Biography
Paul Bran focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and commercial litigation. He has represented clients as lead counsel in connection with chapter 11 reorganizations and chapter 7 cases for varied individuals and businesses, including cases involving telecommunications; nanotechnology; commercial and residential real estate construction, development, and ownership; metals recycling; labor unions; pharmaceuticals; aeronautics; hotels and hospitality; and stockbroker liquidation. Paul has represented debtors, creditors’ committees, creditors, trustees, creditors’ trusts, financial institutions, labor union pension funds, asset purchasers, and avoidance action defendants in bankruptcy proceedings throughout the United States.
His practice includes out-of-court workouts and restructurings, as well as bankruptcies, state court receiverships, related proceedings, and commercial litigation in various jurisdictions across the United States.
Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Paul has represented a variety of clients, including a major hedge fund in the Refco bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of New York, a multinational telecommunications corporation, and a major secured creditor, in one of the largest thoroughbred horse farm bankruptcies. He has also represented licensors and purchasers in several bankruptcy cases involving the use and sale of patents, copyrights, and related federal and state intellectual property rights, and he has counseled clients in connection with insolvency risks associated with intellectual property licensing and cross-licensing. Additionally, he represented an incubator stage nanotechnology company as debtor in a Chapter 11 reorganization case and related litigation in Maryland.
Commercial Litigation
Paul represents a world-renowned health and wellness resort in connection with several important commercial litigation disputes, and he also provides counsel on other business matters. He has developed a strong background in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia real estate and landlord-tenant law by representing commercial landlords, tenants, management companies, and brokers in dozens of matters.
During law school, Paul interned as a clerk at the U.S. Claims Court (now known as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims) in Washington, D.C.; he clerked for a former Washington, D.C., white collar crime and litigation boutique; and he also clerked at a Miami, Florida, general practice firm.
News & Views
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Ranking
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers in America®
Seth D. Lamden, Barry Abrams, Kevin J. Baum, Matthew A. Homyk, Regina Stango Kelbon, Christopher A. Lewis
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Ranking
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America®
Russell T. Wong, Mark I. Rabinowitz, Kevin J. Bruno, Mark R. Haskell, Scott M. Kaplan, Sarah H. Frazier
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Honor
Blank Rome D.C. Attorneys Recognized in Washingtonian’s Top Lawyers Hall of Fame List
WashingtonianBarry Wm. Levine, Michael I. Sanders, Scott E. Thomas, Paul B. Bran
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Honor
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Best Lawyers in America®
Barry Abrams, John A. Adkins, Natalie Alameddine, Rick Antonoff, Samar Aryani-Sabet, D. Morgan Barry
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Honor
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Best Lawyers in America®
Barry Abrams, Natalie Alameddine, Lawrence J. Beaser, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, Gregory S. Bergman
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Honor
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Best Lawyers in America®
Natalie Alameddine, Gregory S. Bergman, Ann E. Querns, John P. Wixted, Stephen C. Zumbrun, Noe S. Hamra
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Ranking
Chambers USA 2020 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices
Barry Abrams, Kevin J. Baum, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, William R. Bennett III, Daniel R. Blickman
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Ranking
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices
Barry Abrams, Kevin J. Baum, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, William R. Bennett III, Susan L. Bickley
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Ranking
Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices
Barry Abrams, Kevin J. Baum, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, William R. Bennett III, Susan L. Bickley
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Ranking
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices
Barry Abrams, Kevin J. Baum, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, Susan L. Bickley, Daniel R. Blickman
Recognitions
- AV Preeminent®, listed by Martindale-Hubbell®
- 2010–2025, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy in Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
- 2012–2023, Washington, D.C., “Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers
- 2022,“Top Lawyers Hall of Fame,” listed in Washingtonian
- 2006–2020, Bankruptcy/Restructuring Law, listed in Chambers USA
- 2017, “Legal Leaders: DC Metro Area”, listed in The National Law Journal
- 2016, “Top Lawyers,” listed in Northern Virginia Magazine
- 2015, “Top Rated Lawyers,” Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, listed in The Wall Street Journal
- 2011, 2013, and 2015, listed in Washingtonian’s Top Lawyers/Best Legal Minds
Credentials
Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of Columbia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Maryland
- U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court - Maryland
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- Virginia
Education
- University of Maryland, BA
- Georgetown University Law Center, JD