Christian Sterling is an American icon. A famed defense attorney and best-selling author, he has never lost a case. He has the gift of manipulating any jury, no matter the crime. A darling of the media, he has been nicknamed the "Svengali of the courtroom." That's why Kelly Wilde, the only heir of her Silicon Valley billionaire parents, begs Sterling to represent her when she is accused of their double murder. Risking his perfect record, Sterling reluctantly accepts the assignment. However, one of his conditions is that Kelly, a well-documented party girl and drug addict, must stay with him at his Big Sur ranch. Over a few months, Sterling transforms Kelly into a clean, fit model citizen. Soon Kelly is falling in love with Sterling and he with her. Sterling starts to wonder whether he's the one being manipulated. To further add to the suspense, San Francisco police detectives soon discover layers to this crime leading to a climatic courtroom case and fiery conclusion.