THE PAUL FIRM
We understand the law. We also understand people.
The law is an imperfect place to solve human problems. The Paul Firm was built on that belief: good advocacy takes legal skill, investigative rigor, business sense and emotional intelligence working together.
We've spent decades in courtrooms, interview rooms and crisis rooms. We know how to read a case, read a room and read what's really at stake. Whether we're trying a case, leading a sensitive investigation or advising a founder on a hard decision, we tell you the truth about your options, because that's how you make a good choice.
Our Founder
Rena Paul, Esq. is a former federal and state sex crimes prosecutor with two decades of courtroom experience. She has tried dozens of cases to verdict and argued appeals in state and federal court. A nationally recognized voice on sexual misconduct, child safety and trauma-informed justice, Rena has built a career at the intersection of law, psychology and strategy. As a licensed private investigator, Rena has led complex investigations across corporate, government, institutional and educational settings, applying a nuanced understanding of human behavior to uncover truth and resolve sensitive matters.
Known for her sharp analysis and human-centered approach, Rena blends the instincts of a seasoned trial lawyer with the strategic clarity of a crisis advisor. She navigates sensitive, high-stakes litigation, investigation and crisis response with equal parts rigor, empathy and discretion. She has advised national and global organizations, public figures, executives, students, youth-serving and faith-based institutions on #MeToo, power-based misconduct, child safety and reputational matters. Her work across these diverse contexts has shaped a sophisticated understanding of risk, resilience and resolution.
Rena began her career in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, serving in the Sex Crimes Unit, before becoming a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, where she led complex matters involving child exploitation, gang violence and sex trafficking. She was one of the first to champion prosecutor well-being in the criminal justice process. After government service, Rena created one of the first trauma-informed law firms, and maintains a thriving practice representing survivors, executives and organizations at The Paul Firm.
A serial founder and legal entrepreneur, Rena has built multiple successful ventures that reimagine how legal services are delivered. Rena’s leadership and entrepreneurial vision have earned national recognition as a Tory Burch Fellow (2022) and a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellow (2025).
Rena’s perspective, commentary and writing have been featured in Showtime, Law360, Law&Crime Network and The New York Law Journal. She co-authored the nation’s first trauma-informed and prosecutor well-being curriculum for the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution and has trained professionals nationally on trauma-informed lawyering and attorney well-being.
She has taught Trial Advocacy and Learning From Practice, a seminar on lawyering, ethics and well-being, at Brooklyn Law School, led mindfulness and well-being programs for the New York City and State Bar Associations, and emceed the Institute for Well-Being in Law’s inaugural conference. Rena is a founding member of Beyond #MeToo: A Working Group on Corporate Governance, Compliance and Risk and TIX IRL: A Collective of Title IX Experts Living the Regulations.
J.D., cum laude, Brooklyn Law School. B.A., Emory University.
We’re building community.
We host events and conversations for lawyers and leaders on the law, well-being and doing this work well.