Paul M. "Tad" O'Connor III

Paul M. “Tad” O’Connor, Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Litigation practice, is a distinguished trial and appellate litigator focusing on complex commercial cases.  He is regularly cited for his legal knowledge by publications including The Wall Street Journal, The American Lawyer and Law360.  Tad’s clients have included, among others, private equity powerhouse TPG, Fortress Investment Group, a lender in a dispute relating to Liverpool Football Club, and many major international real estate and hospitality companies including Related, JDS Development, L and L Holdings, Maximus, InterContinental Hotels Group, Crowne Plaza, Morgans, sbe, Hilton and Aman Resorts.

Tad represents private equity firms, financial institutions, real estate developers and owners, hotel operators, major corporations and wealthy individuals in federal and state courts around the country and before arbitration tribunals in the United States and Europe. 

Tad also has significant experience handling real estate disputes related to commercial and hotel properties around the country, including the representation of hotel operators in disputes with owners.  His successful work in this area has been instrumental in the firm’s Real Estate Litigation Practice Group being recognized as Band 1 by Chambers USA, and Tier 1 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers

In addition, Tad has been recognized as a Band 1 practitioner by Chambers USA, where clients describe him as “extremely smart, sagely experienced, very thorough and a pleasure to work with.”  He has been named a Real Estate Trailblazer by the National Law Journal.  The Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers also recognize him as one of the top litigators in the United States.  

As a result of his work, Tad has been appointed by courts to serve as a bankruptcy trustee and as a director of a facility administering large product liability settlements.