Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy - BNCL Law Offices

Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy (BNCL) is a civil rights law firm based in Oakland, CA, founded in 1985 by John L. Burris. The firm represents individuals in cases involving police misconduct—deadly force, excessive force, false arrest, shootings, racial profiling, wrongful conviction, and illegal searches—as well as broader constitutional and civil rights matters, including ADA claims, cruel and unusual punishment, hate crimes, and ICE/DHS misconduct. BNCL also handles employment discrimination (gender, race, sexual harassment, wrongful termination), personal injury (wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries), appellate work in state and federal courts, and selected criminal defense.

With more than 90 years of combined legal experience, BNCL serves clients across Northern and Southern California, with offices in Oakland and Beverly Hills, and an additional office in Minneapolis. The firm has represented victims whose cases influenced police reform, including Rodney King, Oscar Grant, and Theresa Sheehan, and has advised public officials and notable clients such as former San Francisco Police Chief Earl Sanders, Tupac Shakur, Delroy Lindo, Keyshawn Johnson, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, and Aaron Goodwin. BNCL’s litigation has contributed to changes in policies on racial profiling, use of force (including canines and Tasers), in-custody deaths, crowd control, treatment of people with mental impairments, and exposure of police corruption, including the “Oakland Riders” case.