Best Lawyers in Canada for Criminal Defence

Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers (Chair, Ontario Committee). Fellow of International Society of Barristers. Best Lawyers in Canada® , Criminal Defence. Former Director, Advocates’ Society. Faculty Member, National Criminal Law Program. Criminal lawyer experienced in criminal, quasi-criminal, constitutional and special prosecutions matters. Appeared as counsel on many jury and bench trials, argued over 80 appeals in the Court of Appeal for Ontario and multiple appearances ...

For two decades, Hilary has represented clients facing a wide range of criminal charges, from theft to murder. She is particularly adept at defending individuals accused of sexual assault , drug offences, and human trafficking. Hilary aims to guide her clients confidently through challenging legal situations. Hilary earned her law degree from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law and completed her Master of Laws in Criminal Law and Procedure at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. With a ...

Joseph A Neuberger is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Criminal Law. He has a Masters Degree of Law, and is a published author. Joseph Neuberger leverages over three decades of experience to build a highly respected criminal defence firm with a proven track record of success. Mr. Neuberger has extensive trial experience in the areas of sexual and domestic assault cases, homicide, fraud, drug-related offences and impaired driving. Mr. Neuberger has successfully conduc...

Mark Polley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defence. Mark, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sonya Shikhman was born and raised in the Soviet Union, where witnessing injustice and abuses of authority inspired her to pursue a career in criminal defence. She has dedicated her practice to ensuring that the power of the state remains within its lawful limits and that the rights and freedoms of individuals are protected. Ms. Shikhman began working with a senior criminal defence lawyer at the age of 17. At 23, she graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School, where she focused her studies on cri...

With over 45 years of experience practicing law, Richard Wolson has the experience you deserve. One of Canada’s most prominent lawyers, Mr. Wolson has worked to defend all kinds of people just like you. With notable high profile cases such as the 2010 Schreiber, Mulroney inquiry, and the Wrongful Conviction Inquiry of Thomas Sophonow. Richard has represented clients in nearly every province in Canada. The hallmark of Richard Wolson’s career as a lawyer is his willingness to share ...

Mark Halfyard is the senior appellate lawyer at Daniel Brown Law LLP , based in Toronto, Ontario. With extensive experience in the legal field, Mark focuses on Appellate Practice and Criminal Defence. He earned his B.A. in legal studies and political science from Carleton University in 2001, graduating with honors. Mark subsequently received his LL.B. cum laude from the University of Ottawa, where he completed a clerkship with the Regional Senior Judge of the Ontario Superior Court. The Law S...

Andrew Nathanson, KC focuses on complex commercial litigation and white collar crime. He is Co-Chair of Fasken’s Commercial Litigation Group in BC and Co-Leader of the firm’s national White Collar Defence and Investigations group. Andrew is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been ranked as a leading litigator in diverse areas including corporate and commercial litigation, directors and officers' liability, securities litigation, public law and criminal defen...

Cassandra DeMelo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defence. Cassandra, who practices law in London, Ontario, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cassandra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Karen is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on jury trials – her record speaks for herself, she has had tremendous success securing acquittals for clients in jury trials for all types of offences including first and second-degree murder prosecutions. She has also won acquittals in judge alone trials, including a first-degree murder. Though she has defended nearly every criminal charge known to law, she specializes in complex prosecutions involving allegations of firearms possessio...

Matthew Nathanson is a criminal defence lawyer with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in complex criminal cases and has extensive experience in constitutional matters, media sensitive cases and appeals. He has represented clients in various provinces and has argued cases in the Federal Court of Canada and Supreme Court of Canada.

Jessyca Greenwood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Criminal Defence. Jessyca, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jessyca is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Jessyca assists clients with investigations, those facing allegations of wrongdoing, and hi...

Janani is a passionate and dedicated advocate. Her track record speaks for itself. She has argued almost 40 appeals at the Ontario Court of Appeal. She has argued at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. She was co-counsel in R. v. Nur, the first case in over 30 years where the Supreme Court found a mandatory minimum sentence unconstitutional and in R. v. Williams, the Supreme Court's most recent case on entrapment. Janani is also a skilled trial lawyer. She was co...

Dominic practices in regulatory law, disciplinary law, and criminal business law, with particular expertise in economic crimes. With nearly 35 years of experience working with public authorities, including 17 years with the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DCPP), he has a solid understanding of regulatory issues businesses face and has gained extensive experience in court. Providing both preventive and defensive services, Dominic assists and advises his clients on their regulatory...

Adam Weisberg is a dedicated criminal lawyer with both an appeal and trial practice. He has appeared at all levels of court and conducted hundreds of successful trial matters. In 2011, he was granted his Certified Specialist in Criminal Law designation after practising for only eight years. Mr. Weisberg's practice focuses on defending complex drug matters, sexual assault cases, white collar crime and homicides. Mr. Weisberg is also committed to legal education. He is currently a vice-presiden...

Chris Rudnicki is a criminal law expert. He is a veteran of hundreds of criminal trials and appeals. His experience includes complex, serious, and precedent-setting cases at every level of court in Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada. Chris specializes in criminal appeals. Losing a criminal case is a traumatic experience. Convicted persons lose the presumption of innocence and often also lose their freedom. Most of Chris’s clients contact him after being found guilty but before s...