Best Lawyers in Arizona, United States for Criminal Defense: General Practice
About Craig Rosenstein Craig Rosenstein is the founder and owner of Rosenstein Law Group, now open since 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona. After graduating from Arizona State University College of Law, Craig practiced criminal law. He then opened the Rosenstein Law Group, PLLC, with the first attorney he hired being his then-fiancé' (now wife) of over ten years. Rosenstein Law Group is a full-service criminal defense firm that provides the defense to those accused of all types of charges, w...
Clay Hernandez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Clay, who practices law in Tucson, Arizona, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Clay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
With over 50 years experience as a defense lawyer, Tom’s practice includes criminal matters, with an emphasis on federal and state commercial and white collar prosecutions. He has extensive trial experience in the defense of commercial and white collar criminal cases, as well as cases involving allegations of public corruption, money laundering, fraud, computer tampering, arson, theft, assault, and vehicular manslaughter. In addition, Tom has been lead trial counsel in a number of capit...
Clark L. Derrick began his legal career in Phoenix in 1972 after having graduated, with distinction, from the University of Arizona, College of Law and entering into the practice with John J. Flynn and the firm of Flynn, Kimerer, Thinnes & Derrick. While a student at the University of Arizona, College of Law, Clark was Symposium Editor of the Arizona Law Review and was elected a member of the Order of the Coif. He received his undergraduate, Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 from the Univer...
Michael, 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® , 21 st 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 lawyer...
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...
Carol Lamoureux is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Carol, who practices law in Tucson, Arizona, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carol is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jason Karpel was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After high school, Jason attended Arizona State University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. After graduating from Arizona State University, Jason loved Arizona so much, that he remained in-state in order to attend law school. While in law school, Jason was a teaching assistant and worked for a criminal defense firm. Jason graduated, immediately passed the bar exam, and began his life-long dream ...
Joshua Sene is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense. Joshua, who practices law in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shayna Frieden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Shayna, who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shayna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Greg defends people in criminal proceedings and governmental investigations. He has made appearances in state and federal courts throughout Arizona, from Bisbee to Flagstaff and Yuma to Globe. He primarily appears in courtrooms within Maricopa County. Greg has litigated all types of criminal matters, including misdemeanors, felonies, and juvenile delinquency petitions. He also works with Larry Kazan in his DUI and vehicular crimes practice, which extends to administrative actions against a cl...
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...
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.