Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Business & Commercial Disputes

Partner - Litigation and Investigations

Colin's practice focuses on complex business litigation in state and federal courts. He regularly represents clients in the areas of consumer products, sports, banking, real estate, finance, websites, franchises, and mobile apps. He has achieved favorable judgments and settlement for his clients and successfully disposed of numerous lawsuits at the pleading stage and on summary judgment. He also regularly assists his clients resolve business disputes without the need for litigation. Colin has been with the firm since he was a summer associate in the Los Angeles office. He is licensed in California and North Carolina.

His representative experience includes:

Intellectual Property Litigation – Defend global publisher in copyright and trademark litigations in multiple states. Protect consumer products manufacturer’s intellectual property rights through cease and desist letters and initiating trademark, trade dress, and patent infringement lawsuits. Complex Business Litigation – Obtain $1 million settlement on behalf of client defrauded by broker. Assist LLCs and managers defend against (and assert) claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and violations of California's Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA). Defend medical research organization against breach of contract claims brought by donor under multi-million dollar grant agreement (resulting in settlement favorable to client). Represent national food products and services provider in multiple UCC and breach of guaranty lawsuits in California and North Carolina, obtaining favorable settlements before motion practice.  Represent CMBS special servicer in foreclosing on commercial properties in North Carolina and Delaware following borrower defaults on multi-million dollar loans. Class Actions – Defend financial institution in multi-state certified class action alleging more than $1 billion in damages. Defend dating app against California putative class action alleging statutory violations and unfair competition (resulting in dismissal for nuisance value) Financial Services Litigation – Defend financial institutions against customer and borrower suits alleging fraud, negligence, breach of contract, interference with economic advantage, unfair competition, promissory estoppel, and violations of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Homeowner Bill of Rights (HBOR), state unfair and deceptive acts or practices (UDAP/UCL) acts, and other statutes. Bank Operations – Represent banks in a wide variety of cases involving operations issues, including check and wire fraud, credit reporting allegations, levy and garnishment issues, unauthorized funds transfers, ACH and online payments, and other issues involving deposit accounts, negotiable instruments, and credit products involving the Uniform Commercial Code Franchise Litigation – Obtain $240,000 judgment in favor of franchisor against franchisee who was stealing earnings. File complaints on behalf of franchisors in hotel and food industries regarding breach of franchise agreements and trademark infringement. Defend hotel franchisors against premises liability personal injury actions. Draft payment demand letters and trademark cease and desist letters to past and present franchisees on behalf of franchisors. Tech and General Corporate – Advise businesses on entity formation, protecting intellectual property, trademark registration, preparing licensing agreements, independent contractor agreements, and corporate bylaws. Negotiate licensing, vendor, and other commercial contracts. Advise clients on real estate matters, including title reports, due diligence, lien priority issues, title insurance disputes, hazard insurance disputes, HOA disputes, partition actions, and recording quitclaim deeds and other documents.

Colin also volunteers pro bono with a focus on assisting low income families, including by assisting with guardianship matters, child custody issues, and eviction defense.

Prior to joining the firm, Colin was a judicial extern for the Honorable Rex Heeseman at the California Court of Appeals.

Colin graduated from UCLA School of Law with an emphasis in business law, which included courses at UCLA Anderson School of Management. He was an active member of the Counseling Emerging Technology Companies clinic, providing legal assistance on formation, employment, intellectual property, and privacy issues to ten start-up companies for a well-known tech accelerator program in Santa Monica, California. In addition, he competed in the UCLA Mock Trial tournament and served two years on the board of the UCLA Real Estate Law Association. During law school, he also worked in business development at a mobile application development and strategy firm, and as a research assistant to an intellectual property scholar.

Before law school, Colin worked at a government affairs firm in Portland, Oregon, providing lobbying and campaign support to public organizations and Fortune 500 companies. He also spent a year managing online marketing for a financial news and commentary website. Colin graduated with honors from Willamette University with a bachelor’s degree in politics with minors in economics and philosophy.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™, Commercial Litigation, 2022 - 2024 Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2018 - 2023 UCLA Law Firm Challenge (Fundraising Representative, 2013 - 2021)