Spotlight on Riyaz Bhimani
April 29, 2019
Riyaz Bhimani joined the firm’s White Plains office in 2010. With two siblings, he grew up as the middle child in Attleboro, Massachusetts, an old mill town on the train line between Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. His father, who grew up in Tanzania, met his future wife in college in Mumbai, India. They settled down in Attleboro after Riyaz was born, and have been part of the community ever since.
Riyaz and Suma, his wife of nearly 15 years, live in Larchmont, New York, with their daughters Shyla (11) and Rahel (4), son Gabryel (8), and an 18-pound tabby cat named Chana, which means “chickpea” in Hindi. Everyone in the home, Chana included, has a strong, unique personality, he says. “There are no dull or quiet moments in our house after 6 a.m.”
Riyaz practices in the area of commercial litigation, with a concentration in representing financial institutions and mortgage servicers. He litigates before state and federal courts, including matters pertaining to commercial and residential foreclosures, debt collection, lender liability, mortgage fraud/predatory lending, business torts, state and federal consumer protection statutes, and other alleged violations of law arising from lending, servicing, and collections activity. Riyaz also litigates employment discrimination and harassment claims, aviation industry-related claims, and other commercial matters, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Q&A
What led you to pursue a career in law?
Organic Chemistry! I went to the University of Michigan and as a freshman started taking these higher level science classes. It was tough. I changed my focus to liberal arts and began enjoying school again. I even wrote for the school paper. I saw law school as a further extension of my education—where I could continue to grow through reading, writing, and critical thinking.
What do you enjoy most about your practice?
Like others, I take satisfaction in understanding a particular issue and coming to a solution. But I “enjoy” the process of getting there. . . usually in the hours at the end of the day when the phone stop ringing and the e-mails slow down.
What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you?
I am not an elite athlete. (sarcasm)
What’s the last TV show you binged-watched?
Veep. It’s hilarious and definitely not politically correct.
What’s your most memorable trip or vacation?
When I was a kid, my family visited my father’s childhood home in Tanzania. I was sick half the time, didn’t appreciate the food, and was a bit unnerved by seeing a wrecked single-prop plane in the landing path to the airport where heavily armed security guards were everywhere. When I go back, it will be with a completely different perspective.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A sanitation worker. My third grade teacher never believed me, but I wanted to hang off the back of that truck!
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
“Eyes on the ball.” It applies to more than just sports.