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Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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Jeff maintains an active trial and appellate practice, focusing on complex civil and criminal matters. He has substantial trial experience, before judges and juries, and has appeared as counsel and argued more than 75 appeals to the Alaska Supreme Court, Alaska Court of Appeals, Idaho Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff's trial experience encompasses a broad range of matters, including environmental and antitrust cases, oil and gas disputes,...
Mark L. Hearp is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense. Mark L., who practices law in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
Rob Fisher is a Chambers USA ranked trial lawyer and former Assistant United States Attorney who represents clients facing bet-the-company internal and government investigations or charges brought by agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the various state attorneys general. He serves as practice group leader for the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Defense prac...
Sam Josephs is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who focuses on white-collar criminal matters and government enforcement actions, as well as complex civil litigation and administrative matters. In 2023, Sam was recognized by the Daily Journal in its list of Top White-Collar Lawyers. Sam has achieved remarkable results for his clients, both before and after trial, including an acquittal on all charges following an eight-week jury trial on behalf of a Fox Sports executive charged in the...
Ryan McPhie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Ryan, who practices law in Mesa, Arizona, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Daniel Blau is a dedicated criminal appeals and post-conviction attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With a deep commitment to constitutional advocacy, Dan has successfully represented clients before North Carolina’s state and federal appellate courts, securing reversals and remands in complex felony cases. As a Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice, he brings extensive knowledge and experience to each case, ensuring clients receive comprehensive and strategic represent...
Steven E. Farese, Sr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and DUI / DWI Defense. Steven E., who practices law in Ashland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
James “Jim” W. Bannister is a managing partner of Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Honors College in 1992 as a Phi Beta Kappa and earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1995. After which, Jim served for two years as a law clerk to U.S. Federal Judge Henry M. Herlong and has been with Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey since that time. Jim is a criminal defense trial lawyer known for handling complex felo...
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.
James David Smith (“Dave”) is a practicing DUI & criminal defense attorney at the Rosenstein Law Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Smith has a strong focus on the defense of the impaired driver. He successfully defends clients facing all degrees of criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor DUI offenses to felony assault charges throughout the Phoenix metro area and Courts in the state of Arizona. James David Smith is a U.S. Army Desert Storm war veteran who regularly provides ...
For over 53 years, Marc Steinberg has been practicing law, and for the past 50 years he practiced with the law firm of Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg and Gifford, P.C. After graduation from the Pennsylvania State University in 1970, Mr. Steinberg received his law degree from Temple University School of Law in 1973. After a one year clerkship in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Mr. Steinberg served a two year term as an Assistant District Attorney in the Montgomery County District Atto...
Martin F. Murphy 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. Martin F., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Martin F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Danny Onorato is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney. As a defense attorney, Mr. Onorato has successfully represented individuals in a wide variety of complex criminal and civil matters, including many high profile white collar criminal offenses. Mr. Onorato’s clients have included executives from high profile cases including HealthSouth, Enron, KPMG and Fannie Mae. Mr. Onorato has also represented clients in both civil and criminal securities fraud investigations...
Deandra Grant, JD, GC, MS AV-rated attorney Deandra Grant is the Managing Partner of Deandra Grant Law’s 6 offices in Texas and is an international speaker on DWI law, science and trial skills. A graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio with a degree in business (Finance) and Southern Methodist University’s School of Law, Grant went on to earn a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a Master&rsquo...
Archie Speights is a co-founder and lead criminal law and attorney of Speights Law in Cherokee County. He is an experienced criminal defense lawyer who handles an assortment of major felony cases, including murder, sex crimes, aggravated assault, and drug crimes in the state of Georgia. Archie Speights graduated first in the December class from The University of Mississippi School of Law in 2000. During his time in law school, he served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of National Security L...
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.