Paul Ort

Paul Keller Ort

Associate He / Him / His
Philadelphia

Paul Keller Ort is a Pennsylvania litigator with experience ranging from trials to appeals. He works creatively for clients—whether plaintiffs or defendants—including global companies, banks, local government, landlords/tenants, and landowners, both large and small. His practice includes real estate litigation (including ejectment, foreclosure, adverse possession, quiet title, and eminent domain), commercial and residential leases, commercial loans and creditor’s rights (including enforcement of judgments), contract interpretation, election law, and appellate litigation.

While a law student, Paul served at the Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic and at the East Bay Community Law Center, where he defended low-income Bay Area tenants against eviction. Paul has put out fires outside the courtroom as well. He was a Wildland Firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service for seven fire seasons, earning the title of Incident Commander and serving on a helicopter rappelling team. He helped suppress more than 60 wildfires in nine Western U.S. states. 

Experience 

Representative Matters

  • Represented a third-party intervenor in overturning a Philadelphia real estate tax sale under the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act.
  • Obtained and enforced (through contempt proceedings) a preliminary injunction in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas requiring specific performance of a lease.
  • Represented a commercial landlord through bench trial in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, including motions in limine, voir dire, cross-examination of the defendant’s expert, and post-trial motions.

Professional Highlights

Pro Bono Experience

Paul represents low-income tenants in the greater Philadelphia area, including in eviction defense, self-help eviction/constructive eviction, and habitability issues. 

Judicial Externship

Hon. James Donato, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2016

Credentials 

Education

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (J.D. 2018)
Order of the Coif

Pomona College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2009)
Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit