Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar
G. Allen Dale
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006 
Firm
Law Offices of G. Allen Dale PLLC
1 Best Lawyers award
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
The Law Offices of G. Allen Dale, PLLC, is a litigation firm with a national practice in criminal and enforcement matters. Its founder, Allen Dale, has over 45 years of experience in white-collar criminal defense and regularly represents individuals in high-stakes criminal matters. Clients rely on Mr. Dale for his legal expertise and skill, innovative thinking, and zealous advocacy. He is solution oriented and approaches each case with the passion, drive, and tenacity his clients deserve. His extensive knowledge of criminal law, his seasoned insight, and his passionate commitment to preparation and excellence has earned him the top honors and accolades in the legal industry, including an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Dale, a native North Carolinian, has lived in Washington, D.C. since 1973, first working for the late Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. on the Watergate Committee. He graduated Georgetown University Law School in 1977 and has practiced law since then. Dale, one of Washington’s best-known attorneys, specializes in criminal law. His practice, which began in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, where he developed trial skills taking over 100 trials to verdict. Dale practices mostly in Federal Courts throughout the nation, but mainly in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, with most of his practice devoted to white collar litigation.
Firm
Law Offices of G. Allen Dale PLLC
1 Best Lawyers award
Overview
Washington, District of Columbia
- Georgetown University, Juris doctorate, graduated 1977
- District of Columbia, United States District court for the District of Columbia
- DC Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eastern and Western US District Court of Arkansas
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Washington, District of Columbia
- District of Columbia, United States District court for the District of Columbia
- Georgetown University, Juris doctorate, graduated 1977
- DC Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eastern and Western US District Court of Arkansas
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
News & Media
Q&A
I take a hands on approach with each client. Using the years of experience, I use innovative thinking to arrive at the best result for a client. In the world of criminal defense clients, first and foremost, want to avoid jail. Second is to avoid a conviction. But many of the high profile clients, be they members of Congress or well-known members of the media or the business world, wish to avoid the publicity of even being charged; and if charged these clients often put "what others think of them" to the forefront. We are solution oriented and take the approach need to reach the solution the client most wants to achieve. That takes passion, drive, tenacity, innovative thinking and sometimes just zealous advocacy.
Q: How do you compare to other lawyers in success rates?
A: That depends on how you define "success." If you value, as most do, minimizing your chances of being charged by taking steps we recommend; if you value, as many do, minimizing your chance of being convicted or serving a long prison sentence, then we believe we have a far better success rate than most in our field.
Q: I am facing federal criminal charges with draconian sentencing guidelines. I stand no chance of being acquitted. How can you help me?
A: First, let's take a step back and discuss if you are correct in that you believe you have no chance of being acquitted. And if you are correct that your chances at trial are slim, then we find ways to avoid the federal sentencing guidelines.
Q: What is your track record in avoiding a "guideline" sentence?
A: In almost every federal sentencing case I have handled, I have persuaded the sentencing court to go below the sentencing guidelines range.
A: That depends on how you define "success." If you value, as most do, minimizing your chances of being charged by taking steps we recommend; if you value, as many do, minimizing your chance of being convicted or serving a long prison sentence, then we believe we have a far better success rate than most in our field.
Q: I am facing federal criminal charges with draconian sentencing guidelines. I stand no chance of being acquitted. How can you help me?
A: First, let's take a step back and discuss if you are correct in that you believe you have no chance of being acquitted. And if you are correct that your chances at trial are slim, then we find ways to avoid the federal sentencing guidelines.
Q: What is your track record in avoiding a "guideline" sentence?
A: In almost every federal sentencing case I have handled, I have persuaded the sentencing court to go below the sentencing guidelines range.
Because we must protect the identity of our clients, many of whom we convince the government to decline prosecution, I must speak in generalities. In the past year I had two cases in federal court in with clients, both of whom were actually guilty and each of which did not want to go to trial. But each had extremely high guidelines for what the crime they had committed. One client faced guidelines of 78 to 97 months and we were able to obtain a sentence of 6-months. The other client faced guidelines of 108 to 135 months in prison. He will serve only 18 months. These are the most memorable of the past year not because of being more interesting, but because we measure success in saving clients from long prison sentences where they lose touch with family and loved ones.
The most challenging aspect of our practice is the toll taken when you have to put so much energy into each case, knowing that if you do not the client suffers. The client gains from our passion, drive and tenacity. We lose much sleep finding solutions to the case. Our desire to succeed for the client often times means time away from our own home and family. In the end we feel it is well worth the sacrifice.
I am one of the most fortunate people in the world. I knew from the time I was 12-years old that I wanted to be criminal defense attorney--watching, what else, Perry Mason. As a high-schooler, I received a speeding ticket late at night from a state trooper and at the time was friends with one of the best trial attorneys in my small hometown in North Carolina. I hired him and later, after reading the police report, designed a chart showing that, while I was indeed speeding, the police officer was lying about how he caught me. We went to trial, my lawyer used the chart to confront the officer and the judge acquitted me. the lawyer looked at me and said, "you should go to law school." The rest is, as they say, history.
My family is my interest. My two, now adult, children and my wife are the most important parts of my life. I love to play tennis, bike and scuba dive. And I love a two-week vacation I take each year to a secluded island, where I am joined by my children and their families in a villa overlooking the sea.
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