Paul A. Engelmayer – Biography, Age, Family, Career, Net Worth & More

Paul A. Engelmayer is a well-known American lawyer and judge. Since 2011, he has been serving as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and has worked on many important cases involving free speech, copyright, and corporate disputes.

Born in 1961 in New York City, Judge Engelmayer is 64 years old in 2025. He is married to Emily Mandelstam and has two children. The family lives in Manhattan, New York. His estimated net worth is $2–$5 million, which comes from his long legal career, judicial salary, and investments.

Paul A. Engelmayer Wiki / Bio

Field Details
Full Name Paul Adam Engelmayer
Date of Birth 1961
Age (2025) 64 years
Profession Lawyer, Federal Judge
Hometown New York City, New York, USA
Current Residence Manhattan, New York, USA
Nationality American
Spouse Emily Mandelstam
Children Two
Net Worth (2025) $2–$5 million

Early Life and Education

Paul A. Engelmayer grew up in New York City, surrounded by a culture that valued education and civic responsibility. This environment inspired him to study law and serve the public.
He has mentioned that growing up in New York showed him “the law’s power to protect.”

  • Undergraduate: Harvard College – B.A. in Government (1983, summa cum laude)
  • Law School: Harvard Law School – J.D. (1987, magna cum laude), Treasurer of Harvard Law Review

His time at Harvard gave him the skills to handle complex legal challenges.
Before starting his legal career, he briefly worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, which sharpened his research and analytical skills.

Family

  • Wife: Emily Mandelstam
  • Children: Two

The family prefers to stay out of the public spotlight and lives in Manhattan.

Career Journey

Judge Engelmayer’s career is a mix of journalism, high-level legal work, and federal judging.

Career Timeline

Year Role / Achievement
1983–1984 Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
1987–1988 Law Clerk for Judge Patricia Wald
1988–1989 Law Clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, U.S. Supreme Court
1989–1994 Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York
1994 Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney
1994–1996 Assistant to Solicitor General Drew S. Days III (argued 4 Supreme Court cases)
1996–2000 Chief of Major Crimes Unit – prosecuted major fraud and extortion cases
2000–2011 Partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr – led New York office
2011–Present U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York

Notable Cases

Judge Engelmayer has been involved in several high-profile cases, including:

  • Beastie Boys v. Monster Energy (2014) – $1.7 million copyright verdict
  • Amarin Pharma v. FDA (2015) – First Amendment win for pharmaceutical marketing
  • Airbnb v. City of New York (2019) – Ruled against a city ordinance requiring data sharing
  • Li v. Spirit AeroSystems (2025) – Employment-related federal case

Net Worth

  • Estimated Net Worth (2025): $2–$5 million
  • Sources of Income:
    • Judicial salary (about $232,600/year)
    • Previous law firm earnings ($500k–$1 million/year)
    • Investments

Controversies

  • NYC Subway Ad Case (2012) – Allowed a controversial political ad, sparking debate on free speech vs. hate speech
  • Mirena Litigation (2019) – Dismissed over 900 claims against Bayer AG for lack of medical proof, drawing criticism from some advocates

Legacy and Impact

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer is respected for his thorough legal reasoning, ability to handle complex cases, and balanced approach to the law. He continues to influence legal discussions through both his rulings and his lectures at law schools.

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