BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, November 20, 2024: “Gokare Law Firm (GLF) started in 1999! It really began as an idea and as an aspiration fueled by a desire to be “my own boss.” What started in the spare bedroom of our tiny starter home in Marietta, GA has grown organically over the last 25 years into a niche practice focused on Business Immigration with offices in Alpharetta, GA and Bangalore, India,” Manjunath Gokare, Founder and Partner of GLF said at the gala gathering of their milestone celebration. “Thank you so much Manjunath and I deeply appreciate the steadfast support I have received from you over all these years – at the home front and at work. As you often say- we truly are Partners in Crime!” Shilpa Gokare, his life and GLF Partner, expressed.
Its humble beginnings in the spare bedroom of the Gokare home notwithstanding, today, GLF is a premier metro Atlanta-based law firm that provides legal services in the areas of Business and Family Immigration and Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning. GLF is an active member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association – the Premier Bar Association of Immigration Attorneys in US) and has served in leadership roles at AILA. GLF has filed over 30+K immigration petitions and serves over thirty nationality clients.
Celebrating this success, GLF hosted its silver anniversary reflecting on the journey and recognizing its clients, staff, and those part of their story, on November 1, 20024 at Astro Celebrations. Consul General of India, Atlanta, Hon. Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan graced the occasion. “Today is not just a milestone for our firm, but a testament to the journey we’ve shared, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the successes we’ve achieved together,” Manjunath opened.
Interestingly, both Shilpa and Manjunath set out on different career paths initially. While Shilpa originally trained and worked as a Licensed Social Worker in areas like Alcohol and Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS support, Manjunath spent more than nine years as a Civil/Environmental Engineer.
Change of course
After its launch in 1999, in 2001, Gokare couple moved to Alpharetta, but the practice was still run from their home until 2002. “While I was grateful for the ability to start the firm from home, I quickly realized that to grow, I needed a professional space. In 2002, I took the leap and purchased our first office building, where we’ve been ever since,” Manjunath expressed.
Despite being a licensed Professional Engineer for more than nine years, Manjunath felt his “career wasn’t advancing”. At the time, he worked extensively with lawyers, regulators, and engineers on Clean Water Act pretreatment regulations, and noticed that the lawyers often struggled to grasp the technical aspects of the work. This realization sparked an idea for him to carve out a niche in Environmental Law by bridging the gap between the legal and technical fields. Despite his best efforts, by 2002, Manjunath found it challenging to establish a foothold in the close-knit Plaintiff’s Environmental Law area. Meanwhile, immigration law cases were flowing in more frequently. After moving into their new office in 2002, he decided to shift focus entirely to Immigration Law.
Shilpa began her career in India in the field of adoptions and in the US was involved with AID Atlanta. While she was expecting her second child, Kaushal, in 2000, she had stepped back from her role at AID Atlanta to help Manjunath with his budding law practice from their Marietta home. Back then, she did everything from filing LCAs to playing the role of secretary—helping out in any way she could. When it was time to re-enter the work force, Shilpa, considering Manjunath’s suggestion, decided to earn a Law degree instead and join him in his practice. Two young kids and a tough degree only pushed her to work harder – Shilpa had also found her calling! “Balancing law school, home life, and motherhood, Shilpa handled everything with grace, patience, and strength,” Manjunath said. Post law school, Shilpa received a job offer from a local law firm where she had interned. She worked there for two years before joining Gokare Law Firm part-time.
A Growing Legacy
In 2016, the Gokare couple opened an office in Bengaluru, India. GLF is assisted by Gokare LPO, Bengaluru, India in its day-to-day operations with their team of India Trained Lawyers, Case Managers and Intake Staff.
Recognitions
“While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the practice of law, what I treasure most are the relationships I’ve built along the way,” Manjunath said. He recognized GLF supporters over the years – colleague Krishna Palagummi, Mrs. Geetha and Harsha Agadi, Mrs. Jana and Dr. Ramesh Iyer, Mike Stevens, Donna Stevens, Jessica Wood, and Stacey Robinson. GLF long time client Satya Ahuja, CEO of Open Systems, Keith Cricks, CEO of KLC Consulting in Tallahassee, Florida, Viju Chiluveru, CEO of VCIT Solutions, Inc, Srinivas Muddasani, CEO of S2IT Group, LLC, Havagi Sidram, President of Donyati, LLC, Venu Pisike, CEO of Ecovue Solutions, LLC, Harshad Parashare, CEO of ParaShare, LLC, Indorama, Polyplex, Pyramid Consulting, Tangensis, and Ebix were recognized.
I’m celebrating 10th Anniversary here with them. They are very prompt, efficient, and truthful. They tell you what’s the truth and what they can do. Their back office in Bangalore is very efficient. I love them because they have the same qualities that VCIT Solutions has,” Viju Chiluveru, CEO VCIT Solutions, Inc, told NRI Pulse.
Shilpa thanked Chris Miller, her guide and mentor, Pari & Rajesh Jyotishi, Suhanthan, IT support, Mehul and Roy, Media and website team, Mary, the bookkeeper, and Krishnan and Company, accountants for their support.
Initially, Shilpa worked at Miller’s law firm, where she honed her skills in drafting Wills and trusts, and handling powers of attorney. After moving to another firm, she expanded her practice areas, which benefited Miller’s firm by enabling them to refer to her business. “We are able to refer business to us and she’s able to refer some business to us and it is good relationship,” Miller said
“I will be completely remised if I do not acknowledge the backbone of our practice- dedicated staff- your commitment, loyalty, professionalism and passion that you all bring to the table each day is what makes our Gokare Law firm thrive and we could not have done this without your unwavering support,” Shilpa said.
Gokares presented awards to their staff including Ashwini Desai, Office Director of Gokare LPO in Bangalore, Vijaya Lanka, Sumathy Sivagurunathan, Sandhya Jamadagni, Keerthan Mohan Murali, Mannat Sabharwal, Ramya Bellala, and Shivani Raviprakash.
In closing, Gokare couple recognized their family gathered at the event for their support – daughter Varsha and son Kaushal, Manjunath’s brothers, Ravi and Murali, and their spouses, Shyla and Vathsala, and their families, his cousins Manjula and Keerthi Pandit and his mother-in-law, Dr. Shanta Desai.
At the event, Manjunath cited an anecdote when Shilpa agreed to go circumnavigating the globe for 40 days with their two-year-old in tow, using up their entire savings. This was right after his bar exam. They returned home broke but happy. And, as luck would have it, Manjunath passed the bar exam, and Gokare Law Firm was born. As guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, which also happened to be a Diwali night, it was also a time to reflect upon ways couples can illuminate each other when the darkness of egos are conquered together, with faith, determination and belief in each other.
