Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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State
Cathy J. Green is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Cathy J., who practices law in Concord, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cathy J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
James W. Spertus is an experienced trial attorney and a former federal prosecutor who has been litigating cases in federal and state courts for more than 26 years. He has tried dozens of cases to favorable jury verdicts and has successfully argued numerous cases in federal, state, trial, and appellate courts throughout the United States. Broad trial and appellate experiences help Mr. Spertus quickly identify the essential issues, facts, documents, and witnesses that drive outcomes, and he ach...
Cullen Wojcik is a multifaceted, highly successful criminal defense lawyer. He joined Knox Defense in 2019 and focuses his practice on defense of state and federal court prosecutions. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and a UC Hastings Bridge Fellow where he served as a post-bar certified law clerk with the Knox County Public Defender’s office before opening his own practice. Cullen is a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court, ...
Throughout his career, spanning more than 30 years, Mr. Simon has tried hundreds of criminal cases throughout the state of Michigan. He has established a reputation for providing vigorous and successful defenses to individuals throughout Washtenaw, Wayne, Jackson, Lenawee and Livingston counties in a wide range of criminal defense cases, including those involving OWI and DUI charges, domestic assault, assault & battery, theft offenses, traffic offenses, homicide allegations and alleged dr...
Craig Raabe joined the partnership in 2016 from a large, regional law firm, where he previously served as the chair of the litigation department. Mr. Raabe has tried many complex civil and criminal cases. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2006 (Copyright by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC), most recently in six disciplines: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Antitrust, Regulatory/Environmental...
Jeff Kearney is a Hall of Fame Texas trial legend. With over 35 years of experience in both federal and state court, Jeff represents clients in investigations and prosecutions ranging from complex federal fraud allegations to the most serious state court offenses. The Kearney Law Firm is a boutique criminal law practice. Jeff has decided to concentrate his practice on fewer clients, which allows him to focus on the nuances of each case and to provide the most effective representation to each ...
C. Christian Young is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. C. Christian, who practices law in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Christian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Benson Varghese is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Family Law. Benson Varghese is the founder and managing partner of Varghese Summersett, a premier Texas law firm known for its elite attorneys and exceptional results in personal injury, family law, and criminal defense. In addition to overseeing the firm — which has offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Southlake, and Houston — Be...
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...
Joseph S. Passanise graduated with honors from Missouri State University with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Communication (1991) and a Master of Arts in Communication (1993). He continued his education as a Rotary Scholar, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of London, Imperial College (1995). He received a Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, from Washburn University School of Law (1997). Passanise is licensed to practice before th...
Wade Smith has been one of North Carolina's best known and most acclaimed lawyers for nearly 50 years. His trials are recounted in books, magazines and journals. A renowned storyteller, Wade insists that within each case there is a compelling story waiting to be told. In seminars and bar meetings Wade has shared the art of storytelling. His cases offer a fine collection of North Carolina Courtroom lore. In 1979, Wade served as counsel to Dr. Jeffrey McDonald in the much studied and discussed ...
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...
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.