About William Portanova

Both in and out of the courtroom, attorney William F. Portanova has a record of proven excellence. After beginning his career as a litigator with national law firm Goodwin Procter, William jumped into the practice of criminal law with zeal. Joining Portanova & Associates in 2013, he has played a lead role in some of the most high-profile complex white-collar prosecutions in Northern California. He has also led internal investigations into potential employee wrongdoing at several of the region’s most prominent corporations. He has substantial courtroom experience, having conducted numerous criminal jury trials and other contested factual hearings in state and federal courts.

Representing his client’s interests always comes first, whether that means assisting clients in navigating the intricacies of the criminal justice system, or aiding businesses in assessing past wrongdoing by employees or present vulnerabilities. Equipped with a deep understanding of the complex issues presented by financial fraud, he has been able to ensure each client’s needs are understood and met. Some representative cases include:

Led an internal investigation into a $13.4 million-dollar fraud committed by a highly placed and trusted executive at a national sports organization.

Represented the former CEO of CalPERS in a federal prosecution involving a placement agent working on behalf of one of the nation’s largest hedge funds.

Successful representation of a former COO of a Nasdaq-listed biotech in a prosecution for a $60 million-dollar securities fraud prosecution.

Investigated potential exposure of an international bank stemming from a former customer’s structuring and money-laundering activities.

William earned his law degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, where he was a top student. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with high distinction (magna cum laude). He has been practicing since 2011.