Best Lawyers in Arizona, United States for Criminal Defense: General Practice
Rachelle S. Ferraro is a criminal defense attorney with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in Scottsdale, Arizona, and throughout the surrounding communities. At Rosenstein Law Group , she focuses on Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense , helping individuals address misdemeanor and felony charges in state and federal courts. Rachelle has dedicated her career to protecting the constitutional rights of people accused of crimes. She approaches each case wit...
Joshua Hamilton is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Joshua practices law in Tucson, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Joshua Hamilton since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Joshua Hamilton is held by other lawyers.
Clay Hernandez is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Clay practices law in Tucson, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Clay Hernandez since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Clay Hernandez is held by other lawyers.
Ashley D. Adams is an attorney with Adams & Associates PLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her practice includes Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar matters, with a focus on representing businesses and individuals in federal and state investigations, criminal proceedings, regulatory matters, and health care qui tam cases. Ashley Adams has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2011 for her work in Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Coll...
Matt is a graduate from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the Men’s Varsity Basketball Team. He received his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University in 2003. Matt is a shareholder focusing his practice in plaintiff’s catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death and criminal law. In his nearly ten years as a lawyer, Matt has distinguished himself in the courtroom and the community. He is passionate about his clients and dedicated to seeking justice on ...
Michael Harwin , a former prosecutor, graduated summa cum laude from University of Arizona College of Law in May 1993, where he served on the editorial board of the Arizona Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Recognized nationally for his work in white collar criminal defense , Michael is listed in Best Lawyers America® , 21st ed. and rated by Martindale Hubbell ® A-V 5/5 Preeminent. He has also been listed in Arizona Superlawyers ® as one of the top Tucson DUI...
Woody is a criminal defense attorney who represents his clients on all types on felony and misdemeanor offenses and government investigations. For the past 13 years, he has concentrated his practice in criminal law, representing clients on a wide range of criminal offenses from misdemeanor DUI to homicide and federal investigations. Earlier in his career, Woody joined a large Arizona law firm where he worked in complex commercial litigation, products liability, and intellectual property law. ...
David Lish is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: General Practice. David has more than 20 years of experience in Arizona’s criminal justice system. Before entering private practice, David spent eight years as a prosecutor, gaining extensive courtroom experience and handling criminal matters from the government’s side. He later transitioned to criminal defense, representing individuals facing serious and complex criminal allegations....
James David Smith (“Dave”) is a practicing DUI & criminal defense attorney at the Rosenstein Law Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Smith has a strong focus on the defense of the impaired driver. He successfully defends clients facing all degrees of criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor DUI offenses to felony assault charges throughout the Phoenix metro area and Courts in the state of Arizona. James David Smith is a U.S. Army Desert Storm war veteran who regularly provides ...
Jason Karpel is a Criminal Defense attorney with DM Cantor in Phoenix, Arizona. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Jason later moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. After completing his undergraduate education, he remained in Arizona to attend law school. During law school, Jason served as a teaching assistant while also working for a criminal defense firm, gaining early experience in Arizona criminal ...
Payslie represents companies and individual, institutional, and tribal clients in complex litigation across state, federal, and tribal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Her practice encompasses a wide range of issues, including constitutional challenges, water rights adjudication, class action claims, tribal law, appellate advocacy, criminal defense, trust litigation, and other complex commercial and civil rights disputes. Payslie has substantial trial experience in Arizona&rsquo...
Carol Lamoureux is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Carol practices law in Tucson, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Carol Lamoureux since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Carol Lamoureux is held by other lawyers.
Howard is an appropriately aggressive trial attorney, with a previous career in law enforcement. Howard diligently and tirelessly works to empower justice and defend his client’s rights. Howard’s reputation and hard work earned him not-guilty verdicts for the majority of his jury trials. Howard’s experience includes countless bench trials, evidentiary hearings, probable cause hearings, and in-custody Initial Appearances. Howard is an active member of various professional org...
Shayna Frieden is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Shayna practices law in Phoenix, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Shayna Frieden since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Shayna Frieden is held by other lawyers.
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.
