About Laina
Laina Chikhani has built a legal career in California that moves between courtroom work and solo practice. She brings years of courtroom exposure and a steady presence in criminal defense circles to her private practice.
She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco, earning a B.A. in Marketing in 1992. After time in the private sector, she returned to law school and received her J.D. from John F. Kennedy University in 2009.
Her first legal roles came immediately after law school. In 2009 she served as a certified law clerk at the Solano County Conflict Defender’s Office, gaining daily experience on criminal matters. That same year she worked as a law clerk at the Law Office of Linda McIntyre, handling research and assisting on case preparation.
In 2010 she joined Morton & Russo, LLC as an associate lawyer. She handled a range of assignments there, including courtroom appearances and client counseling. After that period she established her own practice, operating as Laina T. Chikhani, Lawyer at Law and under the Law Office of Laina Chikhani.
Chikhani’s professional memberships track a clear interest in criminal defense. She has been a member of the State Bar of California since 2010 and holds current memberships in the American Bar Association, the California Public Defenders Association, California Lawyers for Criminal Justice, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, each listed as held since 2011. She is also a member of the California Bar Association.
Her practice centers on criminal matters in California courts. She represents clients at arraignments, pretrial hearings, and trials, handling both misdemeanor and felony charges. Her courtroom work includes filing motions, conducting evidentiary hearings, and representing clients before judges and juries.
Colleagues and clients find her background in public defender work and private practice gives her a practical perspective on case strategy. She divides her time between client representation, court appearances, and case preparation. Currently she maintains an active solo practice in California focused on criminal defense and related proceedings.
