James G. Jim Martin
Commercial Litigation
Commercial Litigation
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Litigator James G. Martin defends corporations and individuals facing high-stakes, complex business lawsuits, white collar criminal charges, and allegations of corporate governance and compliance violations.A former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jim is regularly lead defense counsel in class action and civil litigation matters, including SEC fraud and healthcare fraud in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. Corporations also call on him to lead internal investigations related to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, among other matters.Jim’s cases often draw national attention. In 2010 he won the dismissal of an SEC lawsuit charging his client with a stock option backdating scheme. He also convinced the DOJ to terminate its highly publicized criminal investigation of a Bush cabinet member without bringing charges or taking any other adverse action.More than half of Jim’s clients investigated by the government for criminal conduct have never been indicted. Several of his class action and FCA-related lawsuits have also been dismissed, saving his clients the financial and other burdens of discovery and trial.As director of investigative operations for the John C. Danforth Office of Special Counsel, Jim supervised attorneys and federal agents investigating the 1993 confrontation between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.Prior to joining Dowd Bennett, Jim was a partner in a large St. Louis–based law firm. Before private practice, he was a federal prosecutor for 21 years, prosecuting white collar crime, public corruption and tax fraud.Representative MattersIn 2013, obtained dismissal in federal court of a criminal indictment of an Israeli national charged with a nationwide, multimillion dollar fraud scheme.Won the dismissal of the SEC lawsuit charging client with participating in a stock option backdating scheme. Litigator James G. Martin defends corporations and individuals facing high-stakes, complex business lawsuits, white collar criminal charges, and allegations of corporate governance and compliance violations.A former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jim is regularly lead defense counsel in class action and civil litigation matters, including SEC fraud and healthcare fraud in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. Corporations also call on him to lead internal investigations related to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, among other matters.Jim’s cases often draw national attention. In 2010 he won the dismissal of an SEC lawsuit charging his client with a stock option backdating scheme. He also convinced the DOJ to terminate its highly publicized criminal investigation of a Bush cabinet member without bringing charges or taking any other adverse action.More than half of Jim’s clients investigated by the government for criminal conduct have never been indicted. Several of his class action and FCA-related lawsuits have also been dismissed, saving his clients the financial and other burdens of discovery and trial.As director of investigative operations for the John C. Danforth Office of Special Counsel, Jim supervised attorneys and federal agents investigating the 1993 confrontation between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.Prior to joining Dowd Bennett, Jim was a partner in a large St. Louis–based law firm. Before private practice, he was a federal prosecutor for 21 years, prosecuting white collar crime, public corruption and tax fraud.Representative MattersIn 2013, obtained dismissal in federal court of a criminal indictment of an Israeli national charged with a nationwide, multimillion dollar fraud scheme.Won the dismissal of the SEC lawsuit charging client with participating in a stock option backdating scheme. Litigator James G. Corporations also call on him to lead internal investigations related to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, among other matters. Jim’s cases often draw national attention. In 2010 he won the dismissal of an SEC lawsuit charging his client with a stock option backdating scheme. He also convinced the DOJ to terminate its highly publicized criminal investigation of a Bush cabinet member without bringing charges or taking any other adverse action. More than half of Jim’s clients investigated by the government for criminal conduct have never been indicted. Several of his class action and FCA-related lawsuits have also been dismissed, saving his clients the financial and other burdens of discovery and trial. As director of investigative operations for the John C. Danforth Office of Special Counsel, Jim supervised attorneys and federal agents investigating the 1993 confrontation between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Prior to joining Dowd Bennett, Jim was a partner in a large St. Louis–based law firm. Before private practice, he was a federal prosecutor for 21 years, prosecuting white collar crime, public corruption and tax fraud. Representative Matters
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008
Raymond Gomez
Our company faced a severe and public corporate governance challenge that threatened our reputation and stability. We needed counsel who was not only a brilliant litigator but also deeply understood the intricate world of compliance and board-level dynamics. Jim Martin was that attorney. His 42 years of experience, particularly his recognized expertise in corporate governance and compliance law, were immediately evident. He and his team at Dowd Bennett LLP conducted a meticulous internal investigation, advised our board with unflinching honesty, and developed a strategic response that addressed both the legal and reputational facets head-on. Throughout the entire process, Jim was a steadying force—his calm demeanor and clear communication demystified complex legal concepts for our entire leadership team. The resolution he achieved was not just favorable; it allowed our company to implement stronger compliance frameworks and move forward with confidence. It’s no surprise to see his ‘Lawyer of the Year’ recognitions; he embodies that level of excellence. For any business or individual in St. Louis confronting high-stakes litigation or compliance issues, Jim Martin is the definitive choice.