Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Criminal Defence
Matthew Friedberg is a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto, Ontario, and a partner at Caramanna Friedberg. He has devoted his career to criminal defence, representing individuals charged with a broad range of criminal offences before all levels of court in Ontario. Mr. Friedberg is regularly retained in serious and complex cases, including matters that have received significant media coverage. His criminal defence practice includes cases involving Homicide , Sexual Assault , Domestic Assault ,...
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.
Joseph Markson ’s practice is directed to the defence of individual and corporate clients in criminal and regulatory litigation. His practice areas are criminal and regulatory law, tax evasion and white-collar crime, and the law of policing and professional discipline. He has extensive experience successfully conducting criminal and quasi-criminal trials, regulatory and professional discipline hearings, appeals, advisory work, and witness representation. Joseph was selected by his peers...
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...
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...
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.
Jordana H. Goldlist is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defence. Jordana H., 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 Jordana H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brian Greenspan is one of the most prominent and respected defence lawyers in Canada. He has served as counsel on many of Canada’s most significant cases that have helped shape criminal law over the past five and a half decades. He has an unparalleled and distinguished reputation in both trial and appellate law. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and Litigation Counsel of America, Brian is sought after for his sage advice in respe...
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 ...
Adriel Weaver has a broad litigation practice, including criminal, constitutional, Aboriginal and administrative law matters. She has appeared in all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada. Adriel received her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007 after clerking at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. She also holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University, and a...
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...
Hussein Aly is a highly successful trial lawyer. His experience and track record of success resulted in the Law Society of Ontario recognizing him as a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law. In 2021, he was named a Lexpert Rising Star, an award recognizing leading lawyers under 40. Hussein was also elected by his colleagues to sit on the board of directors for the Criminal Lawyers Association. Hussein has successfully defended hundreds of criminal cases, many of them garnering media attention.
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...
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 ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.