NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 21, 2016 – Butler Snow is pleased to announce Jim Letten – a former U.S. Attorney who recently joined the firm’s New Orleans office as of counsel – has been named co-chair of the American Bar Association criminal justice section crime committee’s computer crime, intellectual property and trade secrets sub-committee.
“We are honored that Jim has been appointed to this prestigious ABA committee,” said Donald Clark, Jr., chairman of Butler Snow. “Jim is a respected prosecutor, and his leadership in investigations and white collar crime and depth in complex business law matters will serve this white collar crimes sub-committee very well.”
Letten was appointed U.S. Attorney by President George W. Bush in 2005 and asked to retain the position by President Barack Obama. Prior to stepping down in 2012, he had been the longest-serving U.S. Attorney in the nation and one of only three U.S. Attorneys in the country appointed to the position by successive presidents from different parties. Letten works as of counsel for Butler Snow’s investigations and white collar crime group, and consults on a variety of defenses including criminal and regulatory investigations, government audits and civil fraud cases. Letten also serves as assistant dean of experiential learning at Tulane Law School.
“Committee work is the heart and soul of the Criminal Justice Section, and plays a significant role in shaping important policies, publications and programs for the legal profession,” said Judge Bernice B. Donald, Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section. “We take great pride in assembling a diverse team of experts to lead our committees and sub-committees, and we look forward to Jim’s participation in the upcoming year.”
Butler Snow’s investigations and white collar crime group represents clients, in both the state and federal arenas, in white collar defense cases and investigations that have become both more intense and more complex. The group works primarily on the defense of criminal and regulatory matters, including matters involving allegations of fraud, tax and financial violations, criminal contempt, RICO violations, and environmental violations.
Prior to his appointment as U.S, Attorney, Letten was first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as a trial attorney and chief of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force in New Orleans. Letten was an assistant district attorney in New Orleans from 1980-82 and 1985-1986.
Letten is a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Louisiana Bar Association. He serves as vice-chair of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission board, is a board member of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation and Crimestoppers New Orleans, and an advisory board member of Court Watch New Orleans.
He is a retired Navy commander and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent. Letten received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of New Orleans and Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law.