Best Lawyers in Canada for Criminal Defence

Joven Narwal is a leading Vancouver trial and appellate lawyer whose practice is devoted to complex and serious cases where liberty and reputation are at stake, primarily in the areas of criminal litigation, securities litigation, professional regulation, and specialty civil litigation involving criminal overtones. Inducted into Best Lawyers Canada, he has also been recognized as a “Litigation Star” and shortlisted for “White Collar Crime / Enforcement Lawyer of the Year&rdq...

Rosellen was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She earned a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Ottawa in 1995 and obtained her law degree from Dalhousie Law School in 1998. Following her call to the bar, she worked with the Department of Justice until 2006. During her time with the Department of Justice, Rosellen served as Junior Inquiry Counsel to Commissioner Antonio Lamer at the Lamer Inquiry, which examined three wrongful convictions in Newfound...

Brian Ross is a founding partner at Canada’s largest Criminal Lawyer Toronto Brian Ross criminal law firm, Rusonik, O’Connor, Ross & Angelini, LLP. Prior to founding this firm, Brian was a partner at Pinkofskys, a leading law firm famous for its vigorous defence of its clients. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology, and authoring several journal publications in this area, Mr. Ross attended Osgoode Hall Law School. He immediately established hi...

Howard is widely recognized as a leading appellate lawyer, known for his precise and creative advocacy. With over 20 years of experience, Howard is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and a partner at AGP LLP in Ottawa. His practice is devoted to criminal appeals and complex trials, and he has argued more than 150 appeals, including seven appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada. At the trial level, he has successfully defended clients charged with murder, large-scale drug traffickin...

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.

Christopher D. Hicks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defence. Christopher D., 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 Christopher D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Daniel Brown is one of Canada's leading criminal defence lawyers, defending individuals, professionals, public figures, corporations, and organizations in high-stakes criminal, regulatory, and professional discipline matters. His practice spans trials, appeals, regulatory hearings, witness representation, crisis advisory work, and complex investigations where a client’s liberty, reputation, career, and future are on the line. After graduating from Queen’s University’s Facult...

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

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

Lindsay is dedicated to the practice of criminal trials and appeal work, bringing an attentive approach to representing clients. She appears at all court levels in Ontario, handling bail proceedings, trials, appeals, interventions, and constitutional applications in her pursuit of justice. Lindsay defends clients against various criminal charges, with a particular focus on defending sexual offences. She possesses considerable experience in constitutional litigation, routinely developing argum...

Colleen McKeown is a dedicated lawyer practicing at Daniel Brown Law LLP in Toronto, Ontario, with a focus on Appellate Practice and Criminal Defence . Her work primarily involves criminal trials and appeals, where she has advocated in various courts, including the Ontario Court of Justice for Provincial Offences Act appeals, the Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Colleen has been involved significantly with the Supreme Court of Canada...

Chloe Boubalos is a dedicated legal advocate with a focus on criminal defence at Daniel Brown Law LLP, based in Toronto, Ontario. Her practice covers both trials and appeals, frequently working within the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Chloe also appears in various administrative tribunals as part of her practice. Chloe defends a wide array of criminal charges under the Criminal Code , Controlled Drugs and...

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

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

Humza Hussain is a highly skilled trial lawyer. He has won acquittals in complex trials in the Superior Court of Justice. Humza has a wide-breadth of experience, working on files with the Department of Justice Canada, as well as representing men and women on North Carolina's death row.