Rena Paul specializes in sensitive investigations and cases involving sexual misconduct. She is the co-founder of Alcalaw LLP, a women-founded law firm that takes a humanistic approach to legal services.
With 15 years of private and public sector experience in investigations, litigation and appellate work, Rena’s practice combines a sharp strategic eye with a compassionate and trauma-informed approach.
Rena began her career at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where she was a member of the Sex Crimes Unit and handled misdemeanor and felony cases of all kinds from arraignment to appeal, including domestic violence, financial crimes and homicide.
As a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Rena led complex investigations and handled trials and appeals in cases involving criminal enterprises, gang violence and sex trafficking. She was awarded the Department of Justice Director’s Awards for Superior Performance as an AUSA and Superior Performance by a Litigative Team, as well as the Federal Drug Agents Foundation “True American Hero” Award.
Following her time in government, Rena worked at a New York-based investigations firm conducting investigations involving sexual misconduct and discrimination and as a solo legal practitioner representing clients in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination.
In partnership with the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution, Rena has drafted articles, trainings and workbooks on topics including trauma-informed prosecution, prosecutor well-being and culture change. She served as an expert for Lawyers Without Borders in connection with their human trafficking work in Tanzania. Rena is a founding member of Beyond #MeToo: A Working Group on Corporate Governance, Compliance and Risk.
An advocate for well-being in legal practice, Rena believes that attention to health by law students, lawyers and legal employers is an ethical responsibility. A certified yoga instructor, she leads yoga, meditation and mindfulness programs for lawyers, including at the New York City Bar, where she is a member of the Mindfulness & Well-Being in Law subcommittee.
Rena is an Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn Law School, where she teaches Trial Advocacy and Learning From Practice, a seminar on lawyering, ethics and well-being.
Rena received her JD cum laude from Brooklyn Law School and a BA from Emory University.