Verified
This profile is verified using an email address.
James Candelaria
Durango,United States
Summary
Strategic legal executive with broad experience in federal prosecution, judicial decision-making, and corporate counsel work. Led teams as a DOJ branch chief, advised on securities and regulatory matters, and supported international legal cooperation through overseas assignments that included prosecutor training, MOU drafting, and compliance-focused advisory work.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
General Counsel
Swan Global Investments, LLC
Durango, Colorado
01.2019 - Current
- Advised Swan Global Investments on securities law, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
- Drafted and reviewed investment contracts, fund documents, and service agreements.
- Managed corporate governance, board materials, and committee records.
- Oversaw litigation processes, drafted and negotiated contracts, and conducted reviews to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
U.S. Magistrate Judge (Part-Time)
District of Colorado
Durango
01.2019 - Current
- Conducted initial appearances, detention hearings, preliminary hearings, arraignments, discovery conferences, settlement conferences, trials, sentencing hearings, and revocation hearings to ensure fair legal processes. Drafted rulings and orders, and recommended acceptance of plea agreements to facilitate efficient case resolutions. Reviewed and approved search and arrest warrants and returns on indictments to uphold judicial integrity and compliance.
Assistant United States Attorney Branch Chief
U.S. Attorneys Office District of Colorado
Durango, Colorado
05.2001 - 12.2018
- Prosecuted federal criminal cases for the District of Colorado in the U.S. District Court.
- Served as civil attorney and criminal prosecutor, handling cases in violent crime, money laundering, and white collar crime. Specialized in prosecution of violent crime, money laundering, anti-corruption, white collar crime, trademark infringement, controlled substances, conspiracies and regulatory and administrative crimes. Supervised junior attorneys, assigned cases, and conducted performance reviews to foster professional development. Conducted annual and semi-annual performance reviews. Acted as Tribal Liaison for District of Colorado, collaborating with Tribal Counsel of Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes on legal matters.
- Served on the DOJ Native American Issues Sub-committee.
Resident Legal Advisor
Department of Justice, Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
06.2015 - 09.2016
- Highest-ranking Department of Justice official in Jamaica with TS/SCI clearance during temporary overseas assignment in Kingston, Jamaica
- Instructed Jamaican prosecutors and judges on the prosecution and adjudication of money laundering and anti-corruption cases.
- Oversaw collaborative drafting of programmatic memorandums of understanding between Jamaican Courts and United States Marshals Service to support asset seizure and disposition processes.
- Represented Department of Justice at U.S. Ambassador weekly country team meetings and contributed to bilateral legal cooperation discussions.
- Collaborated with DEA, ICE, DOD, USMS.
Resident Legal Advisor
Department of Justice
Lusaka, Zambia
06.2008 - 07.2010
- Served as highest-ranking Department of Justice official in Zambia with TS/SCI clearance during temporary overseas assignment supporting Women’s Empowerment and Justice Initiative (WEJI).
Developed training for Zambian judges and prosecutors to strengthen prosecution and adjudication of violence against women cases; worked with Chief Justice of Zambian Supreme Court, Director of Public Prosecutions, Dean of University of Zambia Law School, donor nation representatives, and non-governmental organization leaders on gender-based violence bill and criminal code revisions, including the addition of a marital rape statute passed by Zambian Parliament in September 2010.
Represented Department of Justice at weekly U.S. Ambassador country team meetings.
Associate Attorney
Sen Lewis & Visciano, P.C.
Denver, Colorado
06.1999 - 05.2001
- Handled associate attorney responsibilities for mid-size litigation and real estate practice, preparing motions and legal research for state court trial and appellate representation.
- Drafted pleadings, motions, and legal correspondence for court filings.
- Analyzed case law and statutes to inform trial preparation strategy.
Law Clerk
Justice Gregory Kellem Scott
Denver, Colorado
05.1998 - 05.1999
- Law clerk to Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory Kellem Scott. Conducted extensive legal research and authored Certiorari Memorandums to support case decisions. Collaborated with Justice Scott to draft majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions, enhancing judicial clarity. Performed Shepardizing and Bluebooking of opinions to ensure legal accuracy and compliance.
- Researched statutes, regulations, and case law for judicial memorandum preparation.
- Drafted bench memoranda for hearings and appellate review.
- Examined case files to identify key legal issues for Justice Gregory Kellem Scott's chambers.
Education
Certificate of Technical Studies - Corpus Linguistics
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT09-2024
Economic Institute For Judges - Law And Economics
George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
Fairfax, VA07-2022
Trial Advocacy Certificate - Trial Practice
National Advocacy Center
Columbia, SC09-2001
Juris Doctorate - Law
University of Denver College of Law
Denver, Colorado12-1997
B.S. - Business Management
Metropolitan State University
Denver, Colorado08-1990
Skills
- Proficiency in contract law
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Securities regulation knowledge
- Corporate transactional expertise
- Assessment of risks and policy creation
- Litigation, including corporate, civil, and criminal cases
- Client advocacy
- Strategies for executive communication
- Leadership in cross-functional teams
- Collaboration on international legal matters
- Dispute resolution alternatives
- Developing Legal training programs
- Managing program budgets
Hobbies
All sports, baseball, football, basketball. Coaching youth sports (Son was a DI baseball player and Daughter played DII lacrosse). Civic outreach to local schools to provide students opportunities to learn about and experience the justice system.
Extra-curricular activities
- Served on Youth Baseball Boards, Durango
- Responsible for fund raising, securing sponsorship support and worked with City and County officials to secure a land donation for two youth baseball fields and collaborated with Little League officials to secure grant money to build the fields.
Accomplishments
- Attorney General Award for Sustained Superior Performance 2009 in implementing violence against women program
- Letter of Commendation by Ambassador Luis Moreno for implementation of Anti-corruption programs
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteHybridOpen to relocation: Yes
Timeline
General Counsel
Swan Global Investments, LLC
01.2019 - Current
U.S. Magistrate Judge (Part-Time)
District of Colorado
01.2019 - Current
Resident Legal Advisor
Department of Justice, Kingston
06.2015 - 09.2016
Resident Legal Advisor
Department of Justice
06.2008 - 07.2010
Assistant United States Attorney Branch Chief
U.S. Attorneys Office District of Colorado
05.2001 - 12.2018
Associate Attorney
Sen Lewis & Visciano, P.C.
06.1999 - 05.2001
Law Clerk
Justice Gregory Kellem Scott
05.1998 - 05.1999
Certificate of Technical Studies - Corpus Linguistics
Brigham Young University
Economic Institute For Judges - Law And Economics
George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
Trial Advocacy Certificate - Trial Practice
National Advocacy Center
Juris Doctorate - Law
University of Denver College of Law
B.S. - Business Management
Metropolitan State University