Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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State
Sam H. Lock 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. Sam H., who practices law in San Antonio, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sam H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stuart Sears is an experienced trial attorney whose practice focuses on criminal and white collar defense. Before joining Schertler & Onorato LLP, Mr. Sears was a partner at a law firm in Alexandria, Virginia, where he represented individuals in a wide array of federal and state criminal proceedings. Mr. Sears's broad defense experience includes representing individuals charged with health care fraud, false claims, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, illegal structuring, and mortgage f...
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...
With 25+ years of experience in government investigations and white-collar defense, Brian Kelly is a nationally recognized former federal prosecutor and high-profile trial attorney. Brian has tried numerous federal cases including, most notably, U.S. v. James “Whitey” Bulger . His seasoned judgment and strategic counsel comes from decades of experience in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in both Boston and San Diego. Brian defends corporations and executives in federal and state i...
Attorney Charlie Rankin began practicing criminal law in 1980. He practices in both state and federal courts. Charlie’s practice focuses on representing clients in a diverse array of complex criminal matters, but he is best known for his work representing clients charged with white collar crimes, including health care fraud, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, computer or cybercrimes, financial fraud, telemarketing fraud, tax fraud, and public corruption. In recent years, he was successful in ...
Richard M. Strassberg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Richard M., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jason Pink is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Jason, who practices law in Boulder, Colorado, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher (Chris) Joseph is the Managing Member of Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC, where he chairs the firm’s criminal defense practice group. His practice involves criminal defense and civil litigation in federal and state courts across Kansas. Chris defends individuals facing federal criminal charges and high-level state felony charges and counsels individuals and businesses subject to government investigations. Chris also has ample experience litigating civil asset forfeiture ma...
Richard Tegtmeier is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer in Taft's Compliance, Investigations, and White Collar Defense group. He specializes in complex criminal and civil litigation and has tried more than 200 cases before juries. He is respected throughout the country for his unique ability to navigate the courtroom and the complex process of a jury trial—he has the confidence required to think and act outside the box and produce the type of results that can only come from de...
Jeffrey Whitt is a highly respected criminal defense attorney based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Known for his formidable presence in state and federal courtrooms across Tennessee, he has built a reputation as a skilled trial lawyer and relentless advocate for his clients. Jeff earned his law degree from Samford University in 1991 and holds a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College, where he was an Academic All-American and All-Conference honoree in both football and tennis. An active lead...
John is a lifetime member of the 82nd Airborne Association and the U.S. Army Ranger Association. He served his country as a Staff sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1996 and was also an Airborne Ranger, a significant achievement that requires dedication, determination, exceptional mental toughness, and a commitment to excel. The selection process for becoming an Airborne Ranger is highly competitive and rigorous and includes physical fitness assessments, mental aptitude evaluations, speci...
Benjamin Griffitts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Benjamin, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Benjamin Raybin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Civil Rights Law and Criminal Defense: General Practice. Benjamin, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
About Loren Loren M. Brown is a founding shareholder and managing shareholder with Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. Loren’s practice is focused 100% on litigation, providing representation along the Front Range, and throughout the State of Colorado. Loren focuses on Wrongful Death and Personal Injury, Criminal Defense (ranging from traffic violations to homicide), Liquor Licensing, and Commercial Litigation. Loren is also actively involved in the Colorado Bar Association. Loren served as the...
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.