Obituaries : Paul Philip Selvin; Writers Guild Counsel

Paul Philip Selvin, an attorney who spent much of his career in First Amendment legislation and whose Century City practice was deeply involved with the Writers Guild of America, which he had represented as counsel since 1962, died of cancer Thursday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was 70.

A founder of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, he participated in more than 100 actions in appellate courts and was lead counsel in more than 40 appellate decisions.

For the Writers Guild he helped draft the basic contract governing the employment rights of members in the entertainment industry.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, Selvin later taught at Stanford and Loyola law schools.

He is survived by his wife, Marian, a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.