on any claims that Mr. Miles breached the non-competition and employee non-solicitation provisions in his employment agreement with NuVasive.

Banning the Box

May 29, 2018

This feature article discusses a California state law aiming to help those with a criminal record secure employment opportunities by changing how companies vet employment applications. Mintz’s Paul Huston is quoted in the piece discussing what employers need to know to avoid legal complications.
A team of Mintz attorneys – Member Dan Pascucci and Associate Paul Huston – authored this column discussing how the landscape surrounding microtransactions in video games continues to evolve at a pace outstripping the law’s ability to keep up.
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Events & Speaking

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Jun
15
2023
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Nov
10
2022

CRISIS in the C-Suite – A Playbook for In-House Counsel

Mintz, 3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300 San Diego, CA 92130

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Recognition & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch - Litigation - Labor and Employment (2020-2025); Labor and Employment Law - Management (2023 - 2025)

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