Rena Muckenhoupt O'Connor graduated from an accelerated three year degree program at Marist College (Summa Cum Laude) in 1981 where she received numerous honors and awards.  In 1984, she graduated from The New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts with awards for excellence in family law and criminal procedure.  Ms. O'Connor joined our firm in 1986.

 Ms. O'Connor concentrates her practice in the areas of matrimonial law, family law, general litigation and real estate. She has developed a reputation as one of the foremost matrimonial and family law practitioners in the area.  Ms. O'Connor has also litigated complicated issues such as valuations of businesses, professional degrees and licenses, and pension benefits.  Ms. O'Connor is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the Federal District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.  In addition to trial practice, Ms. O'Connor has successfully negotiated hundreds of matrimonial and custody cases where the parties have chosen not to proceed with litigation.

Ms. O'Connor is one of the founding members of the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce & Dispute Resolution Association, Ltd.  The Collaborative Divorce process is an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to divorce which offers parties an alternative to litigation.  The parties, together with their attorneys, divorce coaches and financial specialist, work together to reach an amicable settlement.

Ms. O'Connor is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Dutchess County Bar Association and the Mid-Hudson Women's Bar Association.  She is past member and Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Grace Smith House, Inc.