Best Lawyers in California, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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Mr. Eisner has successfully defended clients facing the most serious criminal accusations for over 33 years. He practices criminal defense exclusively, and have been a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law - Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization - for over 20 years. This designation, and periodic recertification, comes only after demonstrating the highest level of proficiency in criminal defense, extensive litigation of complex and serious cases, and a rev...
Vito A. Costanzo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Vito A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vito A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Keri Curtis Axel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Keri Curtis, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Keri Curtis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christine Y. Wong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Christine Y., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christine Y. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeffrey Hallam is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jeffrey, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Angela Machala is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Angela, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Angela is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brian Hennigan is Managing Partner at Hueston Hennigan LLP. For the past 20 years, Mr. Hennigan has specialized in complex litigation with an emphasis on white collar criminal defense. Over that time period, he has successfully represented individuals and corporations facing a wide array of challenges presented by federal prosecutors and investigating agencies. More recent representations have included the successful representations of individuals facing allegations under the Foreign Corrupt ...
Terry Bird has been litigating, trying and winning complicated civil and white collar criminal cases for more than 40 years. He started his trial experience as a federal prosecutor in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office. Before that, he clerked for Justices Lynn “Buck” Compton and Robert Thompson at the California Court of Appeal. His extensive and successful trial experience in commercial business litigation and white collar criminal prosecutions has been recognized by h...
Sanjay Bhandari is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sanjay, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sanjay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Thomas R. Freeman is a principal at Bird Marella and a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law. His practice is focused on civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and criminal appeals. He is certified as an appellate specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and has argued countless cases before federal and state appellate courts and case-dispositive motions before trial courts. Tom has handled a broad range of complex matters, including...
PRACTICE AREAS Trials Commercial Litigation Bet-the-Company Trials Class Actions White Collar Criminal Defense EXPERIENCE Kay is a seasoned trial attorney, having tried over 100 jury trials to verdict. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation and white collar cases. Chambers USA ranks her among the top commercial litigators in California, quoting sources who describe Kay as “having great instincts and clients listen breathlessly...
David A. Klein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. David A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Thomas P. O'Brien is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Securities. Thomas P., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ms. Marino is a 27-year lawyer and a State Bar of California Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Her practice focuses on white collar and complex criminal litigation on both a national and international level. Ms. Marino regularly represents individuals in matters involving allegations of all aspects of fraud, including, wire and mail fraud, health care fraud, insurance, and bank fraud, as well as allegations of money laundering, conspiracy, computer crimes, bribery, and kickbacks, counterfeit...
Kevin M. Lally is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Kevin M., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.