White Collar Criminal Defense

Practicing Law in Sacramento Since 1982
California State & Federal Prosecutor 1982 - 1997
In Private Practice since 1997

Since 1982, attorney William Portanova has been practicing law in the state and federal criminal justice systems, investigating, prosecuting, defending, and resolving all manner of cases, first as a prosecutor, now as a private attorney. Mr. Portanova presently represents individuals and businesses throughout California who, for one reason or another, have come into contact with the state or federal criminal justice system.

Whether as witnesses, targets, victims or defendants, an ever-increasing number of people and business entities find themselves in official contact with various government agencies. Some agencies are more aggressive than others, and the consequences of investigation or prosecution can be devastating.

Overcoming the burden of suspicion can be an overwhelming project, especially for those suffering through the experience for their first time. Once the government forms the opinion a person has done something wrong, that person’s world can change in an instant, in every sense of the word. In such times, it is never too soon to seek professional legal guidance. The criminal justice system is a minefield where the stakes are high and mistakes are permanent.

Frequently, the government’s perception of their target is incorrect for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the government is wrong on the law and sometimes the government is wrong on the facts. Either way, correcting the record generally requires an attorney’s involvement. This can be a difficult conclusion for a successful businessperson to reach, since so many self-made people have accomplished so much on their own skills. Unfortunately, many of those skills, so useful in business, produce contrary results when dealing with government agents.

Each client and case is unique, and this firm’s approach to each case is accordingly different. Sometimes the government simply lacks certain evidence that, once properly presented, terminates the investigation. Sometimes the government has the right case but the wrong person in its sights. And sometimes, there is no alternative to jury trial. Whatever the situation, our firm has been there before, from one side of the courtroom or the other.

Our years of experience in prosecution as well as defense provide us with deep understanding and a high degree of competence in all related matters. Our mission is to provide the highest quality legal representation to each client. Whatever your circumstance, we can approach it as a business transaction and seek speedy resolution, or we can pursue an aggressive defense with the ultimate goal of acquittal at jury trial, or we can achieve something in between. We are ready if you need us.

Click Practice Areas to find out more about our legal skills and areas of expertise.