James J. Binns is an active Philadelphia lawyer who specializes in litigation. Since 1965 his areas of practice have included white collar criminal cases, complex and multi-district litigation involving claims of Securities Fraud, Mass Torts, Legal Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Medical Malpractice. He has tried a number of cases involving Sports Related Issues. He is an active Family Law practitioner and is licensed to practice in 20 states. He is admitted to the Federal Courts of each state in which he is licensed. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the Circuit Courts of Appeals in all Eleven Circuits and he is a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court.
For over 46 years Mr. Binns has enjoyed an international reputation for handling high profile cases. He has served as lead and co-lead counsel in a number of nationwide class actions involving claims of securities fraud and price-fixing. A substantial portion of his practice is dedicated to the defense of white-collar criminal cases. This includes a number of trials to verdict as well as counseling individuals subpoenaed to testify before State and Federal Grand Juries. He defended a United States Congressman in the FBI “ABSCAM” prosecution and won the “Indy 500″ representing Penske Racing and three time champion race car driver Bobby Unser.
He is the former Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner having been initially appointed by Republican Governor Richard Thornburgh and reappointed by Democratic Governor Robert P. Casey. In 1984 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. He has represented boxers, promoters and casinos throughout the world. His 31 consecutive legal victories for the World Boxing Association include decisions over Muhammed Ali, Tim Witherspoon, Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, Top Rank, Don King, Mike Tyson the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He portrayed himself opposite Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire and Burt Young as Rocky Balboa’s lawyer in the motion picture “ROCKY V”. He portrayed himself opposite Sylvester Stallone, as the Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner, in the motion picture “ROCKY BALBOA.” He dedicated the “ROCKY” statue at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
A lifelong Philadelphian, Mr. Binns graduated magna cum laude from LaSalle University and received his J.D. from Villanova Law School. Throughout his legal career he has been involved in community and civic affairs. He is the Founder of the Hero Plaque Programs for Police and Firefighters. He founded Copwheels, Inc. which provides motorcycles, horse trailers, bicycles and weapons to Police Departments. He also chairs the Hero Thrill Show, Inc., which raises funds to pay for the college education of children whose parents have been killed in the line of duty as Philadelphia Police Officers or Firefighters. His principal office is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His summary of experience confirms his varied legal practice.
As part of his commitment to the legal process Mr. Binns has chaired the Judicial Selection Commission of the Philadelphia Bar Association and chaired a Hearing Committee of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He has repeatedly been named by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as a Delegate to the Third Circuit Judicial Conference. He was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to serve as a member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee.
Mr. Binns enjoys appointments as the Honorary Police and Fire Commissioner of Philadelphia. He is the Honorary Chief of the Lower Makefield, Camden, Margate, Longport, Northfield and Brigantine Police Departments. He is the Honorary Chief County Detective for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office; a sworn Special Assistant District Attorney for Montgomery County; a sworn Special Deputy Sheriff for Chester County; a sworn Special Deputy Sheriff for Delaware County; and a sworn County Detective in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. He is an honorary member of the New Jersey Policemen’s Benevolent Association and he has been inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.
