-
Monisha Coelho
Partner
Los Angeles, CA
Partner
Los Angeles, CA
Monisha Coelho 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.)
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
University of Bombay Government Law College, India, L.L.B., University Gold Medal
St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India, B.A., Economics & Commerce
California
State Bar of Maharashtra & Goa, Mumbai, India
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Courts for the Central and Eastern Districts of California
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 – present
Women of Influence (Attorney), Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021
Leaders in Law Award, Finalist, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017, 2019
SuperLawyer™, 2017 – present
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)
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
“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)
August 2, 2023
January 10, 2023
November 2, 2021
August 5, 2021
July 20, 2021
April 26, 2021
January 19, 2021
August 24, 2020
August 10, 2020
May 21, 2020
May 18, 2020
April 30, 2020
April 14, 2020
April 13, 2020