Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: Jan Little Honored for Her Contribution to the White Collar Field

The NACDL awarded the 2014 White Collar Criminal Defense Award to Jan Little and her partner John Keker during the White Collar Defense College held at Stetson Law School. The award is presented to lawyers who have made a profound impact on the white-collar field. Jan Little is a partner at Keker Van Nest in San Francisco and, with her law partner, has been involved in some of this country’s most recognizable white-collar cases, including the representation of Enron CFO Andrew Fastow and attorney Dickie Scruggs, to name just a few. Jan Little has been practicing criminal defense for over twenty-five years, and in that time has handled new and novel white-collar cases such as the country’s first “stock options backdating” prosecution.

NACDL Executive Director Norman Reimer presented the award, and stated, “This year’s recipients of NACDL's White Collar Criminal Defense Award, John Keker and Jan Nielsen Little, partners at Keker & Van Nest LLP, are truly a dynamic duo. They are two lawyers of extraordinary talent and tenacious resolve who not only excel in advocacy for their clients, but excel also in setting the highest standards of professionalism and service to their colleagues in the defense bar and society at large."

This isn’t the first time that Jan Little has been recognized for her excellence in the field. For many years consecutively, the Daily Journal has recognized her as one of California’s Top Women Lawyers.  She is also consistently recognized in Best Lawyers and Chambers.  She lectures around the country on various white-collar criminal law topics. Beyond her success as a criminal trial lawyer, she has been a champion for women in the field long before most of us were discussing the issue. She published Ten Reasons Why Women Make Great Trial Lawyers way back in 2006, and I know that the article served as a great inspiration for many women. Bravo to Jan Little… and keep up the great work!