Best Lawyers in Canada for Criminal Defence

One of Canada’s leading criminal defence counsel, David has been a partner in the firm for over thirty years. His advocacy practice is focused on the vigorous defence of individuals and corporations facing criminal investigation or prosecution, and regulated professionals responding to allegations of professional misconduct. David has argued cases in all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He is equally experienced and adept conducting trials, appeals, and profession...

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.

Melanie J. Webb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defence. Melanie J., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melanie J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Megan Savard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Criminal Defence. Megan, 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 Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Over the 20 years Tonii Roulston has been a member of the Calgary Bar Association, she has built her long-standing reputation as a tough criminal defence lawyer. Known for her strategic thinking, and effectiveness in the courtroom, she has represented a variety of challenging and high-profile cases. As a female lawyer, she holds an advantage in vigorously questioning female complainants on difficult details including their motivations to lie and inconsistencies in their accusations. Tonii is ...

Jill Makepeace has almost two decades of experience conducting criminal trials and appeals. She has represented individuals charged with a broad spectrum of criminal offences, including alleged crimes of violence and serious drug cases. A significant concentration of her trial practice is defending regulated professionals facing criminal and administrative prosecution. She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario and New Brunswick. She also has experience before administrative tribu...

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 ...

Naomi has a diverse practice, representing clients in criminal and regulatory trials and appeals, with a particular focus on corporate crime, complex criminal litigation, and appellate advocacy. She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario as well as the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to her criminal law practice, Naomi regularly appears at the Law Society Tribunal, representing lawyers in disciplinary proceedings, as well as before other ad...

Evan Roitenberg has been practising law since 1992 and is deeply committed to protecting the rights of the accused and equally committed to the advancement of the legal profession.Over his three decades as a defence lawyer, Mr. Roitenberg has been recognized as a persistent, determined, and strong advocate. Evan has been involved in numerous high-profile and precedent-setting cases. He has defended clients in Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia and at the Supreme Co...

William Smart, K.C. is a senior litigator who has over 45 years of experience primarily in the areas of criminal, administrative and regulatory law. This includes representing clients under investigation or charged pursuant to various federal and provincial Acts such as the Income Tax Act, Canada Labour Code, Fisheries Act, Customs Act, Excise Act, Workers Compensation Act, Mines Act, Securities Act, Police Act, Gaming Enforcement Act and Elections Act, as well as representing lawyers, teache...

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

Michael is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and a partner at Abergel Goldstein & Partners LLP . Michael’s laid-back charm disarms the toughest witnesses and has an irresistible effect on judges and juries alike. Michael has developed a broad-ranging criminal litigation practice, and has appeared before all levels of court. He has defended cases ranging from simple assaults to large drug projects, to complex murders, and has had particular success before juries. Michael has bee...

Margaret Bojanowska is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defence. Margaret, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Margaret is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Patrick McCann’s practice is focused on white collar crime litigation. He has represented clients in all trial and appellate courts in Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been lead counsel in numerous major criminal trials and has handled over 60 homicide cases. Other cases involve drug trafficking, commercial fraud, regulatory offences and prosecutions under the Income Tax Act, the Competition Act and the Lobbying Act. Patrick McCann has been practicing at the forefront of...