Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Criminal Defence
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...
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...
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.
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.
Annamaria Enenajor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Practice, Cannabis Law, Criminal Defence and Professional Malpractice Law. Annamaria, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Annamaria is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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.