James "Jim" McManis

James "Jim" McManis


McManis Faulkner

Recognized since 1997

San Jose, California

Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Civil Rights Law

Commercial Litigation

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Litigation - First Amendment

Litigation - Intellectual Property

Litigation - Municipal

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Intellectual Property
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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.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 50 West San Fernando Street, 10th Floor
    San Jose, CA 95113
Languages
  • German
Education
  • University of California Berkeley, J.D.
  • Stanford University, BA, graduated 1964
Bar Admissions
  • California, State Bar of California
Affiliations
  • Advocacy Skills Workshop at Stanford University Law School - Faculty
  • California Center for Judicial Education and Research - Teacher
  • California State Bar's Task Force on Admissions Regulation Reform - Member
  • Executive Committee of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) - Secretary of International Relations
  • Intensive Advocacy Program of the University of San Francisco Law School - Faculty
  • Santa Clara County Superior Court - Judge Pro Tem
  • Santa Clara County Superior Court - Special Master
  • State Bar of California - Special Examiner
  • University of California Berkeley Foundation - Board of Trustees
  • University of California, Berkeley Law - Lecturer
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, and D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California

McManis Faulkner
Headquarters: San Jose, California

4 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

2 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Intellectual Property
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, San Jose (2020)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property, San Jose (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - First Amendment
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Civil Rights Law
Awards:
  • Trailblazers West, The American Lawyer, 2021
  • Berkeley Law 2019 Citation Award
  • The Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense, White Collar, 2020
  • California Trailblazer Award, The Recorder, 2020
  • Equality Trailblazer Award, The National Law Journal, 2019
  • Elite Boutique Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2018 and 2020
  • Litigation Trailblazer Award, The National Law Journal, 2018
  • James Madison Freedom of Information Award, Northern California Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ NorCal), 2018
  • California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award (Civil Rights), 2017
  • The Daily Journal Top 100 Lawyers in California, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015
  • The Best Lawyers in America® for 28 consecutive years in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - First Amendment; Litigation - Intellectual Property; and Litigation - Municipal.
  • Member of the award winning team "The Best in Family Law", The Recorder (2010-2019)
  • Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley's Beacon Award for Diversity, 2015
  • Northern California Super Lawyers (2004-2023)
  • Named one of Top 100 in Northern California Super Lawyers (2009-2018)
  • Honored with the Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley's Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2016
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Pro Bono Award, 2015
  • Received with his spouse, Sara, the Trustees Citation from the University of California, Berkeley Foundation for "outstanding achievement in a major fundraising program"
  • Honored with the Philip J. Berelson Award for Generous Philanthropy
  • Named to the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity, Santa Clara County Bar Association, and accepted, on behalf of McManis Faulkner, the Bar's Unsung Heroes Award
  • Honors- Honorary Bencher of the Honorable Society of King's Inns, the oldest institution of legal education in Ireland
  • Honors- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (membership limited to top 500 trial lawyers in U.S.)
  • Honors- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Honors- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Honors - Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Honors- Fellow, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals
  • Honors- Academy of American Poets
  • Honors- Lifetime Charter Member of Best Attorneys of America

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