Brief info

Paula A. Martinez is a bankruptcy attorney who focuses her practice on complex business bankruptcy matters. She has extensive experience representing creditors, debtors, and Chapter 7 trustees, involving both consumer and business bankruptcy cases. She works closely with businesses, fiduciaries, and other professionals to address financial distress, administer bankruptcy estates, and resolve issues arising at all stages of a case. Paula is particularly drawn to the financial and operational components of bankruptcy. Her strong interest and understanding of financial principles enable her to analyze balance sheets, oversee asset disposition, and develop practical strategies in complex and multifaceted matters.

Paula joined Agentis in 2024, collaborating closely with the firm’s partners on bankruptcy administration and related litigation. She regularly serves as counsel to court-appointed trustees, assisting with asset recovery, liquidation, and voidable transaction litigation to maximize creditor distributions. Involved in the bankruptcy community of South Florida, Paula currently holds a leadership position in the local Bankruptcy Bar Association and has presented on bankruptcy and financial literacy topics, both in English and Spanish. Outside of her practice, Paula enjoys reading, traveling, and staying active.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Represented institutional creditors in multi-county collection actions in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
• Negotiated settlements on behalf of Chapter 7 Trustees involving debtors with over-exempt property.
• Represented Chapter 7 Trustees in adversary actions, such as objections to dischargeability and avoidance actions based on fraudulent and preference claims. Successfully objected to debtor’s homestead exemption claim, resulting in increased creditor distributions.
• Obtained a favorable ruling from the Fourth District Court of Appeal of Florida in a breach-of-contract case representing a South Florida-based construction company.
• Represented court-appointed receiver in federal and state courts.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• Super Lawyers 2024-2025 Florida Rising Star
• CALI Award – Advanced Legal Writing
• Pro Bono Award – University of Kentucky College of Law

 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida and the University of Miami for Ethics and Public Service Joint Program: Ethics and Public Service Brown Bag/CLE Presentation: April 30, 2025
• University of Miami School of Law: Bankruptcy Skills Workshop: Chapter 7 Best Practices – June 14, 2024

 PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Director At Large (2024-2027)

EDUCATION

• J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law
• B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, University of Florida
• B.A. in Criminology and Law, cum laude, University of Florida

ADMITTED TO

• Florida Bar

PRIOR AFFILIATIONS

• Judicial Extern, Chief Judge Tracey N. Wise, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
• Judicial Intern, 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida, West Palm Beach, FL