Best Lawyers in California, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Cities
John Rice, a former federal prosecutor, represents both individuals and corporations in a wide range of complex white collar matters, including SEC enforcement actions, anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act compliance matters, and foreign corrupt practices act investigations. Mr. Rice is an experienced litigator who has tried numerous cases to verdict, including dozens of federal jury trials, and argued cases before federal appellate courts. His practice focuses on white-collar criminal ...
Sanjay Bhandari is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sanjay practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Sanjay Bhandari since 2025. 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 Sanjay Bhandari is held by other lawyers.
Thomas “Tom” H. Bienert, Jr. is a trial attorney with decades of experience handling complex litigation, investigations, and appeals in state and federal courts. Based in San Clemente, California, Tom represents businesses, executives, professionals, and individuals in matters involving Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Appellate Practice , and Criminal Defense: White-Collar . He is a founding partner of Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP (BKLW), a litigation-f...
Jack DiCanio’s litigation practice focuses on complex litigation, white collar defense, securities litigation and special corporate investigations. Mr. DiCanio has extensive trial experience representing corporate and individual clients in a variety of civil and criminal actions involving: internal corporate investigations; federal and state securities litigation, including broker/dealer liability; securities fraud, including allegations of accounting improprieties, material misrepresen...
Jim D. Riddet is a criminal defense attorney with more than 50 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts. Based in San Clemente, California, Mr. Riddet is a partner with Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP , where his practice focuses on Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar matters. He has tried more than 75 jury cases and has spent the last 35 years concentrating on federal criminal defense. Mr. Riddet represents individuals charg...
John Hueston has been described by Chambers USA, which ranked him in Band 1 nationally, as “the best trial lawyer of his generation” with “a commanding reputation for trial advocacy.” He has been recognized twice as a “California Lawyer of the Year” by California Lawyer magazine, twice as “California Trial Lawyer of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation, and among the “Top Lawyers of the Decade” by the Daily Journal. Mr. Hueston won &ldq...
Jeffrey Hallam is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jeffrey practices law in San Francisco, California Best Lawyers has recognized Jeffrey Hallam since 2021. 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 Jeffrey Hallam is held by other lawyers.
Vincent Marella is a founding partner of Bird Marella, and has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in federal criminal prosecutions and related complex civil litigation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Vince represents corporations and individuals in grand jury investigations and post-indictment proceedings with a particular emphasis on representing high-level corporate officers and executives in criminal prosecutions, and parallel administrative and civil...
Whitney Z. Bernstein is a trial attorney and litigator with experience representing individuals and businesses in criminal and civil matters throughout California and in federal court. Based in San Clemente, California, Whitney represents clients through Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP in matters involving Appellate Practice , Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense : General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Her practice includes defending felony and misdemeanor criminal ca...
Jason de Bretteville is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Securities and Qui Tam Law. Jason practices law in Newport Beach, California Best Lawyers has recognized Jason de Bretteville since 2019. 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 Jason de Bretteville...
James J. Brosnahan is named among the top 30 trial lawyers in the United States, according to the Legal 500 US . A lion of the trial bar , James J. Brosnahan is one of the most respected and recognized trial lawyers in the United States. Mr. Brosnahan has more than 50 years of experience in both civil and criminal trial work. He regularly undertakes complex cases that are about to go to trial. He has tried, to conclusion, 150 cases. The cases have ranged from anti-trust to wire fraud and from...
Reuben Cahn is a trial lawyer with decades of experience handling complex litigation, white-collar criminal defense matters, appeals, and high-stakes jury trials. Based in San Clemente, California, Mr. Cahn represents clients through Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP in matters involving Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar , and Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. He has tried more than 100 cases to jury verdict and has argued twice before the United States Supreme Court...
Jan Handzlik is an accomplished investigations and trial lawyer with a national and international practice. He represents individuals and organizations in investigations, prosecutions, regulatory actions and complex civil litigation in the United States and abroad. He conducts corporate internal investigations, represents clients in multinational investigations, and advises domestic and foreign clients on law compliance and risk avoidance. An experienced trial lawyer, Jan has tried well over ...
Education: University of Michigan B.A. with Distinction and Highest Honors in Political Science University of Michigan Law School J.D. Cum Laude; Note Editor, University of Michigan Law Review; Author of the "Haitian Vacation", Volume 77 - Michigan Law Review, Recipient of Howard Coblentz Award for Performance on the Law Review Past Employment: 1987-1994: Layman, Jones & Dye, Irvine, Ca. Litigation Partner from 1/88 -1/94 1983-1987: Assistant United States Attorney Central District of Cal...
Michael H. Dore is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Michael H. practices law in Los Angeles, California Best Lawyers has recognized Michael H. Dore 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 Michael H. Dore 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.
