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Biography

Monisha represents startups to multinational corporations in complex commercial, financial, and real estate matters in state and federal court.

She has particular strengths defending and prosecuting claims involving shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate fraud and mismanagement, theft of trade secrets and proprietary information, unfair competition, antitrust, breach of contract, terms and conditions, and other business disputes. Her clients include technology, banking, hospitality, entertainment, and biotech companies.

In addition, Monisha represents financial institutions, private lenders, real estate developers, commercial landlords/tenants, and property owners in a wide variety of commercial and residential real estate matters, including traditional and hard money loan disputes, foreclosures, title fraud, slander of title, and breach of contract cases.

Her passion for technology has her advising clients on blockchain and digital asset regulatory and compliance issues, as well as accessibility of websites and apps under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Dually-licensed in India and California, Monisha successfully guides clients through US-India cross-border legal matters, including setting up of business operations and market entry in both countries, and US based cross-border litigation and arbitration. Born and raised in Mumbai, Monisha is a third generation attorney. Her father was a Barrister from Lincoln’s Inn, U.K., and her grandfather was a Magistrate Judge during and after the British rule in India. She was an attorney at Mulla & Mulla and Kotak Mahindra Bank (then, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd.)

 

Other Info About Monisha

Education

Law School

University of Southern California Gould School of Law, L.L.M., M&A, Securities Regulation, Corporate Transactions, 2009

University of San Diego School of Law, L.L.M., International Trade Law, International Civil Litigation, International Arbitration, 2001

Graduate School

University of Bombay Government Law College, India, L.L.B., University Gold Medal

Undergraduate School

St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India, B.A., Economics & Commerce

Bar Memberships

Monisha is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

California

State Bar of Maharashtra & Goa, Mumbai, India

Courts

Monisha is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Courts for the Central and Eastern Districts of California

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Honoree, 2023

Gold Medal – LL.B. Exam (J.D. equivalent) University of Bombay, India

Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, 2018-2024

Women of Influence (Attorney), Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021

Leaders in Law Award, Finalist, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017, 2019

Selected for inclusion in Southern California Super Lawyers® , 2017-2024, Southern California Women’s Edition 2024®

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Chair – Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section (2019-20); Chair Elect – (2018-19); Secretary – (2017-18); Member  – (2015-18)

Board of Directors – Constitutional Rights Foundation (2022)

Vice Chair – American Bar Association, Section of International Law (2018-20)

Member – LACBA President’s Advisory Commission on Women in the Law (2017-22)

Board Member – South Asian Network (oldest non-profit serving the South Asian Community) (2017- 2019)

Vice President – LACBA Trial Practice Inns of Court (2016-17); Member (2013-16)

Member – California Senate Taskforce on Equity and Diversity (2011-12)

Founding Director – South Asian Bar Association’s Public Interest Foundation (2005-06)

Presentations

Monisha was invited to speak at the following events:

Guest, “Things We Carry” radio show with host Varshini Satish, Bharat FM, August 20, 2022

Panelist, “Building for the Future on Blockchain: Panel of Industry Experts — Ensuring your Leadership in Tomorrow’s World,” Association of Information Technology Professionals LA, April 28, 2022

Panelist, “How to Start a Business in India – Considerations, Opportunities, and Resources,” TiE SoCal 2022 Knowledge Series, January 26, 2022

Panelist, “Bias Driven Incivility in the Legal Profession,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section, December 2021

Panelist, “Doing Business with India & Mexico: Laws, Pitfalls and Best Practices,” CLE Session, The Orange County Bar Association, International Section, May 2021

Speaker, “How L.A. County’s Eviction and Rent Increase Moratoriums Impact Landlords and Multifamily Properties,” L.A. Multifamily Real Estate Networking Group Webinar, August 12, 2020

Panelist, “Civil Litigation Walk Through, Training Program for Lawyers,” A.S.C., Stanley Mosk Courthouse, March 2019

Panelist, “Addressing Judicial & Attorney Bias,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Trial Practice Inn of Court, November 2016

Panelist, “Discovery: Duking it Out, Nicely, Before Your Judge or Mediator,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Trial Practice Inn of Court, January 2016

Panelist, “Motions for Summary Judgement,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, June 2015

Major Publications

Monisha is an author or contributor to the following publications:

“Not So Fast: Holdings in Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Ooki DAO and other recent cases are finding that participants in DAOs are subject to the court’s jurisdiction and are liable for each other’s actions,” Co-Author, Los Angeles Lawyer, January 2024

“Blockchain Smart Contracts: Changing the Way Business is Done Today,” Apr. 2021 https://www.alvaradosmith.com/your-vendor-wants-you-to-use-a-blockchain-smart-contract-for-the-transaction-now-what/

“Technology and the ADA: Website Accessibility, Part 1 & 2,” Jul. 2021, Aug. 2021 https://www.alvaradosmith.com/technology-and-the-ada-website-accessibility-part-1/ https://www.alvaradosmith.com/technology-and-the-ada-website-accessibility-part-2/

“California Trial Practice: Civil Procedure Before Trial, Federal Jurisdiction,” E.B., Updates Editor, 2019

“Key Developments in Indian Arbitration Law,” American Bar Association, Section of International Law, Year in Review, 2018:52

“Fundamentals of an American Lawsuit (For Business),” Book Published – handbook on how lawsuits progress in American courts from case initiation to trial/settlement for business owners, Nov. 2016

“Informal Discovery Conferences,” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, cover article co-authored with Hon. Samantha Jessner, L.A.S.C., Hon. Amy Hogue, L.A.S.C., and Laura Wirth, Esq., Oct. 2016

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