Jim Belanger

Criminal Defense, Government and Internal Investigations;
Commercial, Civil, and Administrative Litigation;
Lawyer Ethics, Discipline, Malpractice and Liability, State Bar Proceedings. Death Penalty Defense

Jim Belanger is an accomplished trial lawyer who represents individuals and companies in white collar criminal, civil and regulatory litigation, in State Bar proceedings and in government and internal investigations. He has successfully tried several cases ranging from first-degree murder to allegations of antitrust conspiracy. Mr. Belanger is considered to be one of t he leading death penalty defense lawyers in the state and is sought after speaker on issues involving white collar criminal defense, ethics and professional responsibility, health care fraud and the death penalty. He also has high level commercial litigation and bankruptcy experience particularly in the areas of real estate related fraud and in recovery actions on behalf of Chapter 11 debtors and trustees. He is also an avid and extreme trail runner and back packer.

ACTIVITIES AND RECOGNITIONS

• AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (5.0 out of 5.0)
• Best Lawyers in America 2007-2012:  White-Collar Criminal Defense, Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense,  Commercial Litigation, and Regulatory Litigation
• Best Lawyers  "Lawyer of the Year" for 2011: Criminal Defense (Phoenix)
• Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers 2004-2011: Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1)
• Southwest Super Lawyers 2007-2011:  White Collar Criminal Defense
• Arizona's Finest Lawyers
• Member, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• NACDL Ethics Advisory Committee
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (Government Investigation and White Collar Criminal Process)
• Board of Directors, Special Olympics Arizona (2006-2008); State Director, Arizona Special Olympics Soccer (1983-2000)
• All New England Soccer Selection 1979, 1980; two-time inductee into Brandeis University Athletics Hall of Fame

EDUCATION AND BAR ADMISSIONS

• J.D., Arizona State University, with honors, 1987
• B.A., Anthropology, Brandeis University, with honors, 1981
• Admitted in Arizona, 1987

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• "The Continued Expansion of the False Claims Act,"   Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law                      (October 2010, co-authored with Scott Bennett)
• “Leadership, Ethic and Honor,” (first presented in 2006)
• “Compliance Plans and Criminal Law Issues in Medicare Billing,” Billing and Reimbursement Summit, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 2000
• “A Practical Guide to Remediation, Disclosure and Cooperation in the Context of Corporate Misconduct,” American Bar Association – Section of Litigation, Summer 2005
• “Ephemeral Letters of Transit: Responding to Government Requests for Electronically Stored Information,” American Bar Association – Section on Litigation, Winter 2007
• “Trail Dog and the Tao Te Ching (Honor, Ethical Rules and a Way of Life),” The Defender, Fall 2007
• “Seeking Attorney’s Fees in Criminal Cases,” Arizona Attorney, April 2001 (co-author)

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Representation at trial of national bank against civil and administrative allegations of consumer fraud and predatory lending. Defense verdict.
• Representation of senior management in an SEC investigation. No prosecution.
• Representation of a national title company in a False Claims Act case involving alleged violations of federal housing laws. Successful civil resolution. No prosecution.
• Representation of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions as outside counsel in a complex mortgage license revocation
• Representation of elected official alleged to have filed false election documents. Case dismissed.
• Representation of lawyers in State Bar investigations from pre-charge through formal hearing.
• Representation of tribal executive against federal allegations of money laundering and theft of honest services. No prosecution.
• Representation of physicians and health care providers in False Claims Act cases
• Representation of national marketing company and officer against allegations of consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices. Case dismissed.
• Death Penalty Defence: 1991 to the present
• Trial and appellate representation of defendants in major felony cases including allegations of racketeering, sexual misconduct, tax fraud, and public corruption
• Representation of trustee in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Boston Chicken, Nelson and Herbert Hunt, and Kaiser Steel