About the Principals:
Paul T. DeVlieger, Shareholder.
Mr. DeVlieger is a founding partner in the firm of DeVlieger Hilser, P.C. Mr. DeVlieger
is a litigator who for over the past 30 years has primarily focused his practice in the areas of
insurance defense, surety and fidelity and construction litigation. Mr. DeVlieger received his
undergraduate degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D.
from The Widener University School of Law and is also a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory
School. In addition to being admitted to practice before the state bars in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, Mr. DeVlieger is also admitted and practices before the United States District Court for
the District of Puerto Rico, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Middle
District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Western
District of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, Bankruptcy Court for the District of New
Jersey, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the Third Circuit and
the United States Court of Federal Claims. Mr. DeVlieger has also represented clients in
litigation pending before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, London Court of
International Arbitration, American Arbitration Association Construction Forum and many
private forum Arbitrations and Mediations. Mr. DeVlieger has been admitted on many occasions
as pro hac vice counsel to represent clients in jurisdictions around the country and in the
Carribean.
Over the years, Mr. DeVlieger has been asked to lecture extensively on numerous topics
including the following: "Subcontactor Nuts and Bolts: The Essential and Practical Details and
Controlling Law for the Surety and Construction Practitioner - Concete (Foundations and
Concrete Structure) ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Committee 2016 Midwinter Meeting - The
Waldorf -Astoria Hotel, New York, New York, 2016; “Developments in Bond Law in
Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico”, Chicago Surety Claims Association, Chicago, Illinois, February
2006; “Risk Allocation and Dispute Minimization on Complex Construction Projects in
Pennsylvania”, Lorman Seminar, Pennsylvania, November 2002; “Preparing Contractors for
Bonding”, University of the Virgin Island, St. Croix, VI, 1997; “Contracts, Specifications and the
Governing Law and How it Affects Bonding”, University of Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, VI,
1997; “Bad Faith and the Surety: 50 State Update and Analysis”, Pennsylvania, California,
Connecticut, 1995, 1996; “Engineering and the Law: How It Can Affect You”, The Society of
Hispanic Engineers, Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York, New York, 1994.
Mr. DeVlieger is an active member in the American Bar Association Section of Tort and
Insurance Practices, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, American Bar Association Construction
Law Section, National Bond Claims Association, The Surety Claims Institute, Chicago Surety
Claims Association, DRI, Philadelphia Surety Claims Association and Atlanta Surety Claims
Association.
John E. Hilser, Shareholder.
Mr. Hilser is a founding member of the firm of DeVlieger Hilser, P.C. Mr. Hilser
received a B.A. in Business Administration from Temple University in1991 where he majored in
finance. He received his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law in 1996. He
received an Estate Planning Certification from Temple University Beasley School of Law in
2010. He is admitted to the following jurisdictions: Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Florida;
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania,
Western District of Pennsylvania, Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the
District of New Jersey, Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey; United States District
Court for the for the Middle District of Florida; United States Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Mr. Hilser is a litigator who, for over 25 years, has concentrated his practice in the areas
of surety and fidelity, construction litigation and insurance defense. Mr. Hilser has represented
sureties, insurance companies and corporations in arbitrations, lawsuits and appeals regionally,
nationally and abroad. Mr. Hilser has authored various articles on legal issues impacting the
surety and construction industry including “Bond Claims and the Prompt Payment Act in
Pennsylvania” featured in Contractor’s Update, a publication of Travelers Bond, May 2000. Mr.
Hilser authored the chapters: New Jersey; Florida; and Puerto Rico of “Contractor’s State
License Bonds Desk Reference,” published by the Fidelity and Surety Law Committee of the
American Bar Association, January, 2006.
Mr. Hilser is a member of The American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance
Practices Section, Forum on the Construction Industry, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee,
Philadelphia Surety Claims Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, The Florida Bar
Association.