About
Attorney Ruchee Janardan Patel (colloquially known as “Ruchee like Gucci" / "It's Gucci With Ruchee”) is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with nearly 20 years of legal experience in West Tennessee. Practicing law since 2007, Attorney Patel joined Donati Law, PLLC in January 2024, focusing her practice on complex federal and state criminal defense, sentencing mitigation, and traffic citation defense.
A first-generation attorney and daughter of hard-working immigrants, Patel was raised in Bolivar, Tennessee, after spending time in Chicago. After graduating from the University School of Jackson, she moved to Memphis on her own in 2007, passed the Tennessee bar on her first attempt, and navigated the 2008 financial crisis by building an independent, self-made solo legal practice from the ground up on pure merit. She operated her successful private practice for 17 years before joining Donati Law, PLLC. This background gives her deep insight into law practice management, from trust accounting and contract negotiations to client communications, and instills a rare combination of constitutional grit, private-sector efficiency, and empathy for her clients' time and resources.
Patel manages the complete lifecycle of criminal litigation, from initial bond hearings to full jury trials and appeals in all city, state, and federal courts in West Tennessee. She has successfully defended clients against a broad range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug trafficking, firearms violations, violent crimes, RICO, organized crime, mail fraud, white-collar crimes, and DUI/DWI.
Beyond trial advocacy, Patel offers a holistic approach to defense through sentencing mitigation and mental health representation. She presents the whole person behind the case file, addressing trauma, background, and underlying mental health conditions. She also serves as a compassionate, experienced advocate representing individuals and families navigating involuntary mental health commitments to safeguard their constitutional rights. Additionally, she defends regular and commercial drivers facing traffic citations to help maintain clean driving records and protect their livelihoods.
Patel and her late dog, PACER (whom she named after the federal court electronic records system), made Memphis their home, where she remains actively involved in civic and community leadership.
Federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Attorney
Patel is a rigorously vetted member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, serving the Western Division since 2015 and the Eastern Division since 2017.
CJA Panel attorneys are highly qualified, private attorneys with demonstrated litigation skills, expertise with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, federal sentencing procedures, the Bail Reform Act, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence. They play a critical role in safeguarding a defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel in serious federal criminal prosecutions.
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense
- DUI/DWI Defense
- Drug Crimes
- Theft Crimes
- Violent Crimes
- Sex Crimes
- Appeals
- Expungements
Bar Admissions & Certifications
- State of Tennessee (2007)
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (2015)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2019)
- Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Attorney
Education
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) – University of Mississippi School of Law
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing – University of Tennessee, Knoxville (College of Business Administration)
- MBA Leadership Forum Graduate – Memphis Bar Association
- TACDL Trial College Graduate – Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- High School: University School of Jackson
Awards, Honors & Ratings
- Super Lawyers – Selected for 2025
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars – Mid-South Rising Star (2022)
- Avvo Rating – Perfect 10.0 Superb Rating
- YMCA of Memphis & Mid-South – Volunteer of the Year (2013)
Professional Associations & Leadership
- Memphis Bar Association (MBA): Board of Directors (2023), Resurrected and served as Chairperson of the Criminal Law Section, Former Director & CLE Chairperson of the Young Lawyers Division, Shelby County Courthouse Centennial History Committee
- Tennessee Asian Pacific American Bar Association (TAPABA): Board Member
- American Inns of Court: Member, Howell Edmunds Jackson Chapter
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
- Federal Bar Association (FBA)
- Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Community Involvement & Media
- Television Media Expert: Volunteer Attorney for WREG-TV CBS Channel 3 "Legal Lines" live broadcasts.
- Playhouse on the Square: Board Member (2019), Executive Committee Member, and Special Events Committee Chairperson.
- Fogelman Downtown YMCA: Former Branch Advisory Board Member.
- South Main Memphis Neighborhood Association: Active Member.
- Pro Bono & Civic: Volunteer Attorney for Project Homeless Connect, volunteer advocate for involuntary mental health commitment proceedings, High School Mock Trial Volunteer Judge, Walk to End Alzheimer's Team Member, and Sigma Kappa Sorority (Greater Mid-South Alumnae Chapter Vice President & Collegiate Chapter Advisor).