Nimish R. Desai is a partner specializing in False Claims Act, class action, and environmental torts cases, and has helped secure over a billion dollar in settlements through his cases. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer each year from 2013-2025 and has been repeatedly named to The Best Lawyers in America list in the field of Qui Tam Law.
Nimish is a leading False Claims Act lawyer. He regularly presents to national conferences on FCA topics, and has long served in leadership roles in The Anti-Fraud Coalition, the preeminent national whistleblower law organization. Nimish’s successes have come in both under seal settlements and in cases with extensive litigation, with and without the government’s involvement. Notable False Claims Act representation include:
•U.S. ex rel. Barrett v. Allergan - led the litigation involving Allergan’s alleged inaccurate reporting of the price of Botox to the Medicare program. After the government declined, Nimish prosecuted the case and secured a confidential, favorable settlement in 2022, and a reported decision awarding attorneys’ fees and costs.
•U.S. ex rel. [under seal] v. Gold Coast Health Plan - $71 million settlement in a case alleging that a health plan and prominent hospitals defrauded the California and the United States of Medicaid funds by allegedly misrepresenting the plans’ medical loss ratio (MLR).
•U.S. ex rel. Rockville v. Sutter Health - $46 million settlement alleging fraudulent charges by Sutter Health hospitals. Nimish and Lieff Cabraser lawyers litigated the case for three years before reaching a settlement, and were deputized by the California Department of Insurance to serve as lead trial counsel.
•U.S. ex rel. Dye v. ATK - $37 million settlement alleging sale of defective products to the United States military. Nimish and Lieff Cabraser lawyers litigated alongside the Department of Justice for many years before reaching the settlement.
•San Francisco ex rel. Schneider v. AT&T Corp., et al. - currently leading the litigation against major telecommunications companies for underreporting and underpaying telecom fees owed to the City and County of San Francisco.
•Various Under Seal Matters - Nimish currently represents whistleblowers in numerous health care and defense procurement matters that are under seal in federal courts throughout the country.
With his chemical engineering background, Nimish also works on the firm’s environmental and class action practices, often handling highly technical expert issues.
•Santa Barbara Oil Spill -$230 million settlement in 2022 with Plains All American Pipeline. Nimish led the effort to demonstrate the company’s negligent maintenance of the pipeline, and to challenge the company’s estimate of the spill volume.
•Takata Airbag Litigation - $1+ billion in settlements to date.
•BP Solar Panel Defects - $67 million settlement
•TVA Coal Ash Spill - $28 million settlement
•Bextra-Celebrex MDL - $900 million settlement.
Publications & Presentations
•“Litigating Declined Cases,” 23rd Annual TAF Coalition Conference, October 2023
•“FCA Hot Topics, Taxpayers Against Fraud Annual Conference,” October 2022
•“Holding Private Equity Accountable, Future of Fraud Conference, Taxpayers Against Fraud,” May 11, 2022
•“Department of Defense Procurement Fraud, Taxpayers Against Fraud Annual Conference,” October 2021
•“Recent Developments in the Public Disclosure Bar, Taxpayers Against Fraud Annual Conference,” October 2020
•“BP, Exxon Valdez, and Class-Wide Punitive Damages,” 21 Class Action and Derivative Suit Committee Newsletter, Fall 2010
•“American Chemistry Council v. Johnson: Community Right to Know, But About What? D.C. Circuit Takes Restrictive View of EPCRA,” 33 Ecology L.Q. 583, Winter 2006, 2006
•“Lessons Learned and Unlearned: A Case Study of Medical Malpractice Award Caps in Texas,” The Subcontinental, Vol. 1, Issue, 4, pp. 81-87, Winter 2004
•“Separation of Fine Particulate Matter Emitted From Gasoline and Diesel Vehicles Using Chemical Mass Balancing Techniques,” Environmental Science Technology, 37(17) pp. 3904-3909, 2003
•“Analysis of Motor Vehicle Emissions in a Houston Tunnel during Texas Air Quality Study 2000,” Atmospheric Environment, 38, 3363-3372, 2004
Honors & Awards
•Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in field of “Qui Tam Law,” 2016 - 2023, 2025, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2021-2025
•“Super Lawyer for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2013 - 2025
•“40 and Under Hot List,” Benchmark Litigation, 2018 - 2022
•“Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer,” Daily Journal, 2019
•“Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist,” Consumer Attorneys of California, 2014
•“Rising Star for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2012
In the News
•February 17, 2026
30 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2026
•October 23, 2025
Nimish Desai Pens Piece for The Anti-Fraud Coalition: Protecting Your Identity in Whistleblower Lawsuits
•September 8, 2025
Twenty-Seven Lieff Cabraser Partners Named to 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America” List
•August 21, 2025
36 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2026 Best Lawyers Listings
•June 30, 2025
28 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Selected as 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
