Best Lawyers in California, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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Cities
Lara Markarian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Securities. Lara, 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 Lara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lindsey M. Hay litigates complex civil and criminal cases at both the state and federal levels. Her practice focuses on clients facing investigations brought by federal and state law enforcement agencies and regulators, and all types of civil litigation. She has also handled a number of student discipline matters, including an affirmative lawsuit under Title IX against a major private university and has argued before the California Court of Appeal. Before joining the Firm, Ms. Hay served as L...
Kelsey Quigley focuses her practice on representing individuals and corporations involved in investigations, enhancing regulatory compliance, and complex litigation/controversies. In 2022, Ms. Quigley won a precedent-setting victory for client Davita in one of the first-ever criminal labor market allocation cases brought by the Department of Justice. She serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association of International Law Mexico Committee, an editor of the award-winning American Bar Associ...
Since joining the Firm in 2017, Payton Lyon has developed broad experience at both the state and federal levels assisting clients in matters involving allegations of fraud, trade secret misappropriation, and RICO violations, among others. Payton has also represented clients during investigations conducted by numerous governmental agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, and the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Before joining the Fir...
Maura Riley is a top attorney in Los Angeles, California recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Maura has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Maura is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. In addition to her work in white-collar defense, Maura has a proven track record in high-stakes business litigation, corporate compliance...
Kirsi Luther joined the firm in 2022, following five years of service to the federal judiciary. Kirsi first served as an extern and clinical intern for then-Chief Judge Dana L. Christensen of the District of Montana. Following law school, Kirsi went on to clerk for the Honorable Judge Christensen for two years. From 2021 to 2022, she clerked for the Honorable Sidney R. Thomas of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Kirsi earned her law degree from the University of Montan...
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.