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 |
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York has denied the Trump administration's motion to unseal grand jury testimony from the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein. https://t.co/mpqdbut9HH
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 11, 2025
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.
Also Read this:
