Forged in the courtroom and by real-world business operations, Paul has the knowledge and experience to give practical legal advice for the every-day and long-term challenges faced by business owners.
After completing studies in economics and law at the University of Texas in Austin, Paul engaged primarily in a business trial practice from 1977 to 2007, with a brief period in a corporate securities practice.
In 2007, Paul’s career turned toward management consulting, first as Legal Director of a global firm based in the UK, but later whose roles multiplied to include strategic planning and day-to-day operations.
These roles, originally meant to be temporary to meet unforeseen and immediate needs, taught Paul valuable lessons about what business owners want and need from counsel. By 2014, the management consulting firm was growing and the roles other than legal had been assumed by up-and-comers in that firm. Instead of settling into a comfortable day-to-day role only as Legal Director, Paul retained that position and founded this firm to help business owners succeed with legal assistance that often is unaffordable to small and medium size companies.
Paul’s determination to achieve the best result for a client is perhaps best illustrated by an episode while just getting started in management consulting.
The Setting:
In 2007, Paul was working full time at Epeus,
which is now a global advisory firm focused on construction projects for offshore specialty vessels like drilling rigs.
The Provocation:
Epeus’ founder received an ultimatum from shareholders in an affiliated company: WE ARE TAKING OVER ALL YOUR PROJECTS.
The Meaning:
Epeus would be bankrupt.
The Play:
Epeus’ main projects at that point centered on a joint venture in Ghana at the Port of Tema, which required Epeus expertise for success. But who knew whether the clients appreciated that fact?
The only possible solution included a personal visit to the clients in Ghana, as well as Ghanaian authorities who were looking to the joint venture as a possible path to further development of its major port facilities. But who would make that trip.
Paul answered the call of Epeus’ founder to take on this issue. While waiting to board the aircraft bound for Ghana, however, one of the dissident shareholders sent Paul a text: “We are watching you and the authorities will be waiting for you when you land.”
The threat was clear: Paul would be arrested and jailed upon arrival in Ghana. But what was the choice if Epeus were to be saved? Despite the threat, Paul went.
The Upshot:
As it turned out, the threat was a bluff. Working day and night, Paul spent the following three weeks helping to convince the clients to stay with Epeus on the projects in question, as well as helping to soothe the Ghanaian officials that their hopes for development would be realized. The work included drafting new contracts with the clients, meetings with officials, and filing for injunctive relief in Ghana against the dissident group.
Epeus not only survived, but has gone on to become the foremost consulting firm in its niche.
Paul has dealt with matters directly involving — Franzetti Law PLLC, Houston Management Consulting: Epeus Group Business Trials: 1977 – 1986, 1988 – 2007 Corporate Securities: September 1986 – May 1988 The University of Texas School of Law The University of Texas at Austin
and his areas of practice have included —
Experience
September 2014 – Present
March 2007 – Present
London and Houston
Dallas and Houston
Dallas, Texas
Education
JD, Law, High Honors
1974 – 1977
Activities and Societies: Texas Law Review, Chancellors
BA, Economics, High Honors
1970 – 1974