Paul Watler

Trial & Appellate Litigation

Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Paul Watler is widely recognized for his work on First Amendment, media law, commercial litigation and “Bet-the-Company” cases. Paul’s victories in court range from opening up Love Field in Dallas for long-haul airline service to winning two of the most frequently cited Texas Supreme Court opinions on media libel law.

Paul’s long-standing success representing media outlets earned him ranking by Chambers USA for First Amendment Litigation (Nationwide) and as the “Go-To Lawyer” for media litigation in the Lone Star State by Texas Lawyer.

The Texas Lawbook’s “Top Litigation Matters in 2023,” listing the nine most significant litigation matters handled by Texas attorneys in 2023, recognized Paul’s representation of a bank defendant in a multibillion-dollar claim arising from the R. Allen Stanford’s Ponzi scheme.

Paul 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. He argued for a national news media consortium to unseal court records in the Oklahoma City bombing case.

Paul’s trial 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.

Well-known for business litigation, Paul was recognized by Lawdragon in 2022 and 2023 as one of the 500 Leading Litigators in America. Paul has won million dollar-plus jury verdicts at trial of plaintiffs and defendants in commercial cases. He has successfully defended business clients against an assortment of claims such as aiding securities violations, knowing participation in fiduciary breach, 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.

Libel Victory in Texas Supreme Court – The Dallas Morning News was vindicated in the Texas Supreme Court on First Amendment principles against defamation claims arising from a controversial column, “Shrouding suicide leaves its danger unaddressed.” The column disclosed that a paid obituary regarding a popular local high school student omitted that the death was a suicide, not the result of injuries sustained in a car accident.

In the court’s 41-page opinion, Justice Jeff Brown wrote that the column was not actionable because “it is an opinion piece through and through” and was true.

Paul led a Jackson Walker LLP team including Shannon Zmud Teicher that defended the case in the trial court and on appeal. Co-counsel for The News in the Supreme Court were Wallace Jefferson and Rachel Ekery of Alexander, Dubose, Jefferson & Townshend.

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

- 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)