René was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a specialization in Business Administration from University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to entering the legal field, René worked for a number of years in business, holding positions in sales and marketing management in the car rental, construction and entertainment industries. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. While attending law school, René was a law clerk at the New Hampshire Circuit Court in Concord, Chenango County District Attorney's Office in New York, and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office - Hard Core Gang Division. After law school René worked as an Assistant District Attorney, and as a civil litigator in both California and New York. At Yoka & Smith, LLP, René practices in complex tort litigation, general liability and product liability defense.
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certificate in National Security and Counterterrorism, Syracuse University College of Law
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- California, 2014
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2015
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2015
- New York, 2013
- U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 2013
- U.S. District Court Western District of New York, 2013
- Massachusetts, 2012
Education
Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York
- Juris Doctor magna cum laude - 2012
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Top 5% of Class
- Honors: Orange Pro Bono and Community Service Award
- Honors: Syracuse National Civil Trial Team Member
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- B.A. - 2000
- Major: Political Science