When great men and women embark on the pursuit of education, they usually leave a mark on the world. Khagendra Chhetry, the first Nepali admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, is one of those great men who has used every opportunity to learn and impart his knowledge for a better society.
Mr. Chhetry was a wanderer since an early age. He received his high school degree from Devchuli Ma. Bi, Nawalparasi, Nepal, and LL.B from the Tribhuvan University, Institute of Law, Kathmandu. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Nepal on March 7, 1981. After studying for an M.C.L at Delhi University, India, he taught law at Nepal Law Campus, Tribhuvan University. After moving to New York, he received a Juris Doctor from the Fordham University School of Law. When in Fordham, he was an active member of Fordham Entertainment, Media & Intellectual Property and earned the Fordham Public Interest Law Award. He was the finalist of Murase & White Fellowships and the I. Maurice Wormer Moot Court Competition. In 1986, he received LL.M. from the Columbia University School of Law in New York, NY.
Moreover, he was also involved with the Academy of International and Comparative Law, the Southwestern Legal Foundation, and the University of Texas at Dallas. In 1990, Khagendra Represented Nepal at the Constitution Recommendations Commission of Nepal to the United States. He organized the New Constitution of Nepal Conference at Columbia Law School, New York, on July 27-28, 1990, with the participation of many U.S. law experts and professors.
In December 1987, Khagendra became the first Nepali to become a member of an American Bar when he was admitted to practice law in the State of New York. Ever since August of 1994, he became the President and Managing Partner of Cherty & Associates, P.C., New York, known as one of the most successful law firms in the States. He is involved in the general practice of law, including all aspects of immigration and nationality law and trial work, real-estate closing, civil litigation, landlord-tenant, representing small and medium size corporations and individual clients, handling federal appeals with successful reported cases, criminal, business closing and bankruptcy, matrimonial and personal injury cases, representing clients with a proven track record of over 20 years.
From 1991-1993, Khagendra Reviewed and wrote decisions on appeals taken from Administrative Law Judges’ decisions and advised Commissioners on civil rights law and other legal matters of the New York City Commission on Human Rights as an Assistant General Counsel. Khagendra is a Board Member of the America Nepal Medical Foundation. He was the Past President Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal. He has been the Co-chair of the task force on the Continuation of Nepal Citizenship for NRNs and ICC Members from 2015 until now. He has been an Honorary NRN Advisor of the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 2016 until now.
Khagendra is as excellent in living a peaceful life as Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, and English. He is married to Dr. Rekha Hamal Chetry and is gifted with a wonderful son, Nevin Chetry.