Ronak D. Desai is an international investigations, enforcement defense, and compliance lawyer. An associate in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, he has deep experience in both the private and public sectors.
Mr. Desai advises clients on a broad range of complex investigative, compliance, crisis management, and public policy matters. He has extensive experience conducting FCPA/anti-corruption, export-control and other types of investigations on behalf of individual and multinational clients around the world. He also assists clients across a diverse range of industries to develop appropriate anti-corruption compliance policies and procedures, particularly in high-risk jurisdictions.
Mr. Desai routinely defends investigations and enforcement actions before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and FCA, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the World Bank Integrity Unit Vice Presidency, numerous Congressional Committees, and other government and quasi-governmental agencies.
Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Mr. Desai served as investigative counsel to a high-profile Select Committee on Capitol Hill. His other Congressional experience includes time with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.
A recognized expert on India, Mr. Desai draws upon his deep understanding of the country to help US and other multinational clients navigate the legal and policy challenges arising in the course of their operations pertaining to the Indian subcontinent. He also counsels Indian companies conducting business abroad.
Mr. Desai was recognized by The National Law Journal as one of its DC “Rising Stars” for his work in the white collar, Congressional investigations, and India spaces. The recognizes the region’s 40 most promising lawyers age 40 and younger who have wielded influence in their practice areas in the D.C. area and beyond.