Commission on Human Rights Niranjan Adhikari Confirmation Resolution of 2026

MU
RIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 403 of the Human Rights Act of 1977,
effective December 7, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-216; D.C. Official Code § 2-1404.03), I am pleased to
nominate the following individual:
Mr. Niranjan Adhikari
Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(Ward 2)
for appointment as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, filling a vacant seat formerly held
by Eleanor Collinson, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end December 31, 2027.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
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~= at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment ofNiranjan Adhikari as a member of the Commission on Human
Rights.
RESOLVED , BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this
resolution may be cited as the "Commission on Human Rights Niranjan Adhikari Confirmation
Resolution of 2026".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Niranjan Adhikari
Massachusetts A venue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(Ward 2)
as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, established by section 401 of the Human
Rights Act of 1977, effective December 7, 2004 (D.C . Law 15-216; D.C. Official Code§ 2-
1404.01 ), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Eleanor Collinson for the remainder of an
unexpired term to end December 31, 2027.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 1 of 7
NIRANJAN "Nir" ADHIKARI
E
DUCAT
ION
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Master of Laws (LL.M.), also received a Certificate in International Law, May 2010
Activities: Research Assistant to Professor David D. Caron; Associate Editor, Berkeley Journal of International Law;
member, International Law Society, Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative, Student Organizat ion for
Advanced Legal Studies, Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights.
P
urbanchal University
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. honors), June 2008
Activities: team member, 2007 Jessup International Moot Court Competition (Washington DC) and team-coach
for the 2008 team; competitor, 6th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition on International
Humanitarian Law; Editor-in-Chief, University Journal, 2007; President, International Law Society; Secretary-
General, Student Association of University.
T
riChandra College, Kathmandu, Nepal
Intermediate in Science (I. Sc.), Phys ical Sciences, September 2002 (and took a gap year before law school to be a
tutor and a volunteer with a prestigious nonprofit)
IN
TERNATIONAL ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
• Directed Studies on Private International Law, Hague Academy of International Law July 2009
the Netherlands.
• Summer Program on International Law, Xiamen Academy of International Law, China. July 2008
• Communicating Freedom Workshop, Mumbai, India. August 2007
• Summer School on Multinational and Transnational Corporations and Human Rights December 2005
Bangladesh.
• International Workshop on Cross Border Migration and Protection of Human Rights December 2005
Among Neighboring Countries in the South Asia, organized by International
Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (UNHCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
EXP
ERIENCE
A
dhikari Law PLLC, Washington, DC Ongoing since January 2016
Managing Attorney*
• A
dvised Fortune 1000, NASDAQ, TSE, NSE and BSE listed public companies and other companies,
consulting companies, state government, office of attorney general of the state government, major research
universities and public universities, hospitals, thinktanks, engineering firms, technology companies, research
institutes, start-ups, non-profits, faith-based organizations, real estate firms, hospitality firms, entrepreneurs,
scientists, professors, researchers, investors, artists, athletes and individuals on variety of employment-based
immigration and work visa matters.
• Provided legal and consulting services on all aspects of U.S. immigration and visa programs.
• Provided legal services to families and individuals on family -based immigration, special immigration
(employees of int'l organization, SJC, fiancé, orphan, DV etc.), and immigration law aspects in an international
adoption, naturalization and citizenship.

Adhikari, Niranjan Page 2 of 7
• Advised companies and individuals on U.S. immigration law and immigration compliance, government audits
and investigations for immigration compliance, and handle large number of complex as well as general
immigration law and compliance related matters for corporate as well as individual clients.
• Successfully defended corporations on Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security’s audits
and site-inspections including leading a compliance advisory team for a major corporation.
• Saved substantially large sum of monies to clients using a unique immigration strategy and little -known legal
provisions.
• Delivered major pro bono services to local organizations and individuals, including children, family members
of U.S. military, places of worships from different faith groups.
• Provided legal guide to start -ups and venture funds; handle d Trademarks and Copyright; Int'l Biz
Transactions; Int'l Trade (including export-control) for small business; Int'l Franchise Agreement.
• Provided legal and business consulting for corporation formation, tax planning and strategy and compliance
and licensing for foreign investment to the U.S.
L
aw Offices of Rakesh Mehrotra, Reston, VA July 2012- September 2016
Associate
• Drafted legal documents for serving large, medium and small size corporate clients, and individuals.
• Analyze, draft and submit nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions to USCIS and U.S. Department of Labor.
• Researched and analyzed the legal developments in the area of immigration and nationality law by clos ely
following legislative proposals, bills and agency’s rule making and draft legal alerts of the firm to legal staff
and the clients.
• Researched and drafted legal alerts to clients, memo to firm’s corporate clients and firm’s newsletters.
• Researched and track ed the government policy changes and proposed regulatory reforms, published on
eFederal Register and other media based on document classification, subscribing all the applicable sources of
information for agencies' updates, by joining government’s outreach meetings and conference calls.
I
nternational Development Institute, Washington D.C January 2011- June 212
Program Officer (October 2011 to June 2012)
Consultant (Part time, January- May 2011; Full time from June- September 2011)
• Successfully developed, planned and implemented capacity building and institutional strengthening programs
for Institute’s client (foreign governments, development agencies, international organizations, U.S.
government agencies and international corporations).
• Coordinated the international training programs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dubai, Cairo, Toronto, Ottawa.
• Worked as the chief program coordinator for training program on reforming court’s information and data
management in Atlanta, and reform issues on judicial administration, Washington, D.C.
• Prepared draft outlines for legal and judicial training and development programs.
• Developed compliance policies and program activities to comply with externally funded programs.
• Attended meetings with high-ranking government officials and executives from various countries, and took
part in meetings to establish strategic cooperation with other corporations and firms.
A
merican Antitrust Institute, Washington D.C. June 2010- May 2011
Research Fellow with a fellowship from Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association
• Worked on a research project concerning the issues relating to third party financing of class action lawsuits ,
and recent trends and businesses of the government and private enforcement of antitrust laws in the U.S.
• Researched and prepared case analysis memoranda on number of antitrust cases in which a monetary recovery
of approximately $50 million or more was made.
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 3 of 7
• Researched the competition issues involved with the proposed merger between United and Continental
Airlines, and attended the hearing when AAI President. Mr. Albert Foer later testified before the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Attended Institute’s weekly roundtables in which distinguished personalities in the field of antitrust law were
invited.
• Involved in the preparation of the invitational symposium on “Prediction and Antitrust” and 11th Annual
Conference on “Public and Private: Are the Boundaries in Transition? ”; and prepared a report about the
break-out session on telecommunication industry.
U
niversity of California, Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley, CA January- May 2010
Graduate Student Researcher (Part-time)
• Worked as a research assistant for a professor and contributed in preparing teaching materials for his class.
• Researched and drafted memoranda relating to arbitration regarding the Iron Rhine railway between Belgium
and the Netherlands, a Danish court case between Russian Federation and German investor, and researched
and analyzed the works of the U.N. International Law Commission in the development of international law.
I
nternational Development Institute, Kathmandu January- June 2009
Legal Officer
• Drafted and participated in the bid for the Legal and Judicial Reforms to Strengthen Creditors Rights Project
under the World Bank’s Institutional Development Fund Grant.
• Researched business opportunities for projects in Asia and Africa, and drafted proposals based on research.
• Liaised with Washington D.C. office in organizing study and observation tours of the Members of Parliament
of Nigeria and Justices of Supreme Court of Nepal in Paris, Washington D.C. and Hong Kong.
O
ffice of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands Sep- Dec2008
Law Clerk
• Researched and drafted a report on various issues confronted by operational divisions of the Office, including
Court's institutional structure and governance, which was presented at the 2008 Annual Assembly of State
Parties.
• Researched and drafted memoranda concerning field operations and prosecutorial investigations abroad,
criteria for assessing witness reliability, rules governing witness questioning (esp. vulnerable groups), and legal
and factual aspects of continuous crimes.
• Drafted case matrix and research report for the ICC Legal Tools Project.
• Assisted in managing legal training programs of the Office and organizing weekly forum of the ICC.
M
inistry of Law & Justice of Nepal, Kathmandu August 2007- February 2008
Intern
• Researched and drafted memoranda for the Ministry of Finance and other government agencies on equity
and loan financing deals including $1.25 billion dollar infrastructure project financed by consortium of Asian
Development Bank, Exim Bank of China ; Upper Bhote Koshi hydroelectric project and related transmission
line with loans provided by International Finance Corporation and DEG - Deutsche Investitions - und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft and Panda Energy ; and $ 45 million dollar loan proposal made by Exim Bank of
Korea for the financing of Chameliya hydropower project.
• Drafted an international contract for international disarmament program under the auspices of UN Mission
to Nepal.
• Drafted legal opinion for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on mutual legal cooperation with g overnment of
Australia.
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 4 of 7
Center for Civil Society, New Delhi, India October 2005
Research Intern
• Researched, analyzed and wrote a report on Comparative Study of G overnance System of London,
Johannesburg, and Colombo vis-à-vis New Delhi. The Center published this report.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION :
 Awarded the “Community Leader” by South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C. (SABA-DC)
recognizing community service and pro bono legal services.
 Rated Rising Star in the area of Immigration Law by the SuperLawyers.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS :
 Speaker, Dual Citizenship and Challenges vis-à-vis Nepali and U.S. Laws, presented at NRNA NCC of USA,
January 20, 2024, Manassas Virginia.
 Moderator, Investment and Entrepreneurship for Young Entrepreneurs, NRNA NNC Youth Impact Summit,
Feb 25, 2023, University of California, Berkeley.
 Speaker, Navigating legal aspects of doing business and attracting and retaining talents by startup entrepreneurs,
Nepali Women Global Network’s global conference at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Dec.
2022.
 Speaker, Navigating the U.S. Visa Landscape for investors and entrepreneurs, at the SelectUSA Investment
Summit of the U.S. Department of Commerce, June 26, 2022.
(https://www.selectusasummit.us/About/2022-Archives).
 Speaker, Cross Border Immigration Analysis: Trump vs. Trudeau, a Zero-Sum Game?, 16th Annual
Conference of South Asian Bar Association- North America, Atlanta, GA, June 21, 2019.
 Moderator for the panel on IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESSING AND WAIVERS: Unlawful
Presence, Applicability of Bars to Admissibility, I-601A Waivers, Effect of Minority and Voluntary Departure,
etc. at the Immigration Law Conference of Federal Bar Association, Memphis, TN (May 19, 2018).
 Moderator for the panel CHARLIE CHAT: Deciphering the Visa Bulletin at the Immigration Law
Conference of Federal Bar Association, Memphis, TN (May 18, 2018).
 Speaker at the Philadelphia Kickoff meeting of IT Service Alliance on Recent Trends and updates on work visa,
Philadelphia, PA (May 11, 2018).
 Speaker alongside government officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), FBI,
Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),
Know Your Rights/Immigration Clinic, Gurudwara, Virginia, May 6, 2018.
 Speaker, Workshop on Work Visa and Other Visa Options and Immigration Strategy for
International Students, Scholars, Researchers, Scientists, Faculty, George Mason University, VA,
April 23, 2018 and May 10, 2017.
TRADE DELEGATIONS :
 Part of the U.S. trade delegation to the Trade Winds Conference and Trade Mission in New Delhi,
India, May 2019. U.S. trade delegation was led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
 International delegate from the U.S. at DAXPO BUSAN 2019 (Digital Asset Exchange Expo is the
world's first event that caters major cryptocurrency exchanges and companies in the cryptocurrency
industry), Busan, South Korea.
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 5 of 7
 U.S. legal professional delegate to the Invest in the USA's roadshows in Seoul (South Korea), Taipei,
(Taiwan) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), 2019. It is a premier business development and
educational event connecting investors and investment professionals.
PRO BONO ENGAGEMENTS :
 Volunteer and Expert Mentor for the DC Bar for its pro bono immigration programs (ongoing
since 2015).
 Legal services to members of U.S. Armed Services and their families under Military Assistance
Program (MAP), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (ongoing since 2017).
 Legal services in Virginia for naturalizations as part of AILA Constitution Day ( ongoing since
2018).
 Legal services to university students, scientists, faculties, and staff members on various visa and
immigration options, George Masion University, George Washington University, Georgetown
University (ongoing since 2019).
 Provided legal consultations to congregations of Gurudwara in Virginia (2018).
 Provided legal consultations and legal services to applicants for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) for Nepal (2015-2017) and legal consultations to Haitian nationals (March 1, 2018).
 Provided pro bono and volunteer services to Legal Services of Northern Virginia for their family
law cases (2014-2015).
 Provided pro bono and volunteer services to clients through Washington Lawyers Committee
for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington D.C. on matters of TPS (2015).
 Provided legal guide to attorneys at a major law firm about possible Alien Torts Statute or private
action in U.S. against U.S. businesses and individuals involved in alleged violations of human
rights (2014).
 Provided pro bono and volunteer services to Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights
and Urban Affairs, Washington D.C. on matters of foreclosure defense and educated tenants
about their rights in foreclosure (2012).
 Provided legal research services to pro bono attorneys at a major law firm on a pending Alien
Torts Statute against U.S. businesses involved in violations of human rights where plaintiff
recovered substantial damages (2011).
 Provided legal research services to pro bono attorneys at law school on an asylum case (2010).
 Provided pro bono legal help in securing legal representation for imprisoned inmate in Kerala,
India (2008).
 Led a student -legal team filing a winning Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case against a major
telecom company (2007) for violating congressional acts and regulations.
PUBLIC INTEREST AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS :
 Chair, The Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community Development, District of
Columbia. (2017-2022, member; Chair 2022- Present)
 Member of the Board, South Asian Bar Association of District of Columbia. (2026- Present).
 Co-Organizer of the Washington DC Pick Up Soccer, one of the largest in the nation. (2016- Present)
 Volunteer Judge for the International Rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court
Competition, Washington, DC since 2010- present.
 Member of the board, America Nepal Society, Virginia, 2022-2024.
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 6 of 7
 Former Secretary of the Executive Board and Chair-HR Committee of the Durga Temple, Fairfax
Station, Virginia (2016-2019, and 2019-2022). Awarded an excellence in service.
 Pro bono legal services to university students and scientists on various visa and immigration options,
George Washington University, George Mason University; pro bono legal services in Virginia and
Maryland for naturalizations as part of AILA Constitution Day (2019 and 2018).
 Provided pro bono legal consultations and legal services to applicants for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) for Nepal (2015-2018) and legal consultations to Haitian nationals (2018).
 Former member of the Board and Programming Committee, MIT Enterprise Forum, Washington,
DC & Baltimore. (2019- 2022).
 Involved in the Habitat Building for homeless families of Washington, D.C. and Tree Planting drive
of Energy Bar Association (2010-2011).
 Organized outreach events in Kathmandu, Nepal for the Center for Human Rights and Global
Justice of the NYU School of Law, New York, NY (2008).
BAR ADMISSIONS
• Admitted to New York State bar.
• Admitted to Nepal Bar Council.
M
EMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
• American Immigration Lawyers Association
o Member, District of Columbia Chapter
o Member, AILA Military Assistance Program (MAP)
o Member, Non-Profit Interest Group
o Member, Hispanic/Latino Interest Group
o Member, African-American Interest Group
o Member, Middle Eastern Interest Group
o Member, Asian Interest Group
• American Bar Association
o Section of International Law
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• Asian Pacific American Bar Association-District of Columbia (DC)
• South Asian Bar Association of North America
o Past Chair, Immigration Law Committee of South Asian Bar Association-- DC
• Former member, Federal Bar Association.
• Former Member, British American Business Association, Washington D.C.
• Former general member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
• Former Member, Arab American Business Council of Greater Washington D.C.
• Former Member, TiE-DC (an entrepreneur society).
• Former Member, American Society of International Law.
LAN GUAGES:
• English, Hindi, Nepali, conversant in Bhojpuri, Urdu, and beginner in French and Sanskrit.
PUBLICATIONS
• Blogs at https://niranjan.us/ and law articles: https://www.adhikarilaw.com/news-alerts/
Adhikari, Niranjan Page 7 of 7
INTERESTS, AND TRAVEL & EXTRACURRICULAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Soccer, bicycling, blogging, and supporting nonprofit and sustainability causes.
• Co-Organizer of a major soccer group (members more than 9,000) in Greater Washington Metropolitan
region since 2011.
• Trekked unsuccessfully to the Annapurna base camp, (10th highest mountain in the world, 26,545 ft., one of
the most dangerous expeditions) without portable Oxygen, November, 2005; Captain of the high school
soccer team, 1996- 2000.
*
Admitted only in New York, and practice is limited to matters and proceedings before federal courts and
agencies.
E
xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
N
iranjan Adhikari
M
r. Niranjan Adhikari is the Managing Attorney with Adhikari Law
PLLC. He represents businesses and individuals in immigration,
nationality law , and international law matters while also representing
large multinational corporations, domestic corporations, foreign
corporations seeking business expansion in the U.S., entrepreneurs, and
relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. He is actively engaged
in community development, writes on current issues, and advises on
immigration policy changes through his publications and public events.
Mr. Adhikari is a member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar
Association, Asian Pacific American Bar Association – District of
Columbia (DC), American Bar Association (Section on International Law
and the India Committee), American Society of International Law, South Asian Bar Association,
Network of South Asian Professionals (NetSAP), and American Immigration Lawyers
Association, among others.
A Ward 2 resident, Mr. Adhikri earned his Bachelor of Laws from Purbanchal University in Nepal
and a Master of Laws from the University of California, Berkeley.

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: May 4, 2026
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Niranjan Adhikari as a
member of the Commission on Human Rights
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish