AttorneySubodh Chandra
The Chandra Law Firm LLC
1265 W. 6th Street, Suite 400, Cleveland, Ohio, 44113
Cleveland's Premier Civil Rights Litigator
Subodh Chandra is one of Ohio's most prominent civil rights and constitutional law attorneys, and the founding principal of The Chandra Law Firm LLC in Cleveland, Ohio. A former Assistant United States Attorney and former City of Cleveland Director of Law, Chandra has spent decades holding government entities and law enforcement accountable for violations of constitutional rights. His career spans high-profile civil rights litigation, government reform, and appellate advocacy at the state and federal levels.
Chandra and his firm have been at the forefront of police misconduct litigation in Ohio, representing victims of excessive force, wrongful arrest, and civil rights abuses at the hands of law enforcement. The firm has litigated landmark cases against the Cleveland Division of Police and other government entities, and Chandra has been a consistent voice for systemic reform in policing. His work contributed to significant legal and policy changes in how Cleveland and Ohio handle police accountability.
Among his most notable representations, Chandra served as lead counsel in cases arising from the November 2012 Cleveland police chase that ended in the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, in which 137 shots were fired at the unarmed couple. He has also represented individuals subjected to unconstitutional stops, searches, and brutality by law enforcement officers across Ohio. His appellate work has shaped civil rights jurisprudence in the Sixth Circuit and Ohio courts.
Chandra is widely recognized for his courtroom excellence and his commitment to justice for marginalized communities. He has been named among Ohio's top lawyers by numerous legal publications and peer organizations, and he is known for taking on difficult, high-stakes cases against powerful government defendants. His firm combines deep litigation experience with a mission-driven approach to civil rights enforcement.
Notable Results
- Lead counsel in civil litigation arising from the 2012 Cleveland police shooting of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, in which 137 shots were fired at unarmed victims — case resulted in significant settlements and drove federal DOJ consent decree negotiations
- Successfully litigated multiple seven-figure civil rights settlements against the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Division of Police for excessive force and wrongful death
- Represented plaintiffs in cases contributing to the 2015 federal consent decree between the City of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice regarding unconstitutional policing practices
Key Characteristics
- Served as the City of Cleveland Director of Law, giving him unique insight into government liability and municipal legal strategy that he now uses to hold those same institutions accountable.
- Former Assistant United States Attorney with federal prosecution experience that informs his approach to civil rights litigation in federal courts.
- Founding principal of The Chandra Law Firm LLC, a boutique litigation firm focused on constitutional rights, civil rights, and government accountability cases throughout Ohio.
- Lead counsel in the landmark civil cases stemming from the 2012 Cleveland police chase shooting of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, one of the most high-profile police misconduct cases in Ohio history.
- Has litigated civil rights and police misconduct cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, shaping precedent on law enforcement accountability.
- Consistently recognized as one of Ohio's top trial attorneys by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and other peer-reviewed legal rating organizations.
- Advocates for systemic reform in law enforcement practices alongside individual case representation, connecting litigation outcomes to broader policy change.