Nikhil Gupta, who has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court in connection with the alleged plot targeting Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has brought in a high-powered New York legal team as his case enters the critical sentencing phase.
Court filings show that Isabelle A. Kirshner entered an appearance on 6 April, followed by Brian David Linder on 7 April, both as retained counsel.
The two are senior partners at Clayman, Rosenberg, Kirshner & Linder LLP, a highly regarded New York white-collar defence firm with extensive experience in federal criminal litigation.
Kirshner is a veteran trial lawyer with decades of experience in complex criminal cases. She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and has since built a reputation in white-collar defence, handling fraud, racketeering, and other serious federal matters. She is ranked among the top tier of New York practitioners in her field and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a distinction limited to a small group of leading trial attorneys.
Linder, who brings over three decades of litigation experience, is a senior figure within the same firm and has handled a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters, including fraud and financial crime. He is recognised by legal directories for his courtroom strength and strategic approach and is considered a seasoned practitioner in federal defence work.
The addition of both lawyers signals an escalation in Gupta’s legal strategy even after his guilty plea entered on 13 February 2026. By entering this plea, Gupta has formally admitted to the factual basis of the charges—murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering—narrowing the court’s focus entirely to sentencing.
Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, sentencing remains a highly contested phase. While Gupta faces a statutory maximum of up to 40 years, the actual sentence will depend on a technical assessment of offence levels, the statutory factors under Section 3553(a), and disputes over how the conduct is characterised, including questions of relevant conduct that can significantly affect sentencing exposure.
Gupta is reported to face sentencing on 29 May before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
The engagement of a senior defence team at this stage reflects the importance of the sentencing phase, where the outcome will depend not on the question of guilt, which has been settled, but on how the admitted conduct is interpreted under federal sentencing rules and how effectively the defence can argue for leniency.
