Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer.
Southern District of New York.
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007. A reference guide for civil litigators, and pro hac vice local counsel for attorneys admitted out of state.
Pro Hac Vice Local CounselHon. Paul A. Engelmayer
United States District Judge, Southern District of New York.
Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007
Quick Reference
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY) |
| Courthouse | Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007 |
| Role | United States District Judge, Southern District of New York |
| Appointed | 2011, by President Barack Obama |
| Confirmed by the U.S. Senate | July 26, 2011 |
| Law School | Harvard Law School (1987) |
| Undergraduate | Harvard College (1983) |
| Individual Practices | Chambers page and Individual Rules of Practice (SDNY judges directory) |
About Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer
Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer has served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York since 2011. Engelmayer was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 26, 2011, receiving his commission on July 27, 2011.
Engelmayer earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1987, after a B.A. from Harvard College in 1983. Before joining the federal bench, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney.
Biographical details above are drawn from the Federal Judicial Center and are provided for reference. For Engelmayer's current Individual Rules of Practice and chambers information, consult the official SDNY judges directory.
The Civil Docket Before Judge Engelmayer
Like every district judge in the Southern District of New York, Judge Engelmayer presides over a mixed federal docket. For civil litigators, that docket is the heart of the matter: breach of contract and commercial disputes, securities and shareholder litigation, business torts, employment and civil-rights claims, and the full range of federal civil matters that come through the district. (Federal district judges also carry criminal cases as part of the same mixed docket; those are outside the scope of this guide, which is written for civil practitioners.)
Each judge in the SDNY sets individual rules of practice governing motions, pre-motion letters, discovery disputes, and courtroom conduct. Before appearing before Judge Engelmayer, confirm the current individual practices and the assigned courtroom. A civil appearance in a federal part should assume strict adherence to those rules, not a routine calendar call.
A Signature Civil Matter Before Judge Engelmayer
Judge Engelmayer presides over a broad civil docket spanning commercial, securities, and products-liability litigation. In the Mirena products-liability multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of New York, he granted summary judgment to the manufacturer in 2019, holding that the plaintiffs had not offered admissible expert evidence sufficient to establish general causation. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit later affirmed.
The decision reflects the rigorous evidentiary analysis characteristic of this part. For counsel, the practical takeaway is preparation on the merits and strict adherence to the judge's individual rules.
Case description above is drawn from published court decisions and is provided for general reference only. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Practitioner Notes
General reference for counsel. Always confirm against Judge Engelmayer's current Individual Rules of Practice before appearing.
What to Expect
- Read the individual practices first. SDNY judges each publish their own rules governing motions, pre-motion letters, discovery disputes, and courtroom procedure. They are posted through the official SDNY judges directory. Do not rely on the general local rules alone.
- Electronic filing is mandatory. All federal civil filings run through the court's CM/ECF system. Out-of-state counsel not yet admitted here cannot file until admission or pro hac vice status is in place.
- Confirm the courtroom and conference type. Verify the assigned courtroom and whether the appearance is an initial conference, a status conference, or oral argument before you plan coverage.
- Come prepared on the merits. Federal civil conferences and arguments are substantive. A covering attorney should know the record, not just the calendar posture.
Out-of-State Attorney with a Matter Before Judge Engelmayer?
If you are admitted in another state and have a civil case in the Southern District of New York, you will generally need to be admitted pro hac vice and to associate local counsel who is a member of the bar of this court. The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson serves as pro hac vice sponsoring and local counsel for out-of-state attorneys in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Fred Abramson has been admitted to the SDNY and EDNY since 1997 and has practiced in New York's courts for 28 years.
Phone: 212-233-0666 | Text/Emergency: 917-686-3827 | Email: fabramson@abramsonlegal.com
Pro Hac Vice Local Counsel in the Southern District of New York
The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson serves as local counsel for out-of-state attorneys admitted pro hac vice in New York's state and federal courts. 28 years in these courthouses. Admitted to SDNY and EDNY since 1997.
Pro Hac Vice Overview · How Long Does PHV Take? · PHV by Order to Show Cause
Browse the full Southern District of New York judges directory and the Eastern District of New York judges directory, or return to our civil litigation overview.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is an independent reference guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or the judge named. The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson, 160 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10038. 212-233-0666.
Court rules and procedures change frequently. Information on this page is for general reference only and may not reflect the most current rules. Verify all information against the judge's Individual Rules of Practice and with the Clerk of Court before your appearance.