Christopher H. Chris McGrath

Christopher H. Chris McGrath

Commercial Litigation

5.0 (1 reviews)
Irvine, California
35+ years experience
Paul Hastings LLP
Updated:

Contact Information

1920 Main Street, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614
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Bio

Chris McGrath is the Chair of the Orange County Litigation Department at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Orange County and San Diego offices. His practice encompasses complex business litigation on behalf of public and private companies in state and federal courts. In particular, Mr. McGrath focuses his practice in securities litigation, class actions and complex corporate litigation, defending companies, pension funds, hedge funds, officers, directors, financial institutions and underwriters in shareholder class actions, merger litigation and derivative lawsuits and commercial disputes throughout the country. He has substantial experience in trade secret litigation. He also counsels and represents companies, boards and individuals in connection with securities industry regulatory compliance issues and investigations.Mr. McGrath has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® (2010-2024) (Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, and Litigation - Securities), and by Super Lawyers (2007-2024). In 2022 he was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for Southern California in Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions by Best Lawyers. Chris McGrath is the Chair of the Orange County Litigation Department at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Orange County and San Diego offices. His practice encompasses complex business litigation on behalf of public and private companies in state and federal courts. In particular, Mr. McGrath focuses his practice in securities litigation, class actions and complex corporate litigation, defending companies, pension funds, hedge funds, officers, directors, financial institutions and underwriters in shareholder class actions, merger litigation and derivative lawsuits and commercial disputes throughout the country. He has substantial experience in trade secret litigation. He also counsels and represents companies, boards and individuals in connection with securities industry regulatory compliance issues and investigations.Mr. McGrath has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® (2010-2024) (Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, and Litigation - Securities), and by Super Lawyers (2007-2024). In 2022 he was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for Southern California in Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions by Best Lawyers. Chris McGrath is the Chair of the Orange County Litigation Department at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Orange County and San Diego offices. His practice encompasses complex business litigation on behalf of public and private companies in state and federal courts. In particular, Mr. McGrath focuses his practice in securities litigation, class actions and complex corporate litigation, defending companies, pension funds, hedge funds, officers, directors, financial institutions and underwriters in shareholder class actions, merger litigation and derivative lawsuits and commercial disputes throughout the country. He has substantial experience in trade secret litigation. In 2022 he was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for Southern California in Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions by Best Lawyers.

Local Legal Snapshot

Jurisdiction

California

State Capital

Sacramento

Highest Court

California Supreme Court

Bar Association

State Bar of California

Typical Consultation

$150-$300

Typical Hourly Range

$250-$450/hr

Fee Model Notes

Hourly or flat-fee billing is common.

Estimates vary by market, complexity, urgency, and attorney experience.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Securities / Capital Markets Law, Orange County (2025)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, San Diego (2022)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, San Diego (2015)
  • Recognized: Commercial Litigation
  • Recognized: Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Recognized: Litigation - Securities
  • Recognized: Securities / Capital Markets Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010

Education

  • University of California Berkeley, J.D., graduated 1990

Reviews

K

Katherine Smith

3 months ago

Unmatched expertise in complex business litigation

Our company faced a high-stakes dispute with a former partner involving intricate securities and contractual obligations. The situation was daunting, but engaging Christopher McGrath was the best decision we made. His 35 years of experience, particularly his deep knowledge in securities and M&A litigation, was immediately evident. He and his team at Paul Hastings in Irvine conducted a masterful analysis of our case, providing a clear, strategic roadmap. Chris’s calm, authoritative demeanor was a steadying force throughout the process. His recognition as a multiple-time Lawyer of the Year in these exact practice areas is clearly well-deserved. The outcome was exceptionally favorable, resolving the matter efficiently and protecting our interests completely. For any complex business litigation in Southern California, Chris McGrath is the definitive choice.

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