Bhavani believes that her job includes advocating to change the law, pursuing her clients’ goals of systemic change, and fighting for greater civil rights protections for anyone interacting with government entities. She prioritizes shining a spotlight on injustice whenever she can.
Advocacy
In July 2022, Bhavani testified before the House Judiciary Committee, in support of adding respondeat superior to actions brought against individual police officers under the Civil Rights Act. Respondeat superior is the concept that an employer is responsible for the harmful actions of its employees that are committed as part of their employment. This measure would ensure that police officers receive the same coverage as other employees when acting within their job duties and that victims of police violence are ensured compensation for their physical, mental, and emotional injuries (such as medical bills, future required medical treatment, and mental health support services). See her testimony here: Link to Video.
In November 2025, Bhavani served as lead trial counsel in Jean v. Guyger, a police wrongful death shooting of 26-year-old Botham Jean as he sat peacefully in his own home. The resulting $98,650,000 verdict demonstrated the harm to the Jean family (pictured left) and the tremendous loss of Botham, the light of his family’s life. The jury’s verdict sent a strong message that life is precious and that unconstitutional actions by officers should be strongly sanctioned.
Bhavani frequently advocates for her clients’ access to civil justice at the local and federal levels. That includes trips to Washington, DC, and Springfield, IL, to speak to elected officials about pending law. In May of 2024, along with the American Association of Justice Minority Caucus, Bhavani met with elected officials in DC to discuss ending forced arbitration in racial harassment claims. In April 2025, along with the Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association’s Women’s Caucus Bhavani met with elected officials in Springfield to discuss ensuring protections for children in foster care. In March 2025, Bhavani presented at a symposium discussing trends in plaintiff-side access to justice between scholars and practitioners. Plaintiff Side Symposium.