Nikhil Ramnaney

Of Counsel

Nikhil Ramnaney is an accomplished trial attorney and former federal civil rights prosecutor who serves as Of Counsel to V. James DeSimone Law in Marina del Rey. His diverse background in civil rights litigation, government investigations, criminal law, and complex civil litigation brings valuable additional perspective to the firm’s representation of individuals and families whose constitutional and civil rights have been violated.

Throughout his career, Nikhil has worked on multiple sides of the justice system. He has served as a prosecutor, represented public entities and law enforcement agencies in civil litigation, defended individuals as a Los Angeles County Public Defender, and investigated and prosecuted violations of federal civil rights laws for the United States Department of Justice. That breadth of experience provides him with an uncommon understanding of how government agencies, prosecutors, municipalities, law enforcement departments, and their attorneys investigate, evaluate, defend, and litigate serious cases.

At V. James DeSimone Law, that perspective is particularly relevant to cases involving police misconduct, excessive force, deaths in custody, wrongful death, false arrest, abuse of governmental authority, and other violations of constitutional rights. The firm has a longstanding practice representing individuals against government entities and powerful institutions, and Nikhil’s experience investigating law enforcement misconduct from inside the federal government further strengthens that capability.

Federal Civil Rights Experience

One of the defining chapters of Nikhil’s career was his service as a federal prosecutor with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

In that role, Nikhil investigated and prosecuted law enforcement and correctional officers accused of criminal civil rights violations, including violence, abuse of authority, and obstruction of justice. His work involved investigations across the country and included matters concerning deaths in custody, physical abuse, correctional facilities, and alleged misconduct by government officials.

This experience gave Nikhil firsthand knowledge of how serious police and custodial-misconduct investigations are developed—from evaluating witness accounts and physical evidence to examining law enforcement conduct and determining whether government officials crossed constitutional and legal boundaries.

His work on behalf of victims of civil rights crimes earned him multiple awards and commendations from the FBI and the Attorney General of the United States.

Understanding Law Enforcement and Government Agencies From the Inside

Before joining the Department of Justice, Nikhil also gained substantial experience representing public entities and law enforcement agencies in complex civil matters.

His work included police-related employment disputes, internal investigations, civil rights claims, and litigation involving cities and other governmental bodies. That experience exposed him to the procedures municipalities and law enforcement agencies use when investigating officer conduct, handling internal disciplinary matters, responding to allegations of wrongdoing, and defending civil lawsuits.

Today, that institutional knowledge can be particularly important when representing plaintiffs.

Civil rights claims against government entities often involve complicated factual investigations, governmental immunities, law enforcement policies, internal records, conflicting witness accounts, and aggressive institutional defenses. Nikhil understands many of those processes from firsthand experience and can use that knowledge when evaluating evidence and developing litigation strategy for people seeking accountability.

Extensive Courtroom and Trial Experience

Nikhil also brings significant courtroom experience to V. James DeSimone Law.

As a Los Angeles County Public Defender, he represented adults and juveniles facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. His work required him to investigate contested facts, challenge government evidence, cross-examine witnesses, litigate constitutional issues, negotiate difficult cases, and advocate for clients whose freedom and futures were at stake.

Over the course of his career, Nikhil has tried nearly 50 cases and litigated hundreds of motions involving complex factual and constitutional questions.

His experience as a public defender also reinforced a principle that aligns closely with the work of V. James DeSimone Law: individuals deserve meaningful representation when confronted by institutions with substantially greater resources and power.

Nikhil was elected by his fellow attorneys to serve as President of Local 148, the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union. In that leadership role, he advocated for public defenders, participated in negotiations, worked with government officials and community organizations, and spoke publicly about criminal justice issues.

He has also testified before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and worked with legislators, advocacy organizations, and community coalitions on issues involving the justice system.

Complex Litigation Background

Earlier in his legal career, Nikhil worked at a major national law firm representing Fortune 500 companies in sophisticated commercial litigation. That experience provided another dimension to his litigation background and exposed him to the resources, strategy, discovery practices, and intensive preparation associated with high-stakes civil cases.

Combined with his later work in public defense and federal civil rights enforcement, this experience allows Nikhil to approach litigation from several distinct perspectives.

He understands how sophisticated defendants prepare cases. He understands how government institutions respond when their conduct is challenged. And he understands the importance of thoroughly developing evidence when an individual’s account is being disputed by a powerful organization.

A Strong Addition to V. James DeSimone Law

V. James DeSimone Law has built its reputation representing individuals in consequential civil rights, police misconduct, employment, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases. Nikhil’s background is a natural complement to that work.

His federal civil rights experience is especially relevant when cases involve allegations of excessive force, police abuse, correctional misconduct, deaths involving law enforcement, or other abuses of governmental power. His extensive courtroom experience adds another seasoned trial attorney to a firm that prepares significant cases for litigation against municipalities, government agencies, corporations, and other well-resourced defendants.

Above all, Nikhil approaches representation with the understanding that civil rights cases are about more than legal theories. They frequently arise from life-changing encounters involving injury, loss of freedom, death, discrimination, or the misuse of institutional authority.

As Of Counsel to V. James DeSimone Law, Nikhil helps the firm continue its longstanding mission of providing determined, sophisticated representation to people seeking justice and accountability from powerful institutions.

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

• Tulane University Law School, magna cum laude

• Editor, Tulane Law Review

Professional Affiliations

Nikhil’s professional affiliations have included:

• National Police Accountability Project

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

• California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

• California Public Defenders Association

• California Appellate Project – Los Angeles

• South Asian Bar Association – Board Member