Law Practice

Paul Berg splits his time between managing the firm and his litigation practice. Paul’s practice focuses on complex business and commercial litigation, along with personal injury and wrongful death actions.

Expertise and Experience

Contract Disputes

    • Breach of Contract
    • Declaratory Judgement
    • Injunctive Relief
    • Specific Performance

Shareholder/ LLC Member / Partnership Disputes

    • Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
    • Business Divorces
    • Shareholder Rights
    • Corporate Governance
    • Director / Officer Liability

Business Torts

    • Trademark Infringement
    • Theft of Trade Secrets

Employment

    • Non-Competition
    • Wrongful Discharge
    • Theft of Trade Secrets

Securities Litigation

    • Misrepresentation / Fraud

Real Estate / Property Disputes

    • Real Estate Sale Disputes
    • Trespass / Nuisance

Commercial Tenancy

    • Lease Disputes

Emergency Remedies

    • Temporary Restraining Orders
    • Preliminary Injunctions

Representative Cases

    • Represented Willamette Valley vegetable processor against a $6.5 million dollar action brought by neighboring landowner alleging trespass, nuisance, breach of contract, and violations of the Clean Water Act and Oregon DEQ regulations. Presented series of partial summary judgment motions with success. Also briefed and argued motions in limine and trial motions, obtaining directed verdict on multiple claims. Eight day trial resulted in a defense verdict on remaining claims and an award of enhanced prevailing party fees in favor of vegetable processor.
    • Represented Oregon landscaping business in action against Virginia LLC and its sole member arising out of the sale of defective equipment. Arbitrator awarded client all relief sought including piercing the veil of the Virginia LLC, and imposing personal liability for Virginia LLC’s member.
    • Represented large manufacturer in action filed against a former executive for breach of the duty of loyalty, breach of contract and conversion. Those claims drew a variety of counterclaims including alleged violations of ERISA, the Oregon wage and hour laws, and Section 1981, which bars discrimination on the basis of race. The case was resolved through settlement.
    • Represented the estate of bicyclist who was killed when struck by an SUV in an action against Washington County for negligent intersection design and maintenance. The action involved significant legal issues of discretionary immunity, the Oregon Tort Claims Act, and wrongful death damages. Case was resolved through favorable settlement for the estate.
    • Represented local nurse in action against her estranged husband who hired a hit man to kill her. When the hit man ambushed the nurse in her home, a struggle ensued resulting in the hit man’s death. Jury trial resulted in verdict in favor of nurse for full demand of $1 million for emotional distress and $53,786 in economic damages.

Education & Bar Admissions

Paul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Western Washington University in 2000. He earned a law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2006, ranking 9th in a class of 186 and earning Order of the Coif honors. During law school, Paul completed a Lane County Circuit Court externship working with Judge Lyle C. Velure and served as a Senior Editor for the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation.

Paul was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2006, the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in 2007, and the Washington State Bar in 2013.

Professional

Paul is a member of the American Bar Association, the Multnomah County Bar Association, and the Oregon Association of Defense Council.

 

Publications

Co-author, Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation, 2020 edition

Co-author, 2009 supplement to “Case Investigation” chapter of the Oregon Civil Litigation Manual

Awards

The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2021-2024); Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2024); Litigation – Insurance (2024)

“Oregon Rising Star,” Super Lawyers magazine, Civil Litigation (2012)

Client Comments

“Thank you.  You are very gracious.  It was a learning experience for me as well as our organization. We felt it was important to be present for the proceedings and appreciate the support Cosgrave Vergeer Kester provided us to do so. To you & your entire staff: a note of Thanks and Appreciation should be extended to all who worked on this case.”

“Thanks a million.  I heard both you and Paul did a fantastic job!
We truly appreciate all your hard work!!”

“Again, THANKS for the FANTASTIC RESULT!”

“Again I would like to thank you [Jason] and Paul very much for representing [my business]…as soon as Paul started talking to the Arbitrator, for lack of a better phrase, all I can say is that I completely relaxed and became confident and comfortable. It felt good knowing that Paul took my case serious and was well prepared…I was extremely pleased. Looking back, I should have known that the hearing would go great, everyone I have worked with or come in contact with at CVK has been professional and a pleasure to work with. I’m a small business, but you always make me feel like a big client.”

“CONGRATULATIONS on your defense verdict…. As we have all discussed on numerous occasions, this case was an enormous challenge on so many levels. Your coordinated efforts to focus on the key issues in presenting the case obviously worked very well with the jury. Kudos to you. It is a very impressive victory! Also thanks to Sonia, MaryAnn, Jane, Pam and everyone else with the firm who worked on this case. The management of the huge number of documents/exhibits was quite an undertaking, and your coordination and organization of all of the moving parts was quite impressive as well.”

“I want to thank you guys for all of the hard work on long hours that you put in with this case. Your preparation and professional approach really came through at the trial and is what I think impressed the jury. I appreciate your time and patience with me in explaining the process and answering my questions. Please thank your staff for all of their hard work….”