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Zidlicky, Paul J.
Partner

Paul J. Zidlicky

  • Product Liability and Mass Torts
  • Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies

PAUL ZIDLICKY focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and appellate litigation. His cases often involve federal constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions and arise in a variety of areas, including administrative law, products liability, multidistrict litigation, and constitutional law (e.g., Commerce Clause, First Amendment and federal preemption). Paul represents a wide variety of clients, which include energy companies, accounting firms, manufacturers (including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers), financial institutions, transportation companies and religious institutions. Paul has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Litigation Star” for Appellate in the United States (National) (2023–2025) and District of Columbia (2016–2025). Paul has been the Pro Bono Chair for Sidley’s office in D.C. since 2015.

Paul has argued before the United States Supreme Court, has filed briefs seeking, supporting, and opposing certiorari and has briefed cases on the merits for parties and amici curiae.

At the trial level, Paul has significant experience acting as legal issues and motions counsel in federal multidistrict litigation, preparing high-profile cases for trial and ensuring that critical issues are preserved for any appellate review.

Paul joined Sidley following clerkships with Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. and Judge Frank J. Magill of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Fargo, N.D. He graduated with high honors from the George Washington University Law School, where he served as senior managing editor of the Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Brown University.

Credentials

Admissions & Certifications

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland

Education

  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1993 (with high honors)
  • Brown University, B.S., 1989

Clerkships

  • William H. Rehnquist, United States Supreme Court (1994 - 1995)
  • Frank Magill, U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit (1993 - 1994)