Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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Michael A. Robinson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Robinson Law, PLLC, and he brings a distinguished record of public service and litigation experience to his current role. After earning his J.D. from Regent University School of Law in 2006, he began his legal career as a prosecutor in the City of Newport News and later in Fauquier County, Virginia. In Newport News, he was assigned to the Juvenile & Domestic Relations team and prosecuted nearly 1,000 cases in Juvenile and D...
Chris Adams is an experienced and aggressive South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney. Chris concentrates in criminal defense in federal and state courts. Chris concentrates on defending clients accused of white collar crimes, street crimes, sex offenses, and capital murder in the South and around the country. Since launching his private practice in 2007, Chris has represented clients in serious matters from Las Vegas to New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, the bulk of his practic...
Janet Hoffman is a highly recognized criminal defense attorney known for zealously defending her clients with innovative and successful strategies that set the highest standard of practice in state and federal courts. Based in Portland, Oregon, Ms. Hoffman is committed to protecting her clients by understanding their perspectives and thoroughly evaluating the facts and law. She is known for her ability to effectively communicate the defense at the earliest possible stage – often convinc...
Mr. Hendrix has practiced law for twenty-five years, specializing in complex criminal litigation that includes white collar, public corruption, and death penalty cases. He has served as the Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Arkansas Bar, where he founded subcommittees for Indigent Defense and Death Penalty Oversight, and presently serves on the Arkansas Bar’s Editorial Board and Joint Task Force on Time Standards. He is past Vice-President and Editor-in-Chief of the Arkansas Asso...
Chris is a lifelong resident of Birmingham. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2008 with a degree in English. During his time at Birmingham-Southern he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and earned the Robert Hewlin-Jackson Award for Scholastic Achievement. Chris attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and graduated in 2011. During his time at Cumberland, Chris was a Senior Member of the Trial Advocacy Board, was honored as a member of the Dean’s Lis...
Clark O. Brewster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Clark O., who practices law in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer...
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...
Brian E. Spears is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Brian E., who practices law in Southport, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Carmen Roe, a criminal defense attorney, understands the significant responsibility of being the only person who stands between her clients and their liberty. She is a fierce advocate who approaches every case with knowledge, preparation, and relentless determination. Carmen Roe Law Firm in Houston is always available online, in person or over the phone.
Corbin C. Brewster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Corbin C., who practices law in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Corbin C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anna Geigle is a Member at Geigle | Morales, LLC. Before forming the firm, Anna was a Deputy State Public Defender in the Denver Trial Office. During her tenure as a Public Defender, Anna was appointed on more than three thousand cases. Anna’s appointments ranged from misdemeanor traffic to juvenile to sexual assault and homicide cases. The vast majority of her experience is in representing clients charged with felony offenses. To date, she has tried over fifty cases to verdict. Anna en...
Michael, a former prosecutor, graduated summa cum laude from University of Arizona College of Law in May 1993, where he served on the editorial board of the Arizona Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Recognized nationally for his work in white collar criminal defense , Michael is listed in Best Lawyers America® , 21 st ed. and rated by Martindale Hubbell ® A-V 5/5 Preeminent. He has also been listed in Arizona Superlawyers ® as one of the top Tucson DUI lawyer...
Derek Byrd was born and raised in Sarasota . He graduated from Florida State University in 1990 with a B. A. in Criminology. He earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from Quinnipiac College of Law in Hamden, Connecticut in 1995 graduating cum laude. After being admitted to the Florida Bar in early 1996, Derek went to work for the Public Defender’s Office in Sarasota, where he gained extensive and valuable trial experience. He opened The Byrd Law Firm in 1998. Mr. Byrd is Board Certified in ...
Bryan E. DeMaggio is a Jacksonville, Florida attorney with Sheppard, White, Kachergus, & DeMaggio, P.A. , where he represents clients in Appellate Practice , Civil Rights Law , Criminal Defense : General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar matters. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Mr. DeMaggio joined the firm in 2008 following a clerkship with the practice. His work includes criminal defense litigation, appeals, and civil rights cases in both state and federal courts. Mr. DeMaggi...
Whitney Z. Bernstein is a trial attorney and litigator with experience representing individuals and businesses in criminal and civil matters throughout California and in federal court. Based in San Clemente, California, Whitney represents clients through Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP in matters involving Appellate Practice , Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense : General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Her practice includes defending felony and misdemeanor criminal ca...
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.