James E. Felman has concentrated his practice of law in the defense of complex criminal matters and related civil litigation for over 30 years. Mr. Felman represents clients in federal and state matters in every phase of the criminal process -- investigation, trial, sentencing, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings. He has represented clients in a wide range of matters, including allegations of bank fraud, health care fraud, mail and wire fraud, securities fraud, public corruption, environmental crimes, antitrust violations, synthetic/illegal drugs, illegal gambling, child abuse/ pornography, and murder.
Mr. Felman has also devoted a significant portion of his professional efforts to legal reform and policy work. He has testified on an array of topics before the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and Sentencing Commission, and frequently writes and speaks on criminal justice policy issues. He currently serves as Chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Task Force on First Step Act Implementation. He also serves as Chair of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section’s Task Force on First Step Act Implementation. He is a Past Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association and is the ABA’s Past Liaison to the United States Sentencing Commission. He was a founding member of the Steering Committee of Clemency Project 2014, and is former Co-Chair of the Practitioners’ Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission.
Mr. Felman is a graduate of Wake Forest University, B.A. cum laude, 1984, and Duke University, M.A. Phil. and J.D. with high honors (Order of the Coif), 1987. Following law school, he was a law clerk to Judge Theodore McMillian of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
