Overview
(January 7, 2026, Los Angeles) – Steptoe LLP is pleased to announce that Jamari Buxton, a seasoned litigator and former federal prosecutor with more than a decade of experience handling high-stakes investigations and enforcement matters, has joined the firm as a partner in its Investigations, White-Collar Defense & Compliance practice in Los Angeles.
Jamari brings exceptional trial and investigative expertise, having led complex public corruption, civil rights, and white-collar cases across multiple jurisdictions. He joins Steptoe following his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California (2019–2025). During that time, Jamari prosecuted some of the district's most significant cases, including high-profile convictions involving bribery and corruption among senior Los Angeles city officials. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in the District of New Jersey (2013-2019) and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2012-2013) and practiced at Kelley Drye & Warren in New York.
At Steptoe, Jamari will focus on internal investigations, compliance counseling, and enforcement defense for corporate clients, higher education institutions, and healthcare organizations. He will also advise on emerging civil rights and ESG-related risk assessments, drawing on his experience coordinating with agencies such as the FBI, IRS, and SEC.
"Jamari's deep experience managing multi-agency investigations and his strong relationships with law enforcement and regulatory bodies will significantly enhance our West Coast platform," said firm chair Gwen Renigar. "His background in public corruption and civil rights enforcement complements Steptoe's strengths in white-collar defense counseling and positions us to deliver even greater value to clients facing complex challenges."
Jamari joins a growing roster of high-profile lateral hires that reflects Steptoe's strategic focus on emerging technologies, complex investigative matters, and global risk. Recent additions include Matt Galvin, Carl Hahn, Cáitrín McKiernan, Jonathan Drimmer, Yousuf Aftab, Claire Rajan, Christian Auty, and Michel Paradis.
"I'm thrilled to join Steptoe and help expand its investigations and enforcement capabilities on the West Coast," said Jamari. "The firm's global platform, reputation for excellence, and its collaborative, innovative approach make it the ideal place to deliver sophisticated solutions to clients navigating today's rapidly evolving regulatory and enforcement environment."
Jamari earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
