Paula C. Moreno

Partner

Primary Areas of Legal Practice

Legal Services Management, Product Liability and Toxic Tort, Commercial Litigation

Professional Experience

Since 2002, Ms. Moreno’s practice has focused on commercial litigation with an emphasis on toxic tort, product liability, and contract disputes.  Ms. Moreno has served as local and national counsel in cases involving asbestos-containing products, benzene, and chemical exposures.  She has over 20 years of experience in national counsel roles and litigation management.  She specializes in litigation management and has coordinated and supported all phases of litigation, including discovery, preparation of experts, and trials in jurisdictions throughout the U.S.  She currently serves as Ford Motor Company’s national asbestos litigation counsel for the Western United States and national expert coordinating asbestos counsel for Navistar, Inc.  Ms. Moreno is also national asbestos counsel for General Motors Company and directs all aspects of that litigation.  Additionally, she has represented numerous other companies in product liability and commercial litigation matters.  Prior to forming two law firms, Ms. Moreno was previously an attorney at Thelen Reid, a 600 attorney Am Law 100 law firm and was selected as a recipient of the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “40 Under 40 Award” in 2013.

Past and Present Representative Clients

Ford Motor Company, General Motors LLC, Navistar, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, Inc., Ransom & Randolph Co., Dentsply Sirona, NEC, Texaco Refining and Marketing, Inc., Jaguar Land Rover North America, Sims Metal, AXT Inc., Chrysler Corporation, Shell Oil Company, Olympus, Fiatallis North America, Inc., and Jiffy Lube.

Representative Matters

• National counsel for Ford Motor Company for asbestos and benzene litigation
• National asbestos counsel for General Motors Company
• National expert coordinating counsel for Navistar, Inc.
• Lead case attorney in numerous asbestos matters for Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Chrysler Corporation, Shell Oil Company, New Holland Dentsply Sirona, and other companies
• Obtained defense verdict for international furniture wholesaler in a jury trial involving breach of contract claims
• Represented property and business owners in matters involving ground water contamination from leaking waste storage tanks
• Represented dental implement manufacturer and supplier
• Represented leading medical device manufacturer in claim of respiratory disease from alleged defective medical device
• Represented one of world’s largest oil companies in contract dispute with service station dealer involving fuel pricing and lost profit allegations
• Represented major metal processor and exporter in California Unfair Competition action
• Represented manufacturer in personal injury action alleging birth defects from in utero exposures to chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing process

Education and Honors

• Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D., 2002)
• Santa Clara University School of Law, Honors Moot Court Board (2001)
• University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 1999) Political Science

Bar Admissions

• California
• United States District Court, Northern District of California
• United States District Court, Central District of California

Past Legal Experience

• Lankford Crawford Moreno & Ostertag, Managing Partner, 2008-2024
• Thelen, Reid, Brown, Raysman & Steiner LLP, Associate, 2006-2008
• Thelen, Reid & Priest LLP, Summer Associate 2001, Associate, 2002-2006
• California State Attorney General, Employment and Administrative Mandate Section, Summer Associate 2000

Professional Affiliations

• THINK Together (Education Non-Profit), Past Board of Directors, Past Bay Area Council Chair
• Bay Area After School All-Stars, Past Vice-President, 2006-2013
• San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, Past Director At Large
• Past Vice President of Provisional Membership, National Charity League, Diablo Valley Chapter
• Contra Costa County Bar Association
• California Minority Counsel Program