The Advocate Behind Harbor Justice Law
About Nikhil Ramnaney
Founder & Principal Attorney, Harbor Justice Law, APC
Nikhil Ramnaney is an award-winning trial lawyer and former federal civil rights prosecutor dedicated to providing compassionate and aggressive criminal defense and civil rights representation. His career spans nearly every side of the justice system—state and federal, prosecution and defense, civil and criminal—giving him comprehensive insight into how cases are won.
Born and raised in Southern California, Nikhil is the son of immigrants whose experience and values inspired his lifelong commitment to justice. While studying at UCLA, he was moved by the history of racial injustice, the civil rights movement, and the struggles of working people —sparking his calling to pursue a career in the criminal justice system. Nikhil earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School, a school renowned for producing dynamic and effective trial lawyers. He attended Tulane on an academic scholarship, graduated magna cum laude, and served as an editor of the Tulane Law Review. During law school, Nikhil gained early courtroom and defense experience at the Federal Public Defender’s Office and later worked at an Am Law 100 firm handling complex, high-stakes commercial litigation for Fortune 500 companies.
Nikhil began his career as a prosecutor in Los Angeles, graduating at the top of his trial academy and earning recognition for his trial advocacy skills. His early prosecutorial experience Nikhil an understanding of how prosecutors build cases, how they make deals, and how to beat them in the courtroom. After his time as a prosecutor, Nikhil gained valuable experience as a civil litigator, representing public entities and law enforcement agencies in complex employment and civil rights matters. In this role, he handled police-related labor disputes, internal investigations, and high-stakes civil defense litigation on behalf of cities and government agencies. These experiences gave him an insider’s understanding of how municipalities investigate, discipline, and defend police misconduct—insight he now uses to outmaneuver and hold those same institutions accountable in court.
He went on to serve as a Los Angeles County Public Defender, representing both children and adults charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to homicides in courts across Los Angeles County. Over the course of his career, Nikhil has tried nearly 50 cases and litigated hundreds of motions, including those involving mental health diversion, suppression of evidence, speedy trial rights, and bail. Known for his creativity, command of the law, and compassion, Nikhil has earned a reputation for achieving results in the toughest cases while treating every
Elected by his colleagues, Nikhil served as President of
Local 148, the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, where he sharpened his leadership and negotiation skills while fighting for fair wages, better resources, and criminal justice reform. He
appeared on radio and television and was quoted in news articles, using his voice to educate the public and advocate for his clients and fellow defenders. Nikhil has testified before Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, collaborated with legislators in Sacramento, and worked alongside community coalitions on local elections and criminal justice reform. His experience as a union leader also deepened his ties to the labor movement—making him a proud friend of labor who understands the workplace fallout criminal charges can cause, and how to help clients protect both their freedom and their livelihoods.
Nikhil later served as a federal civil rights prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, one of the nation’s most prestigious and selective law enforcement offices. There, he investigated and prosecuted police officers, correctional officers, and state law enforcement officials for acts of violence, abuse of power, and obstruction of justice. His work took him across the country—from the streets of Memphis, to prisons in Alabama and West Virginia, to law enforcement agencies across California - where he investigated deaths in jail, beatings, and other criminal civil rights violations. For his expertise and service on behalf of victims of civil rights crimes, Nikhil received multiple awards and commendations from the FBI and the Attorney General of the United States.
Today, through
Harbor Justice Law, Nikhil brings that same experience and dedication to individuals and families seeking justice—whether he’s defending against criminal charges in state or federal court or standing up to powerful institutions after police abuse.
Nikhil demands dignity for every client and approaches each case with the same resolve: to fight hard and protect what matters most—freedom, fairness, and accountability.
