People

Paul O’Reilly has been a trusted advisor to his clients for more than 30 years. He represents clients from small startups to large publicly traded companies, bringing a wealth of business and practical experience to many facets of the law. Paul’s business clients frequently call upon him to handle their personal and financial matters, confident that he will provide solid counsel and assistance throughout any legal or financial issue they have. Recognizing that cost is always a factor in making legal decisions, Paul encourages his clients to engage in a collaborative working relationship, which helps him better understand their process and goals and minimize costs. A satisfied client shared, “I especially appreciate the reassuring way you handle things along an at-times uncertain path!”

From business formations, mergers, acquisitions, finance, commercial real estate matters, contracts, estate planning or the day-to-day operations of a business, Paul treats each client with the same thoughtfulness and pragmatism. His background and experience in litigation, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and as a civil litigator in the private sector, as well as his extensive transactional law experience, allow Paul to be equally comfortable in the boardroom or the courtroom. It is Paul’s perspective of what could potentially happen in litigation that shapes his strategies to help clients avoid costly mistakes in their business transactions.

Paul used his significant experience in SBA lending to help clients navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic and its negative financial effects on their businesses. He has been a featured panelist on several webinars focused on crisis mitigation through the use of SBA loan opportunities, and he was quoted extensively in several national business journals, including the Washington Business Journal, regarding the current impact of the SBA pandemic loan programs on small businesses.

Approximately 30 Broadway production houses and live venue operators selected Paul to assist them in their grant applications under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program.  Paul was successful in helping his clients obtain nearly $270M in grants.  What he valued most, however, was the fact that through his efforts, he was able to help thousands of people get back to work.

Paul has acted as outside general counsel for many of his clients.  When he sees an issue his client must resolve, he will look to see who will be the best person to assist.  If it is not someone in the law firm, he connects his client with outside expertise. If Paul knows of a person who can expand his client’s business, he will discuss it and connect them when the time is right. A client recently commented, “Thank you and the rest of the Shulman Rogers team that helped us. The peace of mind was well worth it.”

Many of Paul’s clients seek his advice and counsel in international matters, and he has negotiated transactions in Australia, Korea, China, India, the Middle East, Liberia, Benin, Turkey and throughout Europe. He guides his clients’ transactions and oversees local counsel to ensure matters are handled most cost-effectively and thoroughly.