Stuart M. Paynter, Esq.

After graduating from Stanford Law School in the top ten percent of his class, Mr. Paynter clerked for the Hon. David S. Tatel of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  Mr. Paynter then joined Sullivan & Cromwell as a litigation associate where he represented Microsoft in both the Government case and in numerous private class actions.  Mr. Paynter also represented Riggs Bank NA in its successful bid to enforce a merger agreement with PNC Bank.  In 2005, Mr. Paynter left Sullivan & Cromwell to travel and the following year established an independent practice focusing on plaintiff-side commercial litigation.   Working on a contingent basis as co-counsel with a prominent Washington, D.C. litigation boutique, Mr. Paynter recently achieved a confidential settlement in excess of $20 million in a trade secrets/intellectual property dispute.     

In addition to his commercial practice, Mr. Paynter has undertaken extensive pro bono work.  While at Sullivan & Cromwell, Mr. Paynter represented a class of Portsmouth, Virginia residents who alleged racial discrimination by the City of Portsmouth and a private developer.  That case settled on favorable terms to class members.  In addition, Mr. Paynter represented the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in assisting them with storm-water advocacy in the District of Columbia. 

Mr. Paynter is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and California.