Vikas S. Dhar Boston, Massachusetts
| phone | (617) 227-2800 (866) 348-0900 (Toll Free) |
| fax | (617) 973-1562 |
| Email Me | |
Attorney Vikas S. Dhar focuses his practice in criminal and complex commercial litigation. He represents individuals in complex, high profile criminal matters before state and federal courts, and has successfully handled matters involving misdemeanors and felony offenses, university disciplinary proceedings, and appellate issues for clients who include students and licensed professionals. He also assists in the defense of corporate clients in white-collar government investigations, providing counsel to companies responding to grand jury subpoenas, conducting internal investigations, representing witnesses, and in all post-indictment phases of the criminal process. Further, Mr. Dhar provides expert assistance to clients who are simultaneously dealing with criminal and civil matters in administrative investigations and licensure proceedings.
Mr. Dhar concentrates his substantial business practice on leading his clients through all stages of the business development process. He provides guidance on new business formation and structuring, capitalization and member/shareholder issues, and contract, operating agreement, and employment negotiations. He works closely with his clients and network of contacts in venture capital and private equity groups to create advantageous growth and funding opportunities for his clients and currently serves as primary counsel to multiple ventures in the restaurant, entertainment, and construction industries.
Mr. Dhar brings to his clients the added benefit of his extensive background in immigration law, having appeared before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (U.S. Immigration Court), Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Department of State. He focuses on making immigration concerns a primary strategic focus in connected criminal or domestic relations matters, and has successfully disposed of cases where a simple guilty plea would have led to deportation proceedings. In cases where clients did not have adequate prior counsel, Mr. Dhar has argued numerous post conviction motions and prevented removal proceedings for the benefit of his clients and their families. In his broader practice, Mr. Dhar has successfully obtained relief of political asylum, visa waivers, withholding of removal and cancellation of removal for his clients, and has engaged in substantial pro bono work in the area.
Mr. Dhar also practices in the area of complex divorce, modification, custody/interstate issues, pre-nuptial instruments, and appeals from judgments of divorce, and his experience in these areas extends to participation in divorce, custody and equity trials with other firm attorneys. Given the sensitive needs of his domestic relations clients, Mr. Dhar always strives to negotiate favorable outcomes and has become known for his ability to effectively navigate through Family Services, DSS and GAL investigations.
Prior to joining Denner Pellegrino, LLP, Mr. Dhar was an associate at a small Boston firm. Prior to that, he served as a law clerk to the 2001 Governor's Commission for Revision of the Illinois School Code. Mr. Dhar is a graduate of Washington University and received his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law where he was selected by faculty and students to receive the prestigious Rendleman Award. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Massachusetts & Boston Bar Associations, American Immigration Lawyers Association, South Asian Bar Association (former member of the Board of Directors) and is active in the Washington University Alumni Admissions Program.
- Year Joined Organization:
- 2005
- Areas of Practice:
- Criminal and Complex Commercial Litigation
- Complex Divorce
- Modification
- Custody/Interstate Issues
- Pre-nuptial Instruments
- Bar Admissions:
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
- Education:
- Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois
J.D.
Honors: Prestigious Rendleman Award - Washington University, St. Louis, Washington
- Published Works:
- "The Department of Homeland Security Initiative", Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review Journal, February, 2005
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- South Asian Bar Association
- Former Member, Board of Directors
- Washington University Alumni Admissions Program
- Past Employment Positions:
- Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs
- Governor's Commission for Revision of the Illinois School Code, 2001 - Present
- Downtown Firm, Associate
