White Collar Criminal Defense

James & Associates represents criminal defendants and witnesses in criminal matters, with particular expertise in federal white-collar crime cases.  Ms. James has represented clients at all stages of criminal proceedings, from investigation through appeal and post-conviction petitions, and has succeeded in obtaining dismissals of charges, reversals on appeal, and reduced sentences for her clients.  She has represented defendants in cases involving significant RICO and fraud charges, criminal antitrust, environmental crimes, export violations, false statements, obstruction of justice, drug offenses, violent crimes, and sex crimes.  Ms. James was co-counsel to Bill Cosby in his criminal retrial involving sexual assault allegations, serving as the trial team's appellate expert.

Ms. James spent 12 years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, serving as the Chief of the Criminal Appeals Section and the Chief and Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section.  She tried felony jury trials and also trained and supervised new attorneys in their trial work.  Ms. James’s experience as a federal prosecutor is invaluable to her clients.  She knows how prosecutors think and can anticipate their strategies.  She knows how to talk to prosecutors and, when appropriate, can effectively negotiate favorable dispositions for her clients.

Ms. James is a recognized expert on white collar crime issues.  She has been named a Top White Collar Lawyer in California.  Ms. James has also written articles on criminal law issues and was featured on the cover of Los Angeles Lawyer magazine for an article on prescription drug cases.  She has taught White Collar Crime as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School, and she was also an instructor of trial advocacy and appellate advocacy at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center.  She has given seminars on various criminal law issues, including honest services fraud, corporate criminal liability, and government investigations.  She works as Of Counsel with Waymaker LLP in Los Angeles, California on significant white-collar matters.