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De Vita ’71 defends Tyco’s Kozlowski, makes partner
BryanCave, an international law firm based in New York, has named James DeVita ’71 a partner of the firm.
DeVita, who specializes in white-collar criminal, complex civil, and commercial litigation, represents corporations and executives in federal and state criminal investigations and trials relating to various forms of alleged business fraud or improper conduct. He also represents clients under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), New York Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealers, and the Federal Reserve Bank.
DeVita is part of the defense team for Dennis Kozlowski, former CEO and chairman of Tyco International.
Previously a prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, DeVita prosecuted hotel and real estate magnate Leona Helmsley for income tax evasion.
Whether he is prosecuting
or defending, however, DeVita
insists that he relies on skills learned in the constitutional law class taught by Paul Pfretzschner, professor of government and law.
“He introduced me to the case method of study,” recalls DeVita, a government and law graduate who earned his law degree from FordhamUniversity. “We read many of the landmark decisions
of the Supreme Court and
learned how to read and understand a judicial decision. It was a great preparation for law school, and for the continual process of learning the law that must take place throughout one’s career.”