Ronak D. Desai is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles offices. He serves as firmwide leader of Paul Hastings’ Congressional Investigations practice as well as its India practice.

Clients turn to Ronak for his experience in international investigations, enforcement defense and compliance in both the public and private sectors. They also rely on him for crisis management and public policy matters.

He advises clients on a broad range of complex litigation, white collar and investigations matters. He also routinely represents clients on Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) matters.

Ronak is a frequent author, speaker and media commentator on topics about investigations, the U.S. Congress and the Indian subcontinent. He regularly contributes to Forbes and publications in the Asia-Pacific. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The National Law Journal, The Hill, Foreign Policy and The Huffington Post, among others.

Congressional Investigations

As the firmwide leader of the Congressional Investigations practice, Ronak deploys his extensive government and private sector experience to help clients navigate the unique legal, political, reputational and media risks generated by congressional scrutiny.

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Ronak served as investigative counsel to a high-profile select committee on Capitol Hill.

“His experience on the Hill shines through. He understands the subtleties and nuances to be able to move cases forward and his whole experience allows him to navigate the process seamlessly,” one client notes.

Clients have also hailed Ronak’s “granular understanding of the inner workings of Congress and his ability to translate that into concrete plans of action,” and have characterized his approach as “smart” and driven by “common sense.”

Ronak provides clients with expertise regarding Congress’ investigations and oversight function, deep familiarity and relationships with members and staff from both sides of the aisle, best practices regarding responding to document requests and subpoenas and preparing for public and private congressional testimony.

Ronak has successfully represented companies and individuals in front of a host of congressional committees, including the House Judiciary Committee, House Financial Services Committee, House Oversight and Reform Committee, the House Agricultural Committee, the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, the Senate Banking Committee and the House and Senate Ethics Committee, as well several select and special committees and commissions.

India and the Subcontinent

Ronak also serves as firmwide leader of Paul Hastings’ India Practice.

A recognized authority on the Indian subcontinent, he brings deep regional insight and strategic counsel to clients navigating complex legal and regulatory matters involving India and the broader region. His work spans a wide range of industries and practice areas, including national security, cross-border investigations, tax, corporate governance, energy project finance, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals and hospitality.

Ronak regularly advises U.S., European and Indian conglomerates both in India and abroad, as well as sovereign governments, trade associations, religious institutions, nonprofits and individuals on high-stakes, cross-border issues that sit at the intersection of law, policy and strategy. His practice sits at the intersection of matters often involving sensitive diplomatic or enforcement considerations across jurisdictions. He routinely advises members of Congress and other officials on legal and policy issues pertaining to the region.

Ronak serves on the Global Board of Directors of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), a part of the U.S. Chamber of Congress. He previously served as a longstanding fellow at Harvard University’s Project on India and the Subcontinent as well as the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute.

Community Engagement

Ronak serves as pro bono general counsel and independent board director to the Partnership for a Secure America, a D.C.-based foreign policy think tank that seeks to promote bipartisanship on Capitol Hill through its flagship Congressional Partnership Program. In 2016, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Ronak to her Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), on which he served until 2022. He also serves as a member of the Board of the South Asian Symphony Foundation, an Asia 21 Young Leader, and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

• Chambers USA, Congressional Investigations (2023-2024)
• Global Investigations Review (GIR), “40 Under 40” (2023)
• The American Lawyer, “Young Lawyer of the Year” (2023)
• Law360, “White Collar Rising Star” (2023)
• The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), “Rising Star” (2022)
• The American Bar Association, “40 Under 40 on the Rise” (2021)
• The National Law Journal, “40 under 40” (2020)
• The South Asian Bar Association (DC), “Rising Star” (2019)

• Harvard Law School, J.D. (magna cum laude), Dean Scholar's Prize 
• Harvard Kennedy School, M.P.P.
• The Johns Hopkins University, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, University-wide and Departmental honors