Ronak D. Desai is a nationally recognized, Chambers-ranked attorney who serves as firmwide leader of Paul Hastings’ bipartisan Congressional Investigations practice as well as firmwide leader of its award-winning India practice.

Based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles offices, Ronak represents companies, boards, governments, global institutions and senior executives in high-stakes matters, oftentimes at the intersection of law, policy and geopolitical risk, in front of state and federal enforcement authorities. His expertise also includes advising and defending clients in connection with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). 

A trusted counselor and proven crisis manager, clients hail Ronak as “the person you want in the room when everything is on the line,” citing his “legal depth, political instincts and … ability to manage a crisis without breaking stride.”  

Or as another client observed more simply: “Ronak delivers every time.” 

Ronak is a frequent author, speaker and media commentator on topics about investigations, the U.S. Congress, the Indian subcontinent and prediction markets. He is a regular contributor to Forbes and to publications in the Asia-Pacific. He has written for The Washington Post, The National Law Journal, The Hill, Foreign Policy and The Huffington Post. His commentary has appeared in publications, including The Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg and CNN. He is also a frequent television guest on the Indian news channel, NDTV. 

Congressional Investigations

As the firmwide leader of Paul Hastings’ bipartisan Congressional Investigations practice, Ronak deploys his extensive government and private sector experience with Congress 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, where he garnered deep expertise in both conducting and defending against congressional investigations. 

“His guidance is very precise and grounded in a clear understanding of how oversight actually functions on Capitol Hill,” notes one client. 

“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,” adds another client. 

Clients have praised also 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 advises clients at every stage of congressional scrutiny, including responding to document requests and subpoenas, preparing for public and private testimony, and developing strategy for hearings and other committee engagements. He draws on deep familiarity with Congress’ investigative and oversight functions and longstanding relationships with members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle.

Ronak has successfully represented companies and individuals in front of virtually every single investigative and oversight committee in the House and Senate, as well as numerous select and special committees and commissions.

India Practice

Ronak serves as firmwide leader of Paul Hastings’ award-winning India practice and is a member of the India Business Law Journal’s International A-List of leading global attorneys working on India-related matters.

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 representations encompass a wide range of industries and practice areas, including cross-border investigations and enforcement, sovereign disputes, intellectual property, corporate governance, M&A, energy project finance and hospitality.  

Ronak represents some of India’s most prominent companies and executives. One client places him among a “very small group of international lawyers who combine elite legal capability with genuine, earned fluency in India’s legal, institutional and policy landscape.”

In addition to the government of India itself, his clients also include U.S., European and Indian conglomerates operating in India, as well as trade associations, religious institutions, nonprofits and individuals on high-stakes, cross-border matters. His practice often involves sensitive diplomatic or enforcement considerations across jurisdictions. He routinely advises members of the U.S. Congress and other officials on legal and policy issues pertaining to the region.

Ronak is currently a visiting fellow with the Hoover Institution’s Huntington Program on Strengthening U.S.-India Relations at Stanford University, following more than a decade as a fellow with Harvard University’s Project on India and the Subcontinent and the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute.

Community Engagement

Ronak serves as pro bono general counsel and independent board director of the Partnership for a Secure America (PSA), a Washington, 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.

• 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