Sirote > Our People > James R. Sturdivant

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James R Sturdivant

Shareholder
Birmingham
jsturdivant@sirote.com
Tel: 205.930.5124
Fax: 205.212.3839
 Assistant
Sandy Campbell
scampbell@sirote.com
205.930.5464

Jim counsels clients in criminal and white collar matters. A former federal prosecutor, he represents individual and corporate clients facing federal grand jury and law enforcement investigations, as well as securities fraud allegations. He assists businesses, professional, governmental and nonprofit organizations on strategies to avoid becoming the target of an investigation, and he aggressively represents his clients at trial. Jim’s state and local criminal practice focuses primarily on alcohol and substance abuse issues. Jim also maintains a diverse civil and commercial litigation caseload.

  • Portfolio of civil litigation matters includes  estate litigation, litigation against governmental entities, professional licensure proceedings and commercial disputes
  • Assistant US Attorney, Northern District of Alabama, representing United States in wide variety of civil cases and prosecuted numerous federal criminal cases, 1992-95
  • Attorney, Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 1988-92. Assigned as the sole defense counsel for the entire post from 1989-92, representing soldiers facing trial by court-martial or administrative separation actions
  • Knowledgeable and experienced in the highly specialized area of federal criminal sentencing
  • Recipient, AV rating in Martindale-Hubbell, a reflection of having achieved preeminent status in the areas of professional skill and integrity
  • Alabama Super Lawyers, White Collar & DUI/DWI Criminal Defense
  • Best Lawyers in America, White Collar Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI Defense
  • Birmingham Magazine "Top Attorney," White Collar Defense/Anti-trust and Criminal Defense, 2009 
          

 
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
  • Birmingham Bar Association
    • Executive Committee, three year term, 2009-11 
    • Criminal Justice Section, Former Chair
  • Alabama State Bar
  • American Bar Association
    • Criminal Justice and White Collar Crime Sections

 

 

Schools

  • University of Alabama School of Law
    JD, 1987
  • Auburn University
    BA, 1984

Additional Accolades

University of Alabama School of Law

  • Alabama Law Review

Auburn University

  • Army ROTC Scholarship
  • Designated a Distinguished Military Graduate
  • Varsity football walk-on, 1980-81
     

 

  • Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Adult Sunday School Classes, Frequent Speaker
  • United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference, Lay Speaker

 
  • Parent Advocates Down Syndrome, Board of Directors
  • The Exceptional Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Executive Board Member
  • City of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, City Prosecutor, 2000-04 


  • Speaker, “You've Discovered Fraud...Now What? Practice Points and Suggestions from a Criminal Law Perspective”, Evidence of Fraud Seminar at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, August 2008
  • Speaker, “Dealing with Uncle Sam: Basic Principles in Responding to Federal Law Enforcement Contracts”, Government Contractors Seminar; Huntsville, Alabama Chamber of Commerce, March 2008
  • Speaker, “The Impact of Gall v. United States on Federal Sentencing”, Criminal Justice Section of the Birmingham Bar Association, February 2008
  • Author, “The Impact of Gall v. United States on Federal Sentencing”, Birmingham Bar Association Journal, Winter 2008
  • Speaker, “Criminal Issues that Arise During E-Discovery”, Alabama Bar Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 2007 in Birmingham, Alabama; December 2007 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Author, “Criminal Law”, Alabama Association of Paralegals, Inc.Winter Seminar, February 2007
  • Author, “A Breach in the Wall: Federal Investigators Demand Corporations Disclose Attorney-Client Communications and Work Product”, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, May 2006
  • Speaker, “What to Do When the Wolf (Government) is at the Door: Dealing with Uncle Sam: Responding to Federal Law Enforcement Contacts”, Alabama Bar Association, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Alabama, June 2005




 

 

 

Jim Sturdivant to Serve on Executive Board for Boy Scouts of America - 11/17/2010

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Best Lawyers has selected 32 attorneys from Sirote & Permutt for recognition in The Best Lawyers in America for 2011 - 8/27/2010

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31 Sirote Attorneys Listed In Best Lawyers - 8/7/2009

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Publication Recognizes 20 From Sirote As Super Lawyers - 5/19/2009

Birmingham law firm Sirote & Permutt is pleased to announce that 20 attorneys from the firm were selected for inclusion in the “2009 Super Lawyers” publication. Read More


Birmingham Magazine Recognizes 17 From Sirote As Top Attorneys - 3/10/2009

Birmingham law firm, Sirote & Permutt, is pleased to announce that 17 attorneys from the firm were selected by their peers for inclusion in the list of “Top Attorneys” published in Birmingham Magazine. Read More


Sirote Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2009 - 9/26/2008

The following attorneys with the law firm of Sirote & Permutt have been named to the 2009 edition of Best Lawyers: Read More