Alka Ramchandani joined Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C. in 2009. She focuses her practice on employment litigation in state and federal courts. She defends and advises employers in employment discrimination, harassment/hostile work environment, failure to accommodate, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour cases, including state and federal administrative proceedings, single-plaintiff lawsuits, and class action litigation. Alka has substantial experience in prevailing wage litigation. Alka is an Assistant Lecturer at U.C. Berkeley School of Law, where she currently is assisting in a class focused on mediation skills for litigation.
While attending law school, Alka clerked for the Honorable Jesse Reyes in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. She was a member of the Asian American Bar Association, and served as a Lead Article Editor of Delta Theta Phi’s Adelphia Law Journal. Alka distinguished herself in both appellate and trial advocacy, as a member of the John Marshall moot court team, earning oral-advocacy awards, and taking top honors in mock trial competitions.
Prior to joining the firm, Alka worked as an intern at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, where she assisted in misdemeanor hearings and felony trials.
Experience
As an associate, Alka has handled a wide variety of cases including:
- wrongful termination and discrimination cases for nursing home facilities;
- medical facilities;
- food establishments;
- construction companies;
- transportation companies; and
- medical transcription companies.
Alka has aided in the defense of litigation in class action suits for:
- trucking companies;
- cable communication companies; and
- shipping companies.
Alka also has experience representing companies in disputes with administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the California Employment Development Department.
Alka's practice also includes advice and counseling work including:
- Advising clients on employee disability issues;
- Creating and revising employment handbooks and other policies and procedures;
- Advising clients regarding hiring and terminations; and
- Advising on leave of absence issues.
California
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- San Francisco Bar Association
- South Asian Bar Association
- Northern California Human Resources Association
- State Bar of California
- American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin