Hammer Paul

Senior Trial Counsel


Phone: 713.650.1313

Location: Houston Office

Overview

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.

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Education

  • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
    • Juris Doctor – 2006
    • Cum laude
    • Full Academic Merit Scholarship
  • University of Louisiana – Lafayette
    • Bachelor of Science – Management/Accounting Minor – 2002
    • Magna cum laude
    • Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society

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

Representative Experience

  • Outside general counsel services including commercial transactions and related due diligence, contract negotiation, drafting, and review, and day-to-day advisory geared towards risk avoidance/mitigation and strategic growth.
  • Representation of Bankruptcy Trustees, Bankruptcy Trusts, and Official Creditor Committees in pursuit of estate assets including, but not limited to, fraudulent transfers and preference payments.
  • Representation of parties in Bankruptcy Adversary Proceedings, including avoidable transfer and Automatic Stay litigation.
  • Representation of executory contract parties and leaseholders in disputes related to administrative status, critical vendor status, adequate protection payments, and Plan Confirmation.
  • Representation of equipment lenders, banks, credit unions, and financial institutions in a wide range of collections, foreclosures, sequestrations, restructurings, and workouts both in and outside of bankruptcy.
  • Representation of sellers and purchasers of distressed assets both in and outside of bankruptcy.
  • Representation of general contractors, sub-contractors, project owners, suppliers, and vendors in the residential, commercial, and industrial spaces in matters related to payment disputes, lien and bond disputes, contractual breaches, interplead funds, change order disputes, improper workmanship, fraud, tortious interference, defective construction, defective installation, property damage, and personal injury.
  • Representation of corporate directors and officers in disputes related to fiduciary breaches, negligence, and/or fraud.
  • Representation of business owners and commercial entities in disputes related to fraud, tortious interference, and/or contractual breaches.
  • Representation of commercial landlords and tenants in disputes related to collections, evictions, tortious interference, and/or contractual breaches.

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

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Louisiana – 2006
  • Commonwealth of Puerto Rico – 2010
  • State Bar of Texas – 2014
  • Admitted to practice in the following courts:
    • 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

Contact the Attorneys at Germer PLLC for a consultation today. We provide services for clients in Beaumont, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler and surrounding areas.

Beaumont:

GERMER PLLC
550 Fannin, Suite 400
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Ph: 409.654.6700
Fax: 409.835.2115
Map & Directions

Austin:

GERMER BEAMAN & BROWN PLLC
Barton Oaks Plaza V
901 S. Mopac Expy., Suite 300
Austin, TX 78746
Ph: 512.472.0288
Fax: 512.472.0721
Map & Directions

Houston:

GERMER PLLC
America Tower, 2929 Allen Parkway,
Suite 2900, Houston, TX 77019
Ph: 713.650.1313
Fax: 713.739.7420
Map & Directions

San Antonio:

GERMER PLLC
1826 North Loop 1604 West, Suite 300
San Antonio, Texas 78248
Ph: 210.640.1650
Fax: 512.472.0721
Map & Directions

Tyler:

GERMER PLLC
102 N College Ave, Suite 709
Tyler, TX 75702
Ph: 713.650.1313
Fax: 713.739.7420
Map & Directions