Paul Watler

Practice Areas

Trial & Appellate Litigation

Career

Paul Watler is a board-certified civil trial lawyer who is widely recognized for First Amendment, media law, “Bet-the-Company” cases, and commercial litigation. He has successfully represented numerous newspapers, television stations, media companies, websites, and journalists in libel, anti-SLAPP (Texas Citizens Participation Act), public information, invasion of privacy, copyright, news gathering, and commercial lawsuits.

Paul’s court experience covers a wide range of complex cases including libel, employment, aviation, healthcare, securities, banking, media, intellectual property, antitrust, oil and gas, and real estate. He has successfully defended business clients against an assortment of claims such as tortious interference, intentional infliction of emotional distress, Lanham Act claims, unfair competition, false advertising, copyright and trademark infringement, securities fraud, employment discrimination, and wrongful termination.

His practice as a media lawyer and defender of the First Amendment has been portrayed in works of non-fiction and as the basis of characters in the following books:

- 'Fresh Ink' by David Gelsanliter

- 'Others Unknown: Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing Conspiracy' by Stephen Jones

- 'Doin’ Dirty' by Howard Swindle

- 'Not Guilty: A Jack Crocker & Jimmy McGuire Mystery' by Ralph Langer

Paul is licensed to practice law in Texas and has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, and Tenth Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.

Professional Memberships

Paul C. and Julia A. Watler Endowed Scholarship for Investigative Journalism

Special Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee

The University of Texas at Austin – Moody College of Communication, Advisory Council

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, Director and Past President

North Texas Public Broadcasting (KERA), Former Board Member

Publications

- Co-Author, Texas Association of Broadcasters Newsroom Legal Guide (2012; Updated 2022)

- Media Interview, “What are parents’ rights to school video of an incident with their child?” CBS Texas (April 2023)

- Media Interview, “Contempt of Court Hearing Scheduled for Fort Worth Mayor, Councilman Tied to Dean Trial,” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (January 2023)

- Podcast Guest, “Election Ads 101: Five Facts About the First Amendment and Political Advertising,” Jackson Walker Fast Takes Podcast (Oct. 18, 2022)

- Author, “Candidate’s Guide to Election Free Speech, Campaign Ads, and Social Media,” Jackson Walker Insights (Oct. 4, 2022)

- Media Interview, “How We Fight Back When Officials Resist Releasing Information You Have a Right to Know,” ProPublica (June 2022)

- Co-Author, “Texas Federal District Judge: Use of Drones for Newsgathering Protected by First Amendment,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 1, 2022)

- Author, “Student Podcast Captivates While Rehashing Aftermath of Austin Serial Bombings,” Jackson Walker Insights (Feb. 7, 2022)

- Podcast Guest, “Bonus: The bomber’s confession tape | Austin Bomber by Darkness,” The Drag Audio Production House by The University of Texas Moody College of Communication (December 2021)

- Author, “Dallas Media Shines in Coverage of Amber Guyger Murder Trial,” Jackson Walker Insights (Oct. 16, 2019)

- Author, “Aligning Open Government Ideals With Law Enforcement Provisions,” Jackson Walker Insights (Oct. 30, 2018)

- Author, “Keep the public informed by releasing the video in Austin bombing case,” Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Blog (April 3, 2018)

Education