Jim Bowman is global co-chair of the White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations Practice. A skilled litigator and former federal prosecutor, Jim focuses on defending individuals and companies in complex federal criminal investigations and cases, with extensive experience on public corruption, campaign finance, and healthcare fraud matters.
Jim served as Deputy Chief in the Major Frauds Section and as the Securities Fraud Coordinator in the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. During his eight years as a federal prosecutor, Jim served as the lead prosecutor on numerous high-profile cases (including cases featured on the MSNBC program “American Greed”), tried several cases as lead counsel, and successfully argued numerous appeals before the Ninth Circuit.
Jim supervised a team of prosecutors in the Major Frauds Section (one of the largest white collar prosecution units in the country) and oversaw the investigation and prosecution of dozens of cases in the Section. He received awards from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department, and other federal and local agencies, including the 2012 DOJ Director’s Award for Superior Performance.
Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Jim spent six years as an associate and counsel at O’Melveny, where he worked on complex civil litigation and white collar defense matters.
Private Practice Experience
- Secured acquittal on all counts for billionaire private equity executive Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., who was charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent, making multiple felony false statements, and obstructing justice, following highly publicized, two-month federal criminal jury trial. (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/04/nyregion/trump-thomas-barrack-acquitted.html)
Government Experience
- Prosecution of United States v. Scott London, a criminal insider trading case against a senior vice president of a major international accounting firm who had been passing confidential information to a close friend in exchange for bundles of cash. Following a sting operation and the defendant's arrest, which was covered extensively by the media, the defendant pled guilty and was sentenced to federal prison.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central District of California
Education
- University of California at Los Angeles, J.D., 2000: Order of the Coif; Managing Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Stanford University, B.A., Political Science, 1995
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Los Angeles, CA (2021-2025)
- Recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2023-2024)
- Named one of the "Top White Collar Lawyers" by the Daily Journal (2023)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US
- US Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance
Professional Activities
Clerkships
- Hon. Irma E. Gonzalez, US District Court, Southern District of California
Board Member
- Inner City Law Center
Corporate & Government Experience
- Deputy Chief, Los Angeles US Attorney’s Office, Major Frauds Section
- Securities Fraud Coordinator, Los Angeles US Attorney’s Office, Major Frauds Section