Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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State
Steven Grimes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Steven, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Litigator James G. Martin defends corporations and individuals facing high-stakes, complex business lawsuits, white collar criminal charges, and allegations of corporate governance and compliance violations. A former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jim is regularly lead defense counsel in class action and civil litigation matters, including SEC fraud and healthcare fraud in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. Corporations also call on him to lead internal investigations rel...
Ralph W. Kohnen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Ralph W., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ralph W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Since 1980, Elizabeth “Betsy” White has established an excellent and widespread reputation as a top lawyer in the fields of criminal defense, civil rights, and appeals. Her experience includes extensive litigation on behalf of criminal defendants as well as litigation to protect the constitutional and civil rights of individuals and groups, including women, minorities and prisoners. She has litigated at all levels of the judicial system, including the United States Supreme Court. ...
Ed Stanton's practice primarily includes conducting internal investigations, defending white collar cases, and advising corporate clients on a variety of C-suite issues. Prior to joining Butler Snow, Ed served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and was in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 Company.
Peter Morris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Peter, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. 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.
Joanna uses her experience as a trial lawyer and former prosecutor to help clients navigate complex legal landscapes. A skillful courtroom advocate, and accomplished in criminal, regulatory, and civil litigation, Joanna provides sophisticated, strategic counsel and drives extraordinary results for individual and institutional clients. She is known for her fierce advocacy, her courtroom skills and for her sophisticated, strategic counsel. With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Joanna represen...
A former federal prosecutor, Larry Gerschwer focuses his practice on white collar criminal and regulatory matters. He routinely represents clients in government investigations of securities and commodities fraud and of domestic and FCPA-related public corruption. He defends clients in investigations conducted by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, IRS, federal and state banking regulators, antitrust regulators, and state and local prosecutors. Larry has extensive experience handling complex matters involving...
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.
Jennifer L . Chunias is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jennifer L ., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer L . is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Amanda Alvarez Thibeault is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Amanda Alvarez, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda Alvarez is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dave Barry is a partner in Pierce Atwood’s Litigation Practice Group. Dave served as the firm’s managing partner from 2016 through 2025. Previously, Dave was chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and chaired the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. Dave has managed complex business litigation in federal and state courts and has extensive experience assisting clients with government enforcement and compliance matters invol...
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.