When faced with legal issues that deeply affect one's life, not having legal representation that one can trust becomes unbelievably overwhelming. However, with James Kousouros I felt totally confident and secure that my best interests were being addressed and that every step was being taken to procure the best result for me. James' zealous representation and tireless dedication created a connection between the firm and myself that instills the trust that I believe every person in need of legal assistance should seek. I would highly and unequivocally recommend James Kousouros to anyone in need of legal help.

I was charged in the Southern District of New York with criminal copyright infringement. The government accused me of millions of dollars of fraud and said I confessed when I was arrested. I hired James to represent me and after one trial ended in a hung jury, I was fully acquitted at my second trial. I am eternally grateful every day for his kindness, his courtesy and his full attention to my case. We prepared for hours on end for this trial. There were thousands of documents and they were all scanned, reviewed and then used to our advantage when possible. There was nothing we were not prepared for. After two years of stress I got my life back, thanks to you, James.

My case was in the federal court in New York and I was charged with selling kilogram quantities of cocaine. The mandatory minimum was ten years and there was a lot of evidence against me. It did not look as though there was any way around this. I hired James and explained that my dealing was the product of a longstanding substance abuse problem. He fully investigated my prior history and we entered the plea knowing that while the minimum was reduced to 97 months, there was no guarantee that I would receive any less time. James prepared an amazing sentence memorandum. He showed the court who I was, and that I deserved a chance at rehabilitation. I received a sentence of only 30 months and with the court’s recommendation of a drug program my sentence was further reduced by one year. I received the help I needed in that program and I am back with my wife and children. That never would have happened if James wasn't the type of lawyer he is — he fights hard and cares deeply.

I am from Singapore and I was charged in a case in New York federal court with a conspiracy to import and distribute over 20 million dollars in counterfeit goods. I was in jail with no family or friends here and didn’t know where to turn. A couple people told me about James — what a good guy he was, how honest he was, what a fighter he was. He came and met with me and we talked about the case. He told me to take my time and interview as many lawyers as I needed until I was comfortable. I knew I wanted James to represent me, and after he spoke with my family in Singapore, they hired him. I was always asking him if I was going to go home, but he never just told me what I wanted to hear, he told me what I had to hear — that he could not be sure of what the judge will do. It was easier to accept that truth because James was kind to me, he explained everything to me, and he visited with me often. In the end, the judge sentenced me to time served, which was years less than the guidelines called for, and I am home with my family. James was honest from the day we met and I thank him with all my heart.

I hired James when I was notified that I was the target of a federal investigation at my bank. James immediately went to work investigating the case, examining it as though he were the one of the agents! He told me that this was the best way to defend the proposed accusations and hopefully convince the investigators that I was not the culprit. Thanks to James, we were successful. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I had not hired James for the investigation and waited instead to be charged with something. Being a target of an investigation is an unrelenting burden, and the stress and fear it brings is overwhelming. I don't know what I would have done without his guidance. Thank you brother.

I am Sohal and I was arrested in Michigan on a large scale narcotics conspiracy and brought to the Eastern District of New York to face these charges. I was originally charged with a crime that had a ten year minimum. I had no family or anyone to assist me until I was told about James. My family hired him from my home in Canada and within a few months, Mr. James had negotiated a plea with the government which carried only a two to three year sentence, instead of ten. There was a lot of evidence against me, and I was very grateful to be offered such a good deal. Mr. James had explained that given my background and minor role in the case, I had a chance of receiving a sentence below these guidelines. He always made it clear that there was no guarantee that this would happen. James gave the court a memorandum about me which included my entire life and the words of my wife and children and people I worked with in Canada. My hopes came true and after only a few months, I was sentenced to time served and sent home to my family. My thanks always to Mr. James.

We hired James in 2007 to defend me in my murder case in Brooklyn. I was charged with the murder of one man and the attempted murder of another. I made a video taped statement after my arrest and at 18 years old, I thought my life was over. I knew I did not kill the one man and I knew I shot at the other in self defense, but proving that didn’t even seem possible with four witnesses telling a different story. James investigated the case in every respect. He interviewed every witness he could find, he went to the scene and studied it and he knew it like the back of his hand. He spent hours with me preparing for our defense and my testimony. But most of all, what gave me the most faith, was that I knew he cared about me. I was acquitted, I am finishing school and I will never forget you James.

Many years ago, I found myself charged with the murder of a woman in a club in the Bronx. I could not believe that this was happening to me, and as the months went by I was getting weaker and weaker in jail, to the point where even though I knew in my heart I should go to trial and prove my innocence, I was almost convinced by my lawyer to plead guilty and stay in jail for ten years. A friend introduced me to James and after meeting with us and reviewing my case James became my lawyer. There were no false promises, just straight talk. He devised a strategy and investigated the case but he never promised we would win. Finally the delays stopped, the investigation that was never done was done immediately, and after a three week trial, I was acquitted. I am grateful for the day I met James.

I had two cases in the Bronx involving 8 robberies. The DA was offering me 15 years and would not come down. I was 17 and when my mom hired James I was sure that nobody could help me. The truth is that James didn’t know either at first. As I look back on all that happened, I realize that that is one of the best things about him. I hated some of the things he told me, but now I know that as much as I didn't want to hear it, it was always the truth. As he worked on the case, we realized that it was less about what I did and did not do and more about who I was. James put in over 50 pages of information to the court explaining my life and my potential. He really cared about me and this was so clear to the judge. I received a much lower sentence from the judge, over ten years less than the DA's recommendation. I am in school now and I am going to be okay. I will never forget your advice and what you did for me James.

James I cannot thank you enough for your amazing representation. I had a case in Brooklyn where I was charged with possession of one kilogram of cocaine. I have a prior record and I was being offered 20 years. We had no choice but to move forward toward trial. The preparation for the hearings was amazing. James had been to the scene many times. He realized that the police testimony that I was stopped at a bus stop was impossible. There was no bus stop on the corner they put my car! James' cross examinations during the hearings made it clear that the police were not truthful and the case was now not as strong as originally believed. Because of this, the plea offer was reduced from 20 years to practically nothing. I know we could have won the trial after having seeing James at the hearing, but given the amazingly good plea offer, I had to decide if I should take the small risk that things would go wrong at trial. I asked him what he thought. As always, James was honest and looked out for my best interests, not his financial interests. I would have gone to trial if he told me to and paid him whatever he asked for, but he agreed that when we weighed the unknown risk of trial against the plea offer that was so good, it was clear that I should take the plea. In doing that, he made less money and I got the best representation possible. The man is a straight shooter, he looks out for his clients and he is amazing in the courtroom.