About Payal
Payal Khandhar entered the law after an academic career rooted in Madison. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002 and completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2009. Those years shaped her interest in courtroom work and public defense.
Her first position after law school was in public service. In 2009 she joined the State Public Defender's office in Wisconsin. The work there sharpened trial skills and exposed her to a wide range of criminal matters. She handled arraignments, plea negotiations and contested hearings. That early stretch established a pattern: hands-on work in court, steady client contact and an emphasis on procedural protections.
In 2016 she moved into private practice. She became a lawyer and partner at Jasti & Khandhar, joining a small firm environment where she could continue courtroom advocacy while taking on more responsibility for case strategy and firm management. Her role there blends client representation with mentoring younger attorneys. She has taken lead roles on complex pretrial motions and jury trials.
Khandhar's memberships reflect the practice she has built. She is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and of the Dane County Bar Association, both since 2016. She is also a founding member of Women in Courts and Corrections, an organization that focuses on issues affecting women in the legal and correctional systems. Those affiliations keep her connected to local court developments and to colleagues who practice criminal defense across the state.
Her courtroom background gives her a practical view of criminal defense. She works on felony and misdemeanor cases, handles post-conviction matters, and represents clients at hearings that determine custody, bond and sentencing. Colleagues describe her as someone who prepares testimony and evidence carefully and who expects the same diligence from the defense teams she leads. Her approach balances readiness for trial with attention to opportunities for favorable resolutions when they arise.
Outside the courtroom she has become involved in training and informal mentoring within the local bar communities. That engagement reflects an interest in improving practice standards and in supporting newer attorneys as they learn courtroom work.
She currently serves as partner at Jasti & Khandhar and practices criminal defense and court and corrections matters.
