Why Us?

Whether as witnesses, targets, victims or defendants, an ever-increasing number of people and business entities find themselves in official contact with various government agencies. Some are more aggressive than others, and the consequences of investigation or prosecution can be devastating.

Each client and case is unique, and this firm’s approach to each case is accordingly different. Sometimes the government simply lacks certain evidence that, once properly presented, terminates the investigation. Sometimes the government has the right case but the wrong person in its sights. And sometimes, there is no alternative to jury trial. Whatever the situation, our firm has been there before, on one side of the courtroom or the other.

Frequently, the government’s perception of its target is incorrect for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the government is wrong on the law and sometimes the government is wrong on the facts. Either way, correcting the record generally requires an attorney’s involvement.

CONTACT
wjp@portanova.com
(916) 444-7900

attorney

William J. Portanova

The uniquely broad background experience of William Portanova provides a legal edge few other attorneys can offer. Before entering private practice, Portanova served for many years as an Assistant United States Attorney, federally prosecuting complex cases in the areas of organized crime, narcotics, computer crime and all manner of white collar crime. Prior to that, he served for several years as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County, prosecuting all types of crimes from misdemeanors to murders.

From 1991 to 1997, he directed the U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force and helped form one of the first state and federal High Tech Crimes Task Forces in California. For his accomplishments, Portanova received the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award in 1993.

Shifting from public prosecutor to private defender in 1997, he has since devoted his expertise to tough advocacy on behalf of clients accused of white collar crime. Throughout California, Portanova has successfully represented businesses and individuals caught up in the criminal justice system. His experience and accomplishments from both sides of the counsel table provide him with an exceptionally complete understanding of every case from every perspective.

William Portanova is frequently asked to contribute as a legal analyst for local and national media outlets on various pending legal matters. He completed his undergraduate studies at California State University, Northridge and then attended McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. He has been in practice since 1982.

CONTACT
jsherman@portanova.com
(916) 444-7900

attorney

Julie Sherman

Attorney Julie Sherman has been with Portanova & Associates since 2007, having been recruited away from the highest rated personal injury law firm in Northern California. She has successfully represented clients in hundreds of cases in state and federal courts, defending charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, bribery, extortion, money laundering, conspiracy and others, including marijuana.

Julie is well known in criminal and administrative courthouses throughout the region: Sacramento County, Placer County, Yolo County, and El Dorado County in particular. In each courtroom, she has handled countless cases of driving under the influence, vehicular manslaughter, domestic violence, occasional violent crimes, threat cases, restraining orders, and more.

For the past ten years, Julie has also lead the firm in handling administrative court proceedings, generally filed by the various licensing boards against professional licenses, where individuals face the real danger of losing their entire livelihood, including medical and nursing board charges, real estate licensing, sales license, DMV matters, any licensed occupation in California.

Before joining our firm, Julie graduated magna cum laude from California State University, Sacramento with her degree in Criminal Justice. She then worked her way through Lincoln Law School, receiving multiple American Jurisprudence awards and Dean’s List Honors, all while clerking with our team full-time. Julie has been practicing since 2009.

CONTACT
wfp@portanova.com
(916) 444-7900

attorney

William F. 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.

CONTACT
nserna@portanova.com
(916) 444-7900

Senior paralegal

Niki Serna

Niki Serna has been a paralegal for 11 years. During that time she has had the opportunity to assist some of Sacramento’s most experienced criminal defense practitioners in their representation of clients in federal district court criminal prosecutions involving tax, mail, wire, and bank fraud; firearms offenses; drug offenses; child pornography offenses; arson; obstruction offenses; and mail and identity theft. She also has assisted counsel with numerous jury trials and in the preparation of state and federal appeals.

Niki moved to the Sacramento area to attend college at the University of California, Davis. Following graduation, she began working as a legal secretary. Realizing her passion for criminal defense, she returned to UC Davis to pursue her paralegal certificate through their Extension Program. As a paralegal, Niki has been appointed by courts in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act. Her work under the Criminal Justice Act allowed her to attend a Paralegal and Investigators Skills Workshop put on by the US Court and to assist in multiple jury trials before courts in the Eastern District of California.