Paul Rietema concentrates in complex civil litigation. He helps clients solve their most difficult and significant contract and other business disputes, including matters involving fiduciary duty and fraud claims. Paul has advised boards and executives of Fortune 500 companies across industries on corporate governance and investigatory matters and has extensive class action and securities experience.
Paul is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation, Class Action, and Investor and Securities Litigation practice groups. Over the past decade, he has led complex litigation to successful outcomes in state and federal courts and a variety of arbitral forums. That experience includes up to nine figure contract, shareholder, and class action matters for corporate clients, as well as several trust disputes for private wealth clients. In his counseling practice, Paul advises boards and executives on corporate governance issues and internal investigations, including in connection with informational or enforcement activities by major US regulatory agencies.
Paul's substantial pro bono practice has included the successful defense of a capital murder prosecution in Georgia, obtaining a multi-million dollar award for a Chicago non-profit, and Section 1983 cases involving excessive force and medical indifference. He is a member of the American Bar Association and has served as subcommittee Co-Chair in the Commercial & Business Litigation section. Paul currently serves on the firm’s Hiring Committee.
He joined the firm after clerking on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for the Hon. E. Grady Jolly and serving as an adjunct professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School in 2009, graduating cum laude and serving as executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Paul Rietema concentrates in complex civil litigation. He helps clients solve their most difficult and significant contract and other business disputes, including matters involving fiduciary duty and fraud claims. Paul has advised boards and executives of Fortune 500 companies across industries on corporate governance and investigatory matters and has extensive class action and securities experience.
Paul is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation, Class Action, and Investor and Securities Litigation practice groups. Over the past decade, he has led complex litigation to successful outcomes in state and federal courts and a variety of arbitral forums. That experience includes up to nine figure contract, shareholder, and class action matters for corporate clients, as well as several trust disputes for private wealth clients. In his counseling practice, Paul advises boards and executives on corporate governance issues and internal investigations, including in connection with informational or enforcement activities by major US regulatory agencies.
Paul's substantial pro bono practice has included the successful defense of a capital murder prosecution in Georgia, obtaining a multi-million dollar award for a Chicago non-profit, and Section 1983 cases involving excessive force and medical indifference. He is a member of the American Bar Association and has served as subcommittee Co-Chair in the Commercial & Business Litigation section. Paul currently serves on the firm’s Hiring Committee.
He joined the firm after clerking on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for the Hon. E. Grady Jolly and serving as an adjunct professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School in 2009, graduating cum laude and serving as executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 2010
- Texas, 2023
Education
- Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude, 2009
- Calvin College, BA, 2006
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2010
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2011
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2018
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2019
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2012
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), 2019
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas, 2024
Clerkships
- Hon. E. Grady Jolly, US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2009-2010
Service / Recognition
Awards
-
The BTI Class Action Leaders, 2026
- Best Lawyers in America, "One to Watch," Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company - Leading Lawyers Network, “Emerging Lawyers," Commercial Litigation – 2017, 2019, 2021
- American Bar Association, 2016 Exceptional Service Award
- Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, 2014 Corporate Partner Award
Community
- Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Investor Board, 2023-present
- Chicago Children's Museum, Member, Auxiliary Board, 2020-present
- Center for Conflict Resolution, Member, Auxiliary Board, 2014
- Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Lawyers in the Classroom, Instructor, 2014, 2015, 2017-2019
Service to the Bar
- American Bar Association; CBL Subcommittee Co-Chair, 2013-2014; Member
- Chicago Bar Association, Member