Attorneys
Born:
Boston, Massachusetts, 1955
Education:
California State University at Northridge, B.A., 1977, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, J.D., 1982
Practice Areas :
White Collar Criminal Defense; Federal Criminal Law; Fraud; Health Care; Insurance; Tax; Banking; Securities; Computer Crimes; Environmental Crimes
Admissions:
1982, California and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Central Districts of California; 1985, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
The uniquely broad background experience of Attorney William Portanova provides a legal edge few other attorneys can offer. Before entering private practice, Mr. Portanova served for many years as an Assistant United States Attorney, federally prosecuting all manner of complex cases in the areas of Organized Crime, Narcotics, Computer Crime, and all manner of White Collar Crime. For several years he directed the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, and he helped form one of the first state and federal High Tech Crimes Task Forces in California. In 1993, Mr. Portanova received the U.S. Department of Justice, Director's Award in 1993. Prior to that, he served for several years as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County, prosecuting all types of crimes from misdemeanors to murders.
Shifting from public prosecutor to private defender in 1997, he has since devoted his expertise to tough advocacy on behalf of clients accused of White Collar Crime. Throughout the California court system, Mr. Portanova has successfully represented businesses and individuals caught up in the criminal justice system. His experience and accomplishments from both sides of the counsel table provide him with an exceptionally complete understanding of every case from every perspective.
Mr. Portanova is frequently asked to contribute as a legal analyst for local and national media outlets on various pending legal matters.
Areas of Practice