Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today that James Schaefer has joined the firm as counsel in its Commercial Litigation Group, based in the San Francisco office. In this new role, Mr. Schaefer will draw on his comprehensive civil litigation background to lead and support the firm’s high-stakes commercial disputes in San Francisco and across the U.S. This arrival follows the recent addition of Nicholas Folly as white collar counsel, underscoring the firm’s ongoing growth and commitment to delivering exceptional legal services in San Francisco.
Mr. Schaefer brings over two decades of legal experience, most recently serving as the Civil Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, where he managed all civil litigation for the district and supervised attorneys and staff in the Civil Division. Prior to that, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he handled complex cases involving the False Claims Act, the Controlled Substances Act, bid-rigging, torts and common law fraud. Earlier in his career, he spent nine years in private practice, where he led a broad range of complex civil and criminal matters, including cases involving antitrust, unfair competition, intellectual property, breach of contract, defamation and civil rights. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002 to 2005 as a defense counsel.
“James is an exceptional litigator and seasoned trial lawyer, known for his ability to navigate challenging legal issues while earning clients’ trust and leading high-performing teams,” said Jay Neukom, co-managing partner of the San Francisco office. “His arrival, alongside Nick Folly’s, reflects the exciting expansion of our west coast presence and our focus on complex litigation.”
Maura Monaghan, co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group, added, “James’ collaborative approach and deep expertise in civil disputes will enhance our capacity to deliver outstanding results for clients across jurisdictions. We look forward to working with James to continue achieving outstanding outcomes for our clients.”
Mr. Schaefer began his civilian legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Carlos T. Bea at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2006–2007) and to the Honorable Susan G. Braden at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (2005–2006). He earned his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law in 2002 and his B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1996.
The firm’s Commercial Litigation Group is one of the strongest in the industry, consistently delivering outstanding results for its clients. Routinely noted for its depth of expertise, strategic judgment and creative solutions, the team is well-known for addressing the most complex, challenging and high-profile matters across a diverse range of industries. The Group handles domestic and cross-border disputes of every kind, including securities and derivative actions, contract disputes, products liability and mass torts, antitrust, insurance disputes, bankruptcy, environmental litigation, mergers and acquisitions, employment, professional liability, and matters involving corporate governance.