University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law is excited to welcome seven new faculty members for the 2025–26 academic year. These professors bring a wide range of expertise in advocacy, policy, dispute resolution, and academic success that will further strengthen McGeorge’s programs and support students in preparing to be practice-ready lawyers.

Rishi Batra joins as a Visiting Professor of Law, bringing national recognition as a scholar and teacher in alternative dispute resolution. He earned his JD degree cum laude from Harvard Law School and has held faculty positions at Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Mary’s University School of Law. Professor Batra has also served as a visiting professor or lecturer at the law schools of Stanford, Oregon, and UNLV, and his scholarship explores negotiation and mediation across diverse legal areas. He previously served as the first director of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Leadership and Appropriate Dispute Resolution Program. He will teach courses on dispute resolution, bringing both academic expertise and practical experience. 

Ashley Boulton ‘12 joins the faculty as a Visiting Professor of Law, teaching in the Global Lawyering Skills program. A McGeorge graduate, she clerked for Ninth Circuit Judge Consuelo María Callahan ’75 and spent more than a decade in private practice focusing on appeals and complex litigation. Since graduating, Professor Boulton has remained active with McGeorge’s moot court program as an alumni coach and has also mentored students in high school law academies. Her practical experience as a litigator and teacher will benefit students preparing for diverse legal careers.

Paige Davidson ‘19 joins as a Visiting Professor of Law. A 2019 McGeorge alumna, she clerked for U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley for more than five years. During her clerkship, Professor Davidson worked on a high volume of civil and criminal cases and gained valuable insight into effective advocacy from a court’s perspective. Professor Davidson previously taught Global Lawyering Skills as an adjunct professor and has served as an alumni moot court team coach. At McGeorge, she will teach Global Lawyering Skills and Evidence. She hopes to inspire students to master practical legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills that are vital to success in the legal field.

Nicolas Heidorn joins as an Assistant Professor of Law and Public Policy. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has worked extensively in shaping ethics, elections, and governance reform in California. He previously led Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission, served as Chief Consultant to the California Senate Elections Committee, and worked with California Common Cause. Professor Heidorn’s expertise in redistricting, campaign finance, and government ethics will strengthen McGeorge’s teaching in state and local policymaking. 

Chinwe Ohanele joins as a Visiting Professor of Law and will teach in the Global Lawyering Skills program. She brings more than 15 years of experience as an attorney, educator, and program strategist. Professor Ohanele is the founder of a boutique law practice counseling entrepreneurs and creative professionals, and serves as senior program manager at the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property. Her teaching and research focus on the intersection of intellectual property, technology, and cultural expression, with an emphasis on historically marginalized communities in the U.S. and the Global South. She earned a BS degree from the University of the Pacific and a JD degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

Antoinette Pierre-Louis joins as Director of Academic Success and Assistant Professor of Law. She earned a JD degree from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from Florida International University, later teaching at Palm Beach State College and North Carolina Central University School of Law. Professor Pierre-Louis brings extensive experience as a prosecutor, private practitioner, and academic leader, and will focus on empowering McGeorge students through courses in legal analysis and bar preparation. 

William Shapiro joins as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law and Interim Assistant Director of Trial Advocacy. He earned a JD degree from the University of Colorado School of Law and spent 25 years representing the federal government in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment Division. His work included high-profile environmental litigation involving Fifth Amendment, breach of trust, and breach of contract claims. Professor Shapiro will teach Trial Advocacy, Mock Trial Evidence, and Global Lawyering Skills, enriching McGeorge’s nationally recognized Trial Advocacy Program.

McGeorge School of Law is proud to welcome these distinguished faculty members, whose expertise in advocacy, policymaking, litigation, dispute resolution, and academic success will enrich the classroom experience and prepare students for careers in today’s legal field.