Reena R. Bajowala is a partner in Ice Miller’s Litigation Group, where her practice focuses on information technology, data security and privacy and employment matters. She regularly counsels and defends information technology (IT) companies (including software developers, cloud-based storage providers and tech startups), online and brick-and-mortar retailers, manufacturers and automotive industry clients in technology-related and employment (ERISA and FLSA) disputes.
Reena advises sellers and buyers of IT services with respect to their rights and defends them in disputes, under a wide variety of laws, including contract, tort, copyright, trade secret and trademark law. She assists clients with evaluating business decisions relating to call centers and data centers around the globe. Reena helps navigate clients through issues relating to emerging technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence. She also provides advice to clients regarding data privacy and security issues.
With a demonstrated ability to deal with the intricacies of class, collective and plan-wide litigation, Reena defends employers and service providers in federal actions involving the FLSA and ERISA. She is adept at dealing with issues arising from the Class Action Fairness Act, Multi-District Litigation and hybrid action procedures. She also works with companies in consumer fraud and deceptive practice litigation and investigations. Reena has extensive litigation and trial experience from filing of complaint to settlement or verdict, including over 100 days of first-chair trial experience.
Reena regularly speaks and writes on topics relevant to her practice. She has spoken or is scheduled to speak at meetings and conferences held by the ABA, ACI, ALM, CBA, ECTF, HUB88, PLI, ISBA, HNBA, NAPABA, NASABA, the Illinois Diversity Council and the Chicago Committee. She is a member of the CBA Financial and Emerging Technologies Committee and the Chicago Electronic Crimes Task Force. She is also part of the STEAM initiative for Hub88, a technology incubator opening in the fall of 2018 in the Chicagoland area.
Reena is deeply committed to the community. She serves on the advisory board of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation. She also serves on the board of the Albany Park Theater Project. Her previous service includes the Public Interest Law Initiative, the National Immigrant Justice Center and Apna Ghar.
Reena is recognized for her public interest work in the areas of fair housing, civil rights and human trafficking. In 2005, she founded the Origins Fellowship at the University of Michigan Law School, which has distributed almost $125,000 to dozens of students working to advance the public interest.
Reena works to advance diversity in the legal industry. She is a 2013 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. She received the "Best Under 40" award from NAPABA, the POW! Award from Womenetics and a "Most Powerful and Influential Woman" award from the Illinois Diversity Council in recognition of these efforts.
Reena joined the Firm in 2018 after spending more than 12 years as an associate and partner at an AmLaw 70 firm based in Chicago.