Alex Little, Esq.: Criminal Defense Trial Attorney
By Jeff Grant
We were honored to host Alex Little, Esq., a white-collar and criminal defense attorney representing some of the highest-profile defendants in the country, as our April 2026 White Collar Support Group Tuesday Night Speaker Series presenter.
Alex Little is the founder and managing partner of Litson PLLC, a boutique federal litigation and white-collar criminal defense firm based in Nashville that operates nationwide. Before representing clients in the federal system, he sat on the other side of it, serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting complex federal cases.
His path to the courtroom was not a straight line. Alex began his career in international diplomacy with The Carter Center, then moved into intelligence work at the CIA before going to law school. That background in diplomacy, intelligence, prosecution, and now defense gives him a perspective on the federal system that very few attorneys have.
Today, Alex leads a team that includes four former federal prosecutors and focuses exclusively on federal criminal defense, clemency and pardons, and high-stakes civil litigation. He is the author of the forthcoming book Spies, Saints, and Stingers, which introduces his "Diagnose, Empathize, Preach" framework for navigating impossible problems.
For the white collar justice community, Alex's background is directly relevant. He has worked inside the institutions that his clients now face, including the U.S. Attorney's office, the intelligence community, and the federal courts, and he brings that firsthand understanding to every defense. His experience with clemency and pardons is also directly applicable to many WCSG members who are exploring post-conviction relief options.
Whether you are facing federal charges, supporting someone who is, or interested in how the federal criminal defense system works from the perspective of someone who has been on both sides, the full recording is available above.
Alex's work on clemency and pardons connects directly to topics covered by Professor Mark Osler in our June 2025 Speaker Series. For those interested in how federal sentencing works, our presentation with Doug Passon on sentencing and mitigation is also worth watching.
