Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice
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State
Stephen “Skippy” Weinstein is of counsel at Britcher, Leone & Sergio, LLC, where he focuses on case strategy and new business development. He previously had his own firm, Stephen S. Weinstein, P.C., in Morristown, N.J., where, for over 45 years, he devoted his practice to medical malpractice and personal injury matters, including wrongful death, serious personal injury, brain injury, birth injury, product liability, construction accidents, automobile accidents, and slip and fa...
R. Todd Bennett is a criminal defense attorney based in Houston, Texas and the founder of R. Todd Bennett PC. His practice focuses on general criminal defense and white-collar matters, representing individuals facing serious allegations in state and federal courts . He brings a steady and measured approach to cases that often carry high stakes for clients and their families. Mr. Bennett’s work centers on defending clients accused of complex financial crimes, fraud allegations and other ...
Andrew Olesnycky, a former supervisor-level assistant prosecutor at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, represents individuals and organizations facing criminal charges and investigations in federal, state, and municipal courts. Mr. Olesnycky has served as lead attorney representing defendants in federal and state cases alleging multi-million dollar fraud conspiracies, money laundering, complex multi-defendant drug distribution conspiracies, arson, sexual assault, child pornography, i...
A National Practice Devoted To Complex Federal Criminal Defense, Federal and State Habeas Litigation And Other Federal Matters. Ezekiel E. Cortez is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization after passing the federal specialist examination. As a devoted career criminal defense attorney, Mr. Cortez has unwaveringly devoted his practice to the defense of federal criminal cases and other federal matters since 1984. Since 1988 Mr. Cortez has als...
Aaron L. Weisman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Aaron, who practices law in Johnston, Rhode Island, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Victor Sherman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Victor, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Victor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Peter Prieto is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Peter, who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shawn Holley is a partner at Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP, a boutique entertainment and business litigation firm in Santa Monica. She began her career as a Los Angeles County Public Defender, handling hundreds of serious criminal cases from inception to trial. She was the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of The Cochran Firm and the head of its national Criminal Defense Section. With more than sixty trials to her credit, Ms. Holley is the rare trial attorney who pra...
Josh brings a client-centered approach to his practice, and understands that there is no such thing as a “small case” when someone is the target of a criminal prosecution. He appreciates that some of the toughest battles to be fought are those that occur as a result of being accused of a crime, and that the restrictions and obstacles facing his clients can be far reaching and unanticipated. Josh is passionate about defending his clients, and takes a direct-approach on their behalf...
Steve Vinick’s passion for helping his clients is what drew him to the practice of personal injury law, while his desire to respond to the diverse needs of his clients is what drew him to Stein Sperling. With more than 20 years representing clients in personal injury and criminal defense, Steve has earned a reputation as a relentless, skilled litigator and a highly effective courtroom advocate. His clients know he has their back and they can sleep at night secure in the knowledge that h...
James W. Grable, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James W., who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gerald “Gerry” Harris Goldstein is a nationally known and respected defense lawyer and Past President of both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.He is a fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at University of Texas School of Law in Austin and at St. Mary’s University Scho...
Lee Vartan is a highly regarded criminal defense and trial attorney who handles high-stakes investigations and litigation in New Jersey and throughout the region. He regularly represents individuals in significant prosecutions brought by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Attorney Generals’ Offices, and local prosecutors, as well as companies in high-stakes investigations brought by criminal and civil regulators. Clients choose Lee not only because he has successfully tried more than a doze...
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.