EXPERIENCEMr. Paul Thursam is an equity shareholder in the firm’s Business Practice Group, and Real Estate Practice Group. Mr. Thursam’s legal experience is broad and includes all matters of real estate financing and transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leases, business disputes, conveyancing, and banking transactions. Mr. Thursam’s clients are typically landlords, small business owners, banks, and borrowers.
Since beginning his career in 2008, Mr. Thursam has been recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by dBusiness magazine for 2012-2018, and as a SuperLawyer “Rising Star” for 2012-2019. In 2014, Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected Mr. Thursam as an “Up and Coming Lawyer.” He was also selected for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s “Leadership Detroit” program and Crain’s Leadership Academy. He serves on the Board of Review for Grosse Pointe Shores; on the Board of Directors for the Wayne State Law School Alumni Association; and he is a past President of the Italian American Bar Association for Michigan. Mr. Thursam co-chaired two symposiums at U of D Mercy Law School and is published in the Michigan Real Property Law Section Journal. Mr. Thursam is “AV” Rated by Martindale Hubbell (4.9/5.0).
The firm’s summer clerk program is managed primarily by Mr. Thursam, who conducts interviews and makes recommendations to the firm’s hiring committee. Law students are encouraged to contact Mr. Thursam directly for more information.
Mr. Thursam is a graduate of the Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As an undergraduate, he was awarded numerous Class and University Honors, including the William J. Branstrom Prize for academics. Later, he received his Juris Doctor from Wayne State Law School, where he was Assistant Editor of the Wayne Law Review.
Real Property law section
•Summer Conference 2010: Urban Farming Roundtable, June, 2010
•Co-Chair: Current Issues in Multi-Family Housing Law & Financing, June 3, 2010
•Summer Conference 2011: Urban Farming Roundtable, July, 2011
Leadership
Co-Chair: Urban Farming Symposium, sponsored by UDM Law School (2012)
2011 Chairman, Troy Chamber of Commerce Business Referral Group IV
Serves on the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores Board of Review
Co-Chair: Urban Farming Symposium, sponsored by UDM Law School (2011)
Past President, Italian American Bar Association
Board of Directors, Wayne State University Law School Alumni Association
Recent Projects
December 2018:
•Corporate start-up - Trucking/logistics company; corporate formation; Buy-Sell Agreement
•Represent contractor in negotiating Independent Contractor Agreement
•Assist minority shareholder in Exchange transaction (repositioning/restructuring of parent company in contemplation of sale)
•Represent seller in sale of business (stock; $9M)
November 2018:
•Represent landlord in negotiation of new lease with anchor tenant (government entity tenant)
•Represent seller in sale of business (asset deal; promotional sportswear)
•Represent purchaser in acquisition of competing business (physical therapy)
•Dissolution assignment - wind down business, work with remaining creditors, perform final liquidation
October 2018:
•Opinion letter - Local counsel in construction lending matter
•Represent purchaser in acquisition of large printing business and real estate ($3M)
•Represent purchaser - Commercial real estate; business start-up; Buy Sell Agreement
•Represent borrower in obtaining construction loan for new company headquarters (Flagstar)
September 2018:
•Represent physician in dispute with landlord (downtown Birmingham)
•Advise physician on retirement prospect, and issues in connection with same
•Loan defeasance project (condominiums)
•Corporate start up - Business to solicit, acquire, and deploy investment funds into real estate ventures
August 2018:
•Advise real property “flipper” on general corporate and organizational matters
•Advise city on real estate matters (general development and administrative)
•Work with client on business dispute related to title/deed (post-closing real estate sale)
•Represent seller in sale of office/manufacturing facility in Troy, MI
July 2018:
•Land contract transaction (property in mid-Michigan)
•Represent seller in sale of apartment complex (200+ units)
•Represent new member of LLC in acquiring 20% of custom jersey company
•Represent insurance company owners in retirement of founding partner, and restructuring of remaining ownership
June 2018:
•Represent seller in sale of business (sale of stock; $6M)
•Real estate refinance project (private lender)
•Represent construction general contractor in updating form documents
•Represent condo owner (New York central park) in lease matter
ARTICLES
PUBLICATIONS
Proposed Revisions to Section 67(3) of the Condominium Act
R edevelopment, Reconfiguration, & Re-Sale of Failed Condominium Projects & Subdivisions
REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION
Summer Conference 2010: Urban Farming Roundtable, June, 2010
Co-Chair: Current Issues in Multi-Family Housing Law & Financing, June 3, 2010
Summer Conference 2011: Urban Farming Roundtable, July, 2011
Distinctions
Peer Reviewed
rising star: 2012-2019
top lawyers: 2012-2018
top attorney
Crain’s Leadership Academy, Inaugural Class, 2017
Leadership Detroit, Class XXXVI
Michigan Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Lawyers 2014
News / blog
GMH Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026
Sep 10, 2025 Adam Levitsky, Alexander Lebedinski, Anthony Chubb, Bruce W. Haffey, Courtney Q. Moore, David Occhiuto, Donald K. Warwick, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, Geoffrey S. Wagner, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Katherine Ross, Keela Johnson, Kenneth B. Chapie, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Samantha Faulkner, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton
GMH Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026GMH is proud to announce that numerous attorneys from our Troy office have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America . These honors...
26 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers
Aug 29, 2024 Adam Levitsky, Anthony Chubb, Bruce W. Haffey, Dennis M. Rauss, Donald K. Warwick, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, Geoffrey S. Wagner, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John A. Anderson, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Katherine Ross, Keela Johnson, Kenneth B. Chapie, Lauren Studley, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton
26 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients and Ones to Watch in America August 29, 2024 -- Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of...
21 GMH Attorneys named to 2024 Best Lawyers List
Aug 29, 2023 Adam Levitsky, Bruce W. Haffey, Dennis M. Rauss, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John A. Anderson, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Keela Johnson, Lauren Studley, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton
21 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. lawyers named to 2024 Best Lawyers list. Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named the following lawyers from Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton as The Best Lawyers in...
Paul A. Thursam has been named Equity Partner at Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.
Dec 1, 2019 Firm News, News, Paul A. Thursam
TROY, Mich. - December 1: We are excited to announce that Mr. Paul Thursam has been named Equity Partner at Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. Mr. Thursam’s legal experience is broad and includes all matters of real estate financing and transactions, mergers and...
