Atty. John L. Littrell
John represents individuals and businesses in high-stakes disputes. A specialist in white collar defense and investigations, John has handled all types of fraud cases (including wire fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud and securities fraud) as well as corruption and bribery, violations of international trade and export laws, anti-kickback statutes and other regulatory offenses.
Profile Summary
About John L. Littrell at a glance
John L. Littrell is a criminal defense, business, white collar, and litigation attorney based in San Clemente, California, practicing at Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams Llp. Educated at University of California Los Angeles (J.D., 2002). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serands clients in San Clemente, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- John represents individuals and businesses in high-stakes disputes
- A specialist in white collar defense and investigations, John has handled all types of fraud cases (including wire fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud and securities fraud) as well as corruption and bribery, violations of international trade and export laws, anti-kickback statutes and other regulatory offenses
- He advises clients under government scrutiny in highly regulated industries, including health care, government contracts, finance, and firearms and explosives
- He has represented clients from all over the world and led investigations in cases involving extensive conduct abroad
- John has more than 18 years of experience negotiating with the United States Department of Justice and state and local prosecuting agencies
- He has persuaded prosecutors to narrow or dismiss potential charges, and he has convinced judges to dismiss indictments based on obscure and novel constitutional challenges
- If a case is prosecuted, John dissects the charging document with creative, original motions
- He has successfully challenged illegal searches and interrogations, resulting in the suppression of evidence and leading to complete dismissals
- At trial, John applies sophisticated techniques to identify jurors who will treat his clients fairly and presents them with a compelling narrative to support a verdict of not guilty
- John has prevailed at every level in the trial and appellate courts in California and elsewhere, including significant trial victories in both federal and state courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court
- John has also had considerable success in getting wrongful convictions reversed based on prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel
- He has obtained reversals of two death sentences, multiple life sentences, and decades of prison terms for a variety of offenses
- Finally, John has an extensive background in immigration law
- He is an expert in negotiating “immigration-safe” pleas for non-citizens and seeking post-conviction relief for individuals facing deportation or removal
- On the civil side, John brings his considerable trial experience to bear when handling civil litigation and business disputes
- Having tried more than twenty cases to verdict, John prepares every case, big or small, as if it is going to trial
- This approach quickly exposes the pressure points that make either a favorable verdict or a favorable settlement possible
- John graduated 7th in his class at UCLA School of Law
- After law school, John was an Associate at Morrison & Foerster, LLP in San Francisco
- He was a law clerk for the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- John went on to serve as a Deputy Federal Public Defender in the Central District of California, where he handled hundreds of challenging and unique cases and ultimately served as the Chief of the Los Angeles Trial Unit
- John supervised 30 lawyers, led training in trial advocacy, and coordinated district-wide challenges to federal prosecutions
- He co-authored the Motions Practice chapter of the 2010 treatise Defending a Federal Criminal Case
- He was also an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, where he taught Evidence for Trial Lawyers
Practice Areas Explained
John L. Littrell's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John L. Littrell handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
John L. Littrell is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
John L. Littrell is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
John L. Littrell is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in California →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
John L. Littrell 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 Clemente 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 Clemente or all attorneys in California.
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