Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025 
James A. Funt is a seasoned trial attorney focusing his practice on criminal defense and civil litigation attorney with Weir LLP. He specializes in blue- and white-collar criminal defense, civil rights matters, protection from abuse petitions and employment discrimination matters on behalf of plaintiffs and has successfully tried countless cases before judges and juries. His clientele includes firefighters, police officers, attorneys, doctors, sports figures, as well other professionals, and he does not shy away from the difficult or unpopular cases. No one investigates cases more thoroughly. He understands that there are two sides to every story, and that it is his duty to fully reveal the truth when representing his client. These matters often must be brought before a jury, and juries are where Mr. Funt shines, whether successfully arguing his clients’ innocence or securing for them full and fair financial compensation.
Although based in Philadelphia, Mr. Funt often travels throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey litigating cases in state and federal courts. His criminal practice includes the defense of adult and juvenile matters, and ranges from complex homicides to aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, drug related matters, and white-collar crimes, including sexual cybercrimes. He has twice chaired the Criminal Justice Section (CJS) of the Philadelphia Bar Association and has served on the executive committee for over fifteen years. He has also served on the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Board of Governors and the Commission of Judicial Selection and Retention tasked with investigating and evaluating prospective jurists. He often handles high profile matters and understands how to handle the press delicately and deftly in the best interest of his clients. He has also litigated numerous civil rights cases alleging claims of excessive force and wrongful arrest, has successfully represented clients in first amendment issues, as well as employment discrimination cases involving claims of age, race, gender, whistleblowing, and sexual orientation discrimination. He also advocates for victims of crime and assists the Weir Flood Group, headed by Robert Sokoloff, Esquire. Additionally, Mr. Funt regularly advises clients facing overlapping criminal and civil concerns, including protection from abuse (PFA) proceedings and related criminal allegations, and understands the intricacies of how abuse and criminal allegations can impact an individual’s employment, their custody rights, their 2nd amendment rights, and their professional reputations.
Mr. Funt has a long and rich history representing unions including the Philadelphia Fire Fighters (Local 22), Septa Transit Workers (Local 234), probation officers, steel & rubber workers, teamsters, postal workers, teachers, food and commercial workers, painters, glaziers, and roofers.
Mr. Funt is also fluent in Spanish and is particularly sensitive to the current challenges the Latino population often face in the United States. He began advocating for workers’ rights while living in Mexico and there was instrumental in spearheading a variety of humanitarian, environmental, and developmental projects. Consequently, he maintains a large Hispanic clientele in the tristate region including people hailing from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, and Panama, among others.
High Publicity Cases and the Media
Mr. Funt has been involved in some of the area’s highly publicized cases and is keenly aware of the value and hazards of press related matters. He understands that often it is just as important to defend a client’s reputation in the court of public opinion, as well as the courtroom, and will use every tool at his disposal to ensure that his clients receive fair treatment throughout their ordeal. As such, Mr. Funt is often sought out by the media to address current events and constitutional matters and is often invited to lecture other attorneys at CLE’s as well as the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) on substantive legal issues and trial advocacy skills.
