Atty. James "Jim" McManis

Atty. James "Jim" McManis

A member of the trial bar for over 50 years, Jim has unparalleled experience and skill in preparing and presenting cases for adjudication – whether by jury, judge, arbitrator, mediator or the parties themselves. He represents Silicon Valley companies with commercial, trade secret and intellectual property issues.

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Profile Summary

About James "Jim" McManis at a glance

James "Jim" McManis is a criminal defense, business, ip, white collar, and litigation attorney based in San Jose, California, practicing at McManis Faulkner. Admitted to practice in California, State Bar of California. Educated at University of California Berkeley (J.D., 1967) and Stanford University (BA, 1964). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serands clients in San Jose, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • A member of the trial bar for over 50 years, Jim has unparalleled experience and skill in preparing and presenting cases for adjudication – whether by jury, judge, arbitrator, mediator or the parties themselves
  • He represents Silicon Valley companies with commercial, trade secret and intellectual property issues
  • Jim also represents individuals in a wide variety of matters, including civil rights actions, employment disputes, family law and criminal defense

Practice Areas Explained

James "Jim" McManis's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases James "Jim" McManis handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Criminal Defense

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.

James "Jim" McManis is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in California →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

James "Jim" McManis is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

James "Jim" McManis is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in California →

White Collar Crimes

James "Jim" McManis is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in California →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

James "Jim" McManis is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Jose are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Jose or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about James "Jim" McManis

Where is James "Jim" McManis's law office located?
James "Jim" McManis's law practice is located in San Jose, California. The firm is McManis Faulkner. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does James "Jim" McManis handle?
James "Jim" McManis focuses on criminal defense, business, ip, white collar, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
Where did James "Jim" McManis go to law school?
James "Jim" McManis earned their education at (J.D., 1967); (BA, 1964).
How can I contact James "Jim" McManis for a consultation?
You can contact James "Jim" McManis directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has James "Jim" McManis received?
James "Jim" McManis's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Municipal.

Education

J.D.
University of California Berkeley
- 1967
BA
Stanford University
- 1964

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Municipal
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Rights Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trailblazers West, The American Lawyer, 2021
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Berkeley Law 2019 Citation Award
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense, White Collar, 2020
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — California Trailblazer Award,
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Recorder
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2020
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Equality Trailblazer Award,
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The National Law Journal
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2019
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Elite Boutique Trailblazer,
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2018 and 2020
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation Trailblazer Award,
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2018
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — James Madison Freedom of Information Award, Northern California Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ NorCal), 2018
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — California Lawyer
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award (Civil Rights), 2017
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Daily Journal
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 100 Lawyers in California, 2016, 2017, 2018
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Member of the award winning team "The Best in Family Law",
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — (2010-2019)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley's Beacon Award for Diversity, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Northern California Super Lawyers (2004-2023)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Named one of Top 100 in Northern California Super Lawyers (2009-2018)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honored with the Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley's Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2016
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Pro Bono Award, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honored with the Philip J. Berelson Award for Generous Philanthropy
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Honorary Bencher of the Honorable Society of King's Inns, the oldest institution of legal education in Ireland
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (membership limited to top 500 trial lawyers in U.S.)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors - Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Fellow, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Academy of American Poets
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Honors- Lifetime Charter Member of Best Attorneys of America
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (San Jose)
- 2020
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Intellectual Property (San Jose)
- 2014

Bar Admissions

California, State Bar of California

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