Paul D. Bekman enters his fourth decade of practice as one of the most respected trial attorneys in the state of Maryland. He is also the Managing Member of the firm.
Mr. Bekman is a tenacious and successful advocate for his clients’ interests, as demonstrated by the significant number of multi-million dollar awards he has won. The effectiveness of his practice is confirmed year after year by peer professionals. Best Lawyers in America has recognized him as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the country since 1989, and locally, Baltimore Magazine has recognized him similarly on multiple occasions.
Education
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University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, J.D., 1971
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University of Maryland, B.A., 1968
Admissions
- Maryland, 1972
- Supreme Court of the United States, 1976
Affiliations
- Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys, 2005
- President, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2003-2005
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers, 2001
- Senior Counsel, American College of Barristers, 2000
- Past President, Maryland State Bar Association, 1997-1998
- Past President, Baltimore City Bar Foundation, 1994-1995
- Past President, Bar Association of Baltimore City, 1993-1994
- Member, U.S. District Court Advisory Committee for the Reduction of Court Costs and Delays, 1991-1994
- Member, Rules Committee, Admiralty Advisory Committee to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1988
- Past President, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, 1986-1987
- Chairman, Lawyers Assistance Committee of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1983-1989
- Member, United States District Court Advisory Commi9ttee to the Attorney Admission Fund, 1983-present
- Member, Admiralty Advisory Committee to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1983-present
- Past President, Maryland Bar Foundation
- Elected Member, Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, 8th Judicial Circuit, 1983-2014
- Member, Board of Governors, Federal Bar Association, 1979-1988
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Honors
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 1993; Member, Maryland State Committee (1997-2000); Chair, Maryland State Committee (2000 – 2002); Regent (2006 – 2010); Secretary (2011-2012)
- Recognized as top lawyer in the field of medical malpractice, products liability, personal injury litigation, commercial law, maritime law and alternative dispute resolution in Best Lawyers in America, 1989 – present
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Lawyer of the Year in the Baltimore/ Washington, D.C. area in the field of Personal Injury Law (2009)
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Lawyer of the Year in the Baltimore/ Washington, D.C. area in the field of Medical Malpractice Law (2010)
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Lawyer of the Year in the Baltimore/ Washington, D.C. area in the field of Products Liability Law (2011)
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Lawyer of the Year in the Baltimore/ Washington, D.C. area in the field of Products Liability Law (2013)
- Recognized as top lawyer in the field of personal injury litigation in Baltimore Magazine, 1995, 1998 and 2006 (the only years the magazine rated top lawyers)
- Recognized as Maryland Super Lawyer, Maryland Super Lawyer Magazine (2006 – 2010 – 2nd Top Vote Getter) (2011 – 3rd Top Vote Getter) (2012 – Top Vote Getter; 2013 – Number 1 Rated) (2014-2022 Top 100)
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003 (limited to 500 lawyers in the United States)
- Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 1992 – present; Maryland Chapter President, 1997 – 2011
- Chairman, University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors, October 2002 – 2011
- Recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award, University of Maryland School of Law, 2010
- Selected as one of eleven Living Legal Legends by Bar Association of Baltimore City in its inaugural selection, 2011
- American Registry of America’s Most Honored Professionals Limited to Top 1% of Lawyers 2017
- Best Attorneys of America Lifetime Charter Member 2016
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 2017
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement
Related Practices
Certifications
- Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1980; recertified 1990, 1995, 2000
- American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 1992; recertified 2002
- Proctor in Admiralty, Maritime Law Association of the United States (1974 to Present)
Presentations
- Nine Day Intensive Trial Workshop, MICPEL Faculty (1979-2000)
- Director, Maryland Mediation Project (1980-1983)
- Practice in the Federal Courts, MICPEL Faculty (1982-1984)
- Medical Malpractice in Maryland, National Business Institute (1987)
- Handling The Big Case, MICPEL Faculty (1987, 1992)
- Depositions and Discovery, MICPEL Faculty (1985, 1988)
- Medical Malpractice, MICPEL Faculty (1985)
- Personal Injury Litigation Practice in Maryland, National Business Institute (1988)
- Admiralty Law, MICPEL Faculty (1988, 1990)
- For the Plaintiff: Determining and Proving Damages, National Business Institute (1989, 1990)
- Medical Records, MICPEL Faculty (1989, 1993, 1995)
- Trial Advocacy in Maryland, National Business Institute (1990)
- Medical Practice in Maryland, National Business Institute (1990, 1991, 1994, 1997)
- Evidence in Trial Practice in Maryland, National Business Institute (1991, 1993)
- Trying the Automobile Injury Case in Maryland, National Business Institute (1991, 1992, 1993)
- Opening Statements and Closing Arguments, MICPEL Faculty (1993)
- Premises Liability: Preparation and Trial of a Difficult Case in Maryland, National Business Institute (1994)
- Joint Tortfeasor Releases, MICPEL Faculty (1994)
- Paralegals and the Litigation Team in Maryland, National Business Institute (1995)
- Litigation Hot Tips, MICPEL Faculty (1995, 1996)
- Automobile Accidents, MICPEL Faculty (1995, 1998)
- Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Maryland: Strategies in Preparation and Valuation, National Business Institute (1996, 2004, 2007)
- Litigating the Birth Trauma Case in Maryland, National Business Institute (1998)
- Successfully Presenting the Complex Case to a Maryland Jury, National Business Institute (2000)
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law in Maryland, National Business Institute (2002)
- Medical Evidence in Maryland Court: Your Guide to Effective Use, National Business Institute (2004)
- Personal Injury Settlements in Maryland: Practical Methods for Perfecting the Settlement of a Claim, National Business Institute (2004)
- Handling Medical Negligence Cases in Maryland, National Business Institute (2004)
- Winning Your First Civil Trial in Maryland: What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School, National Business Institute (2005)
- How to Successfully Resolve Automobile Injury Cases, National Business Institute (2006
- Obtaining the Best Settlement for Personal Injury Clients in Maryland, National Business Institute (2006)
- Evidence: Strategies for Finding, Preserving and Using Evidence to Support Your Case, National Business Institute (2007)
- Obtaining the Best Settlement for Personal Injury Clients, National Business Institute (2007)
- Plaintiff’s Personal Injury: Practice Tips & Application, National Business Institute (2007, 2008)
- Handling the Auto Injury Claim, National Business Institute (2008)
- Effectively Using Medical Evidence in Court, National Business Institute (2008)
- Medical Malpractice Settlement Strategies, National Business Institute (2009)
- Personal Injury Law 101, National Business Institute (2009, 2013)
- Applying the Rules of Evidence: What Every Attorney Needs to Know, National Business Institute (2012, 2013)
- Negotiating Claims With Insurance Companies, National Business Institute (5/15/14, 12/02/16)
- Damages in Personal Injury, National Business Institute (9/29/14)
- Advanced Trial Tactics, National Business Institute (3/26/15)
- Representing Your Client in Federal Court, National Business Institute (11/20/15)
- Auto Injuries: Advanced Plaintiff Strategies, National Business Institute (3/24/16)
- Negotiating Claims With Insurance Companies, National Business Institute (12/2/16)
- Boating Accidents 101, National Business Institute (8/22/17)
- Judicial Humor – As Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation, National Business Institute (11/17/17)
- Plaintiff’s Personal Injury: Advanced Practice, National Business Institute (11/30/17)
- Civil Trial From Start to Finish, National Business Institute (12/1/17)
- Personal Injury From A to Z, National Business Institute (6/27/18-6/28/18)
- Top Trial Strategies the Pros Use to Win Their Case, National Business Institute (11/13/18)
- Top 30 Trial Mistakes Made by Attorneys, National Business Institute (8/7/20)
