James E. Felman

James E. Felman


Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A.

Recognized since 2001

Tampa, Florida

Practice Areas

Appellate Practice

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Criminal Defense: General Practice

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Navigate to map location for James E. Felman Call James E. Felman at 813-229-1118
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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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 a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and 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.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 100 South Ashley Drive, Suite 1450
    P.O. Box 3396
    Tampa, FL 33602
Languages
  • English
  • Italian
Education
  • Duke University, JD, graduated 1987
  • Duke University, MA Phil., graduated 1987
  • Wake Forest University, BA, graduated 1984
Bar Admissions
  • Florida, The Florida Bar, 1988
Affiliations
  • ABA - Co-Chair, Sentencing Committee
Court Admissions
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
Federal Clerkships
  • United States Court of Appeals

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Tampa (2025)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Tampa (2024)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Tampa (2023)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Tampa (2021)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Tampa (2018)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Tampa (2015)
  • Appellate Practice, Tampa (2014)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Tampa (2012)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Tampa (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Special Focus:
  • Appellate
  • COVID-19
  • Criminal Appeals
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Drug Offenses
  • Grand Jury
  • State and Federal
  • Vehicular Manslaughter
  • Violent and Nonviolent Crimes
Awards:
  • Recipient of the 2023 NACDL President’s commendation for his extraordinary contributions to the mission, beliefs, and goals of the association.

  • 2023 Florida Bar Criminal Law Section Selig Goldin Award for significant contribution to the criminal justice system of the State of Florida

  • Marcelino "Bubba" Huerta III Award for Pro Bono Service and the Pursuit of Equal Justice
  • George C. Carr Memorial Award for Excellance in Federal Practice

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Publications

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