The Daily Journal has recognized Keker, Van Nest & Peters partner Jan Nielsen Little among the Top White-Collar Lawyers in California. Little has solidified her reputation as a leader in federal criminal investigations and white-collar defense with a career spanning 43 years, 38 of which have been dedicated to defending clients under intense government and media scrutiny.
Little’s passion for criminal law started in law school, where she worked on post-conviction cases at a federal prison and spent a summer at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She credits her mentors, including former Judge William Schwarzer who instilled the principle that “good enough is never good enough,” and firm partner John Keker who shaped her meticulous and fearless approach to trials.
Her professional journey includes time as a public corruption prosecutor in Washington, DC, before transitioning to defense work in San Francisco. Today, Little represents clients nationwide, managing complex federal criminal investigations in jurisdictions that include New York, New Jersey, and California.
“Representing a client in pre-indictment criminal investigations is challenging because there is no predictable schedule or playbook,” Little explained. “A defense lawyer needs to craft and execute a plan that may include internally obtaining and analyzing evidence and externally deciding whether or not (and how) to affirmatively engage with prosecutors, while also keeping an eye on potential civil liability issues, media relations, employment issues and other issues unique to each client. It’s a 3D chess game with no obvious roadmap.”
Little’s current cases include representing a Texas company and its founder in a confidential grand jury investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and a local mobile gaming company in a fraud investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Reflecting on the evolving legal landscape, Little noted the decline in trial opportunities due to the rising costs of civil litigation and the risks of federal criminal trials. “I worry that the future generations following mine will not have the opportunities to hone their trial skills (and to enjoy the exhilarating challenge of trial work).”
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