Jayne Law Group, P.C., a boutique criminal defense firm serving the San Francisco Bay Area and federal courts nationwide, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Founded on October 1, 2006 by two former prosecutors, the firm brought experience from the other side of the courtroom to criminal defense.
The premise was straightforward: attorneys who understand how the government investigates, builds, and prosecutes its cases are well positioned to identify weaknesses and develop an effective defense. Twenty years later, that perspective continues to shape the firm’s work.
Today, founding attorney Julia M. Jayne leads the firm’s practice, with a focus on complex criminal defense, white-collar matters, and trial work.
Over the past 20 years, the firm and its founder have been recognized by several respected legal organizations:
- Chambers USA: Ms. Jayne was ranked for the fourth consecutive year in the category of White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and the firm was included in the 2026 Chambers USA Spotlight Guide for the California Bay Area.
- American College of Trial Lawyers: Ms. Jayne was inducted as a Fellow in September 2023.
- Super Lawyers: In 2026, Ms. Jayne was named a Northern California Super Lawyer in White Collar Criminal Defense, a designation she has held for more than 15 consecutive years. This year she was also included, for the first time, on the publication’s Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Women Lawyers lists in Northern California.
- Additional honors: Ms. Jayne was named a Legal Visionary in the Los Angeles Times’ Business of Law magazine and a Woman to Watch by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2023. San Francisco Magazine also named her to its Top Women Attorneys of Northern California list. The Daily Journal named the firm one of California’s Top 20 Boutique Law Firms.
Beyond her work at the firm, Ms. Jayne has taught trial advocacy at UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) for the past 23 years. She has spoken at the Northern District of California Judicial Conference and the California State Bar and moderated numerous panels for NACDL and the Women’s White Collar Defense Association. She is also frequently called upon to provide legal analysis, with appearances and contributions to Law360, Court TV, KTVU, Salon, Scripps News, Fox, Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, and CBS News.
The firm’s work over the years has included complex federal and state investigations, white-collar prosecutions, criminal trials, and extradition matters. Some of its most consequential work has taken place outside the courtroom, including investigations resolved without charges ever being filed.
As Jayne Law Group enters its third decade, the firm remains focused on the work that has defined it since 2006: understanding how the government builds its cases and developing a defense tailored to each client and case.
The firm is grateful to its clients, colleagues, and the broader legal community for 20 years of trust and support.