John S. Polzer

Partner

  • John S. Polzer
  • Phone: +1 214 257 7215

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    100 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
    Dallas, TX 75201
    USA
  • Duane Morris LLP
    777 Main Street, Suite 2790
    Fort Worth, TX 76102
    USA

John S. Polzer is co-chair of the Duane Morris Healthcare Litigation division of the Trial Practice Group and a member of the firm's governing Partners Board. Mr. Polzer practices in the area of litigation with a focus on healthcare bankruptcy, commercial litigation, construction, energy litigation and real estate. Mr. Polzer represents clients nationwide and has litigated cases in more than 30 states and has represented numerous clients in asset purchase litigation in Delaware. 

Mr. Polzer is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, where he was articles editor of the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Areas of Practice

  • Business Law
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction
  • Energy Litigation
  • Real Estate

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Texas

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 2005
    - Articles Editor, Houston Business and Tax Law Journal
  • University of Texas at Austin, B.S., 2002

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2021-present
  • Cantey Hanger LLP
    - Partner, 2007-2021
  • Hill Gilstrap
    - Associate, 2005-2007

Professional Activities

  • Texas Christian University, Adjunct Professor
    - Undergraduate (Courts class), 2010-2021
    - Masters Program (Legal Procedure), 2016-2021

  • State Bar of Texas

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in Texas Super Lawyers, 2020 and 2021

  • Listed in Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2011-2015

  • Selected as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Fort Worth Business Press, 2012

Board Memberships

  • Retail Contractors Association
    - Advisory Board

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Junior Achievement

  • Legal Line

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters

Representative Matters

  • Represented a national real estate company in obtaining a trial court victory in its dispute with a national movie theater chain over the right to rent reductions in a long-term lease. The trial court in Fort Worth, Texas, granted client’s motion for summary judgment and granted an affirmative motion for declaratory judgment on client’s contract construction.

Selected Publications

  • Featured in “Q&A with John Polzer of Duane Morris,” The Texas Lawbook, March 22, 2024
  • Co-author, "Navigating the New Texas Business Court," Duane Morris Alert, June 7, 2023

  • Co-author, “The Supreme Court of Texas Affirms the Freedom of Contract”, Texas Lawyer, April 6, 2020

  • Co-author, “Pardon My French, The Application of Force Majeure for General Contractors Dealing with COVID-19,” March 23, 2020

  • “Supreme Court Decision Gives Businesses Increased Protection from Mandatory Disclosure of Confidential Information,” The Fort Worth Business Press, July 2019

  • Co-author, “Limiting Discovery Before Arbitration,” The Dallas Bar Association’s Headnotes, June 24, 2019

  • Author, “Arbitration Carve Out Clauses: Tips and Traps,” Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin, May/June 2019
  • “Forum-Selection Clauses: Tips to Enhance the Chance for Enforcement,” The Fort Worth Business Press, January 2019

  • Co-author, “Oh Snap!” A Loophole Around the Forum-Defendant Rule,” Tarrant County Bar Bulletin, July/August 2018

  • “Mechanic’s Liens: How Far Does the Lien Reach?”, The Fort Worth Business Press, January 26, 2018

  • Co-author, “Prosecuting the Prosecutor: The Makings of the Michael Morton Act. The Social Science Journal Getting ‘Hometowned’: U.S. Supreme Court Enforces Forum Selection Clause,” Fort Worth Business Press, February 7, 2014

  • Co-author, “Discounted Justice: The Potential Misuse of Alford Pleas for Future Exonorees,” The Social Science Journal 50 (2013) 374-380

  • Co-author, “Business Friendly Rules Adopted By Texas Supreme Court”, Fort Worth Business Press, June 2013

  • “Selecting Counsel for Business Litigation,” Fort Worth Business Press, February 23, 2013

  • “Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Joint Defense and Common Interest Privileges,” CityBizList Dallas, August 28, 2012

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Texas Lien Law Update," Construction Financial Management Association July Meeting, July 21, 2022
  • Speaker, "Primary Contractor Liability for Wage Claims," Retail Contractors Association Webinar, May 17, 2022
  • Speaker, "Construction Factoring for the General Contractor," Tarrant County Bar Association, May 19, 2022
  • Speaker, "Construction Factoring for the General Contractor," Retail Contractors Association, Webinar, October 28, 2021
  • Speaker, "What You Say (and Don’t Say) Can and Will Be Held Against You," Retail Contractor's Association, Webinar, May 5, 2021

  • Presenter, “The Real Estate Licensing Act,” presented to Transwestern Real Estate’s Dallas Office, June 2019