Paul leverages his experience as a former U.S. Attorney and notable prosecutorial achievements to defend Fortune 500 clients in high-stakes federal litigation and SEC matters. His comprehensive knowledge and commitment to justice make him an asset to clients facing white collar criminal issues.

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

With a career spanning decades, including serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Paul brings significant experience in white collar criminal defense and high-stakes litigation. He has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in federal courts and before the SEC, dealing with complex issues such as tax fraud, securities violations, and corporate misconduct.

Paul regularly leads internal investigations involving allegations of bribery, insider trading, and compliance violations, and he has a strong track record in developing robust compliance and ethics programs for businesses. Paul’s notable achievements include conducting one of the most complex cases under the federal Economic Espionage Act and prosecuting early cybercrime cases.

Paul helps clients navigate intricate legal landscapes, achieving outcomes in their favor through court representation or preventive measures such as compliance counseling.

  • Represents the defendant in the first criminal wage-fixing trial.
  • Representation of doctors and others in health care fraud prosecutions.
  • Provide regulatory counseling on compliance matters involving anti-money laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issues.
  • Represented an officer of a public company in a DOJ investigation into alleged anti-money laundering (AML) violations.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a global chemical company to address allegations by a business competition that the company’s distributor in Mexico committed acts of bribery.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a major international financial services firm regarding bond trading activities and potential misconduct by a financial advisor.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a market intelligence and analysis firm regarding potential insider trading.
  • Represented an international company in an international investigation concerning payments of gifts to public officials in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a regional bank into potential bank fraud and securities violations on behalf of the special committee of the board of directors.
  • Assisted an international capital funding company with an internal investigation into allegations of false statements to the government in connection with a government grant program.
  • Assisted a private venture capital company with allegations into the bribery of public officials.
  • Conducted a very sensitive investigation for a public pension plan regarding allegations of trustee misconduct and fiduciary duty violations.
  • Represented a U.S. senator in connection with allegations that he violated federal criminal ethical laws.
  • Represented a large school district in connection with investigations into allegations of procurement fraud, identity theft, violations of procurement rules, and racial discrimination.
  • D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2011-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2007-2026), Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2011-2026)
  • Lexology Index: Investigations, Global Investigations Review (formerly Who’s Who Legal) (2016, 2024)
  • Chambers USA: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2017-2025); Antitrust (2023-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year: Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2022), Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2017)
  • Super Lawyers® Texas, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2003-2020)

With a career spanning decades, including serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Paul brings significant experience in white collar criminal defense and high-stakes litigation. He has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in federal courts and before the SEC, dealing with complex issues such as tax fraud, securities violations, and corporate misconduct.

Paul regularly leads internal investigations involving allegations of bribery, insider trading, and compliance violations, and he has a strong track record in developing robust compliance and ethics programs for businesses. Paul’s notable achievements include conducting one of the most complex cases under the federal Economic Espionage Act and prosecuting early cybercrime cases.

Paul helps clients navigate intricate legal landscapes, achieving outcomes in their favor through court representation or preventive measures such as compliance counseling.

  • Represents the defendant in the first criminal wage-fixing trial.
  • Representation of doctors and others in health care fraud prosecutions.
  • Provide regulatory counseling on compliance matters involving anti-money laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issues.
  • Represented an officer of a public company in a DOJ investigation into alleged anti-money laundering (AML) violations.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a global chemical company to address allegations by a business competition that the company’s distributor in Mexico committed acts of bribery.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a major international financial services firm regarding bond trading activities and potential misconduct by a financial advisor.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a market intelligence and analysis firm regarding potential insider trading.
  • Represented an international company in an international investigation concerning payments of gifts to public officials in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a regional bank into potential bank fraud and securities violations on behalf of the special committee of the board of directors.
  • Assisted an international capital funding company with an internal investigation into allegations of false statements to the government in connection with a government grant program.
  • Assisted a private venture capital company with allegations into the bribery of public officials.
  • Conducted a very sensitive investigation for a public pension plan regarding allegations of trustee misconduct and fiduciary duty violations.
  • Represented a U.S. senator in connection with allegations that he violated federal criminal ethical laws.
  • Represented a large school district in connection with investigations into allegations of procurement fraud, identity theft, violations of procurement rules, and racial discrimination.
  • D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2011-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2007-2026), Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2011-2026)
  • Lexology Index: Investigations, Global Investigations Review (formerly Who’s Who Legal) (2016, 2024)
  • Chambers USA: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2017-2025); Antitrust (2023-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year: Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2022), Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2017)
  • Super Lawyers® Texas, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2003-2020)
  • Board member and former president, National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA)
  • President, NAFUSA Foundation
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Founder, Southwest Section, Committee for White Collar Crime
  • Former chair, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee’s North Texas/Oklahoma Region Subcommittee (2008)
  • Member, Bar Association, Fifth Federal Circuit
  • Member, Dallas Bar Association
  • Member, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Member, Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee in Texas (2009-2011)
  • Board member, Dallas Classic Film Festival
    • Treasurer
  • Advisory board member, Texas Book Festival
  • Advisory council member, Harry Ransom Center
  • Emeritus board member, Dallas CASA
  • Past president, North Texas Crime Commission
  • U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, 1993-2001
  • Texas special assistant attorney general, 1991-1993
  • Assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, 1980-1983

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1978, Harvard Civil Rights, Civil Liberties Law Review
  • Oxford University, Diploma in Law, 1977
  • Oxford University, B.A., 1974, First Class Honors; Rhodes Scholar
  • Yale University, B.A., summa cum laude with departmental distinction, 1973, Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Speaker, “Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Amendments and Strategies,” Lawline, April 9, 2024.
  • Speaker, “Business Fraud Update and Managing the Risk of Fraud,” ACPEN Signature, September 20, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Trends in Antitrust: Regulation of the Labor Market Through Increased Criminal Enforcement,” Lawline, May 2, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Trends in Antitrust: Regulating the Labor Market Through Increased Criminal Enforcement,” Quimbee, October 10, 2022.
  • Speaker, “2022 Business Fraud Update and Managing the Risk of Fraud,” ACPEN, September 21, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Antitrust Risks Arising from No-Poach and Wage-Fixing Agreements,” Texas Association of Business: Employment Relations Symposium 2022, August 11, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Cybersecurity Update: Latest Trends,” Dallas Startup Week, August 10, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Defending Criminal No-Poach & Wage Fixing Claims,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, June 9, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Criminal Antitrust Investigations and Trials – Recent Lessons,” Federal Bar Association, May 20, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Ethical Issues Facing In-House Counsel,” UT Law CLE: 7th Annual Government Enforcement Institute, October 1, 2021.
  • Speaker, “How to Survive a DOJ Investigation,” Locke Lord, October 7, 2020.
  • Speaker, “The State of the Justice Department: Are We In Crisis?” Dallas Democratic Forum, September 17, 2020.
  • Author, “From Counsel to Co-Defendant: Beware of the Crime-Fraud Exception,” Dallas Bar Association, May 2020.