Paul R. Townsend

Mr. Townsend has represented clients in a wide range of federal and state matters, with a particular emphasis on pre-indictment advocacy, grand jury investigations, and white-collar cases involving financial crimes and corporate conduct. He regularly advises clients who have been contacted by law enforcement, received subpoenas, or believe they may be targets of an investigation, helping them navigate high-risk situations before charges are filed.

He also serves as trial counsel in serious criminal cases, including complex conspiracies and violent felony prosecutions, and has experience in high-profile matters of national significance. His practice is defined by a strategic, detail-oriented approach grounded in his background as a prosecutor and his experience handling sophisticated investigations.

Mr. Townsend works closely with each client to develop a tailored defense strategy, with a focus on early intervention, careful risk assessment, and decisive advocacy at every stage of a case.

He earned his juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, where he received the CALI award in Trial Advocacy as well as Privacy in the Workplace Law, and is admitted to practice in all New York and New Jersey State Courts as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York, and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to his zealous advocacy in the courtroom, he has been published several times in the New York Law Journal, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post.  He is the president of the New York Chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms; and is an active member of the Sex Offender Working Group, an advocacy organization dedicated to changing in the way that the court system treats sex offenders through statistical research and analytical reasoning.  Mr. Townsend has also appeared as a recurring expert on various media outlets providing legal commentary relating to nationally televised trials.

Mr. Townsend is also the creator and host of the popular legal podcast, In Summation: The Final Word.  In it, Mr. Townsend examines some of the most famous, infamous – and often misunderstood – court cases to make headlines across America.  In doing so, he provides non-lawyer listeners with an unbiased understanding of the underlying facts as the judge or jury would have heard them at the time. He then explains the role of each party, breaks down the legal arguments presented, and gives “the final word” on who ultimately prevailed, and why.

In Summation: The Final Word can be found wherever you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Listen Notes, and Spotify.