Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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Nick's broad-based litigation and trial practice includes criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, and professional discipline. Nick graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo School of Management with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School. While in law school, Nick was selected to the Buffalo Law Review and in his second year was elected ...
John Robb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. John, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Chris Leibig has practiced exclusively criminal defense since 1996. His firm has offices in Alexandria and Charlottesville. Chris is President-elect of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and one of fourteen members of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, which oversees Virginia's Public Defender Offices. He has been a member of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws since 2006. The Law Office of Christopher Leibig represents individuals accused or bein...
Joe Sam Owen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Joe Sam, who practices law in Gulfport, Mississippi, has been recognized since 1991. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joe Sam is held by other top lawyer...
Amanda Alvarez Thibeault is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Amanda Alvarez, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda Alvarez is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael De Muniz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense. Michael, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jonathan Greenlee has a reputation for being unafraid to take the most challenging and complicated criminal cases to trial. Having litigated countless motions and tried over forty jury trials to verdict, he has succeeded in obtaining incredible outcomes for clients. As a former senior public defender in Arapahoe County, Colorado, Jonathan cut his teeth on thousands of misdemeanors and quickly moved into a felony caseload that included COCCA, major drug trafficking, cases involving adult and c...
Steve Hurley's more than 45 years of practice provides clients with the background necessary to litigate complex cases. Steve is highly regarded throughout the state for his expertise in criminal defense. His persuasive presentation in the courtroom and knowledge of the law make him an effective litigator for civil cases as well. Steve was nominated and elected by his peers to the American College of Trial lawyers. His reputation earns him many referrals from colleagues for both criminal and ...
Whether by obtaining an acquittal of his white-collar client at the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement, or proving that the drug dog's sensitive nose has been kicked by a horse, during the past 45 years, Dan Monnat has been recognized as a creative trial and appellate criminal defense lawyer. He co-founded Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, a criminal defense trial and appellate firm in Wichita, Kansas, in 1985. A graduate of the Creighton University School of Law and Gerry Spenc...
Robert Hemley was admitted to the bar in 1971 in New York. After beginning his legal career at a Wall Street firm and serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, he joined Gravel & Shea PC in 1976. He is based in Burlington, Vermont, where he has practiced law for decades representing individuals and businesses in complex legal matters. During his long tenure at Gravel & Shea PC, Mr. Hemley has handled a wide range of cases, including Bet-...
Darren M. Gelber is chair of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.’s Criminal Law group, focusing his practice on criminal law, white collar crime, and regulatory litigation, defending clients in federal, state, municipal, and administrative courts. In connection with his healthcare practice, he represents physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and other licensed professionals in criminal matters, administrative hearings, audits, and regulatory litigation. Mr. Gelber also represents individu...
Cynthia Eva Hujar Orr has attained national prominence defending citizens and entities in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She has earned the profound respect of her colleagues who elected her to Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Criminal Justice Section in 2014.Cynthia served as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2009-2010, President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2003, and became the first President of the San ...
C. Melissa Owen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. C. Melissa, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Melissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren Breda is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Lauren, who practices law in Concord, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren 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.