MCNAMARA LAW GROUP - Key Persons
The highlights of James E. McNamara, Esq. includes a not guilty verdict in an attempted murder charge by the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. His client walked out of jail at the conclusion of trial with the potential risk of a life sentence. On a daily basis he handles all types of Criminal Matters, Dependency matters, Family Law matters and Probate matters including creating Wills and Trusts. His office is conviniently located in the heart of Van Nuys, accross the street from the Van Court house. Mr. McNamara deals with cases in all areas of Souther California.
Mr. McNamara has litigated hundreds of sex abuse, physical abuse, and domestic violence cases in both Dependency, Family Law cases, and Criminal courts. One of his specialties is cross over cases, meaning when a client has cases pending in several arenas at the same time. He has litigated and won significant sums in in civil matters, getting significant damages and attorney's fees for his clients. This includes contractor/homeowner disputes, collections of unpaid monies, breech of contract and many other types of matters. Mr. McNamara has attained a wealth of experience and has achieved very successful results for his clients.
Mr. McNamara began practicing law in November 1990, and soon thereafter joined his father, Leo F. McNamara. Even before he attained his law degree, James worked with his father--during law school, post-law school and continues to work with him on selected cases to date.
In addition, Mr. McNamara gained pre-License experience with the District Attorney's office in Los Angeles County, the Deputy Public Defender's office in Santa Cruz, and worked as a clerk in a prominent products liability / personal injury firm in the San Fernando Valley.
Upon passage of the bar in 1990, Mr. McNamara worked for a boutique firm in Pasadena, which specialized in both civil, real estate litigation matters, and white-collar crime cases. In 1993, Mr. McNamara's entrepreneurial spirit motivated him to enter practice as a private practitioner.
Since then, James has represented hundreds of minors, parents, foster parents and guardians in juvenile dependency matters. During the past seven years, Mr. McNamara has represented clients in all of the following areas of the law: serious criminal felonies and misdemeanors, business/contract matters, personal injury matters, estate and trust planning matters, and criminal juvenile law.
*Leo F. McNamara has passed away on July 9, 2013
Leo F. McNamara, Esq. passed away on July 8th, 2013. He was 84 years old when he passed away due to a sudden infection/illness while on vacation. The California State Bar requires our offices to notify and disclose his passing to all clients and potential customers of this law office. Further, that despite his passing this law office continues to hold on to and maintain it practice with the fundamental purpose unchanged which is to to help all in need. Leo F McNamara, Esq. continues to on as we continue to use his name along with my own at the Law Offices of McNamara & McNamara. My father has passed away and clearly he is no longer practicing law.
As some of you already know, Leo F. McNamara was born September 1928 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was survived by his wife of over 53 years, and his six children and many grandchildren. He was a Veteran of WWI with the U.S. Cost Guard. He joined the Santa Monica Police Department, and he was a Sergeant before leaving SMPD to practice law. One of his first court appointments was to represent a person charged with a crime. The accused was a person whom my dad had arrested as a police officer many times in the past.
When the Judge inquired of the accused if he was comfortable with Leo, the new attorney, being appointed to represent him, the ex police officer whom arrested him in the past? The potential client said, "I am good with that your honor, Leo was always nice to me and very fair, thank you!" Over the next 42 years Leo F. McNamara continued in this field of law and represented his clients well and also helped those less fortunate.
My fathers' passion for golf was unsurpassed. He continued playing throughout his life. He began playing at 12 years old, and continued until a couple of days prior to his passing. He even got his last hole-in-one a week or so before he passed. He was a member, and past President of the Men's club at Breamar Country Club. He was proud of the fact that he achieved "19 Holes-in- One" in his lifetime. The perfect number for where my father is now.
My father was in, or around the Van Nuys and San Fernando courts, and the office, on a daily basis until his passing. He was my father, my business partner, my mentor, and just one of the best people I have ever known in my life. He is missed very much, not a day goes by without thinking about him. I know also many other attorneys, prosecutors, Judges, clerks, and other staff in both Van Nuys and San Fernando courts miss him as well. I am proud of the fact that as I run into people my father is remembered, loved, and missed by many.