Atty. Paul R. Townsend

Atty. Paul R. Townsend

Paul Townsend joined Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates in May 2019 and is senior counsel to the firm.

New York New York 14 yrs experience 14 year
Call (332) 777-0261 Email Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Paul R. Townsend at a glance

Paul R. Townsend is a Senior Counsel based in New York, New York, practicing at Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates PLLC. They have 14+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2012. Their practice focuses on dui/dwi, drug crimes, criminal defense, business, and federal crimes. Admitted to practice in New York (2012), United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2016), United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2016), and United States District Court for the Northern District of New York (2019). Educated at Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 2011) and University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Philosophy, 2006). Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Paul Townsend joined Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates in May 2019 and is senior counsel to the firm
  • He represents clients in a wide variety of white-collar and traditional criminal defense matters in federal and state courts both in New York and throughout the country
  • Mr. Townsend has obtained countless favorable results for his clients through non-prosecution agreements, motion practice, plea negotiations, hearings and trial
  • Since joining the firm, he has tried both federal and state cases in New York, Vermont and California
  • Additionally, he has been published in the New York Law Journal
  • Prior to coming to the firm, Mr. Townsend worked as an associate for a boutique criminal defense practice and handled complex high-profile criminal litigation
  • He has successfully tried cases in both the state and federal courts in New York and has handled cases in Colorado, Connecticut, and Florida
  • Notably, Mr. Townsend was one of the attorneys on the trial team representing Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman-Loera during his trial for being the leader of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel in the federal court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Mr. Townsend previously served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York
  • While at the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Townsend prosecuted hundreds of felony cases in the Major Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, and specialized in utilizing wiretaps, pen registers, trap and trace devices and other methods of electronic surveillance against criminal organizations
  • Mr. Townsend presented hundreds of cases to grand juries, including the possession and sale of largescale narcotics and firearms, attempted murder, robbery, assault, robbery, burglary, and white-collar fraud
  • Mr. Townsend earned his juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School and a double major bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania
  • He is admitted to practice in all New York State Courts as well as the U.S
  • District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York. “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 listeners with a true and 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
  • Recently, Robert Gottlieb of Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates PLLC, joined Paul Townsend as a co-host in a special episode dedicated to the infamous legacy of Fred Korematsu v
  • United States
  • The attorneys discuss how the Supreme Court’s understanding of civil liberties has evolved – or not- since Korematsu, particularly with regard to the recent decision in Trump v
  • Hawaii

In Summation

The Final Word can be found wherever you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Listen Notes, and Spotify. “ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-summation-the-final-word/id332-777-0261

Practice Areas Explained

Paul R. Townsend's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Paul R. Townsend handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

DUI / DWI Defense

Find experienced DUI and DWI defense attorneys near you. Compare verified profiles, read client reviews, and consult about your case for free.

Paul R. Townsend is one of 29,976 dui/dwi attorneys indexed nationally. Browse dui/dwi attorneys in New York →

Drug Crimes

Paul R. Townsend is one of 6,966 drug crimes attorneys indexed nationally. Browse drug crimes attorneys in New York →

Criminal Defense

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.

Paul R. Townsend is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in New York →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Paul R. Townsend is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in New York →

Federal Crimes

Paul R. Townsend is one of 6,773 federal crimes attorneys indexed nationally. Browse federal crimes attorneys in New York →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in New York

Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in New York or all attorneys in New York.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Paul R. Townsend

Where is Paul R. Townsend's law office located?
Paul R. Townsend's law practice is located in New York, New York. The firm is Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Paul R. Townsend handle?
Paul R. Townsend focuses on dui/dwi, drug crimes, criminal defense, business, federal crimes. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in New York.
How long has Paul R. Townsend practiced law?
Paul R. Townsend has 14+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2012.
Where did Paul R. Townsend go to law school?
Paul R. Townsend earned their education at (J.D., 2011); (B.S. Philosophy, 2006).
How can I contact Paul R. Townsend for a consultation?
You can contact Paul R. Townsend directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D.
Brooklyn Law School
- 2011
B.S. Philosophy
University of Pennsylvania
- 2006

Bar Admissions

New York
Admitted: 2012
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Admitted: 2016
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Admitted: 2016
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
Admitted: 2019

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.