Paul J Hammer

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Biography

Paul Hammer draws upon experience in a broad range of adversarial and transactional matters to deliver value to firm clients. With a foundation stemming from judicial clerkships at the U.S. district court and bankruptcy court levels, Paul has established himself as a leading strategist and advocate that clients count on for effective counsel. As a business honors graduate, he understands how legal spend affects bottom lines and formulates action plans to efficiently resolve client issues.

Paul has represented small and middle-market businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and high net worth individuals in the financial, construction, energy, retail, and real estate sectors. He takes pride in collaborating with clients and teams to solve problems and avoid or mitigate risk.

Prior to joining Germer, Paul, who is fluent in Spanish, lived and practiced in Puerto Rico for a decade; during that time, he led the federal litigation and bankruptcy sections of one of the Island’s top firms and spearheaded complex representations related to the landmark PROMESA proceedings, which involved the largest public debt restructuring in U.S. history. He also acted as outside general counsel to Fortune 500 oil & gas and real estate companies. As part of his duties, in addition to advisory and transactional work, he handled a diverse litigation docket. Since relocating to Houston in 2019, he has continued his thriving practice, including tenure as a partner at an elite, Texas-based national firm.

Paul gives back to his community through various philanthropic and charitable endeavors and is a staple in local Bar organizations.Outside of his practice, Paul enjoys travelling the world and spending time with his wife, Yari, and their daughters.

Recognitions And Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2017-18

• Top Lawyer by Houstonia Magazine, 2019

• Top 40 Under 40 by Caribbean Business, 2016

• Top 40 Under 40 Finalist by American Bankruptcy Institute, 2019

• Presiding Judge, Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition, 2015-18

• National Institute for Trial Advocacy Skills Program Graduate, 2019

Published Articles/Presentations

• Author, “Guidelines For Distressed Asset Purchases”, The Primerus Paradigm, Fall 2016

• Author, “Decoding The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA)”, Lexology Archives, March 2019

• Author, “Don’t’ Be Late - Filing Proofs of Claims”, Lexology Archives, April 2019

• Author, “Bondholders Beware? First Circuit Ruling’s Potential Adverse Impact on Puerto Rico’s Long Term Restructuring Prospects”, Lexology Archives, May 2019

• Author, “To Arbitrate or Not Arbitrate, That is The Question: Enforcing Arbitration Clauses in Bankruptcy”, Lexology Archives, June 2019

• Author, “Litigation in the Bankruptcy Venue: Similarities With General Federal Practice Regarding Privilege and Expert Discovery”, ABI Journal, July 2019

• Author, “Pleading Fraudulent Transfers in the Wake of the U.S. Fifth Circuit’s Ruling in Life Partners Holding, Inc. v. Cowley”, Lexology Archives, August 2019

• Contributor, “The Katrina Fund: Repairing Breaches in Gulf Coast Insurance Levees”, 43 Harvard Journal on Legislation 329 (2006)

• Contributor, “Unconscious Classism: Entity Equality for Sole Proprietorships”, 11 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law 2 (2009)

• Featured, “Attorney Spotlight”, Finance Monthly, March 2016

• Lecturer, “Introduction to Litigation”, University of Puerto Rico School of Law, 2016-18

• Panelist, The Ethical Obligations of U.S. District Court Litigators (CLE Seminar), JLMA Learning Center, September 2011

• Panelist, The Rights and Obligations of a Creditor/Landlord in Bankruptcy (Webinar), National Association of Credit Management, September 2019

• Panelist, CFPB Mortgage-Servicing Regulations and Their Effects on Bankruptcy: An Update (Webinar), American Bankruptcy Institute, October 2021

• Panelist, Chapter 11 First-Day Motions (Webinar), Strafford, May 2023

• Quoted, “5 Myths in Bankruptcy Practice Debunked”, Law360, May 2024

• Quoted, “Inflation, Election Anxiety Drove Bankruptcy Hike, Experts Say”, Law360, November 2024

See more ›

Areas of Practice (6)

  • Business Organizations and Transactions
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Creditors Rights / Bankruptcy
  • Financial Institutions
  • Real Estate

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
University of Louisiana - Lafayette, Bachelor of Science, Management/Accounting Minor, Magna cum laude, 2002; Full Academic Merit Scholarship; Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society
Law School Attended:
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Juris Doctor, Cum laude, 2006
Year of First Admission:
2006
Admission:
2006, Louisiana; 2010, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 2014, Texas; Texas State Courts; United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; Louisiana State Courts; United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; United States District Court for the District of Colorado; United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Memberships:

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, Beta Gamma Sigma Global Leadership Summit

• Member, Dress for Success Houston

• Member, Turnaround Management Association, Houston Chapter

• Past Board Member, American Bankruptcy Institute’s Regulatory & Commercial Law Committee

• Past Donor/Fundraiser, San Jorge Children’s Foundation

• Past Member, Moller-Foltz American Inns of Court

• Past Pro Bono Attorney, Loyola Gillis Long Poverty Law Center

• Past Volunteer, Special Olympics

• Past Volunteer, Houston Habitat for Humanity

• Student Mentor, Loyola University Alumni Association

• Volunteer, Houston Bar Association, “Consejos Legales” Program

Languages:
Spanish(Full Fluency)
Birth Information:
Baton Rouge, LA
Reported Cases:
Representative Experience:Business Organizations & Transactions; Provided outside general counsel services to a Fortune 500 oil & gas company. Involved in review, negotiation and drafting of dozens of general business transactions, such as lease agreements, franchise agreements, purchase and sale agreements, NDAs, equipment loans, service contracts, and master service agreements.; Provided outside general counsel services to a Fortune 500 real estate company. Involved in commercial lease drafting, review, negotiation and other related due diligence over portfolio of assets.; Provided outside general counsel services to a big-box retailer. Involved in overseeing diverse docket of litigation matters including general strategic oversight, insurance coverage analysis, coordination with trial counsel, and managing budgets.; Commercial Litigation; Counsel to Fortune 500 oil and gas company in prosecuting Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) trademark violations committed by gas station retailer; after injunctive evidentiary hearing was held, substantial damages for lost income, equipment damages, and attorney's fees and costs were awarded.; Defended Fortune 500 oil and gas company in contractual breach litigation involving numerous leases and supply agreements; after trial was held, only 10% of originally requested seven figure sums in damages were awarded.; Defended CEO of a leading Texas energy retailer from fraud claims asserted by a Bankruptcy Trustee; after strategic motion practice and discovery, pre-trial settlement reached at fraction of multi-million-dollar-exposure.; Construction Law; Represented subcontractor in collecting millions of funds interplead in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas under the Texas Trust Fund Act.; Represented large Texas building supplier in enforcing liens across dozens of projects throughout the state.; Represented project owner in enforcing arbitration clause against general contractor for contractual breach; favorable settlement reached after first day of arbitration.; Creditors Rights/Bankruptcy; Represented warehouse landlord in connection with removal and disposal of thousands of tons of toxic hand-sanitizer located in Mexico as part of major bankruptcy filing in the Southern District of Texas; after contested proceedings, ensured landlord was paid seven-figure sum of back rent and other contractual breach damages amounts due in full as administrative claimant.; Represented the Special Claims Committee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as part of the PROMESA proceedings, which entailed the prosecution of billions in preference claims.; Represented the ad hoc committee of equity stockholders in the multi-billion-dollar Chapter 11 filing of a publicly traded international movie theater chain.; Financial Institutions; Represented a national mortgage lender in achieving dismissal of commercial debtor's bankruptcy filing under bad faith theory; this allowed lender to pursue more favorable foreclosure remedies against multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio.; Represented an investment bank in removing a bankrupt debtor-in-possession and orderly administrating and liquidating valuable estate assets, including multi-million-dollar insurance clientele book of business.; Represented a national equipment lender in lifting of the Automatic Stay and disposition of multi-million-dollar collateral in numerous matters.; Real Estate; Represented plaintiffs in complex Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) claim brought against brokers involving large sections of commercial real estate; substantial seven figure settlement reached at mediation.; Defended real estate investor in complex contract breach claim involving a multi-million-dollar hotel sale; matter settled at mediation at fraction of total exposure.; Represented investor in its purchase of a historic, multi-million-dollar golf course free and clear of liens through the Chapter 11 reorganization process. Involved in all aspects of valuation, court advocacy, financing negotiations, and general due diligence.
ISLN:
1001762052

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