Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Jeffrey Chiesa rejoined the firm in November 2013 following his service as United States Senator for New Jersey. Mr. Chiesa, an experienced litigator with an impressive background in both the public and private sectors, practices in the firm's Litigation, Corporate Internal Investigations and Monitoring, and White Collar Criminal Defense Groups. In June 2013, Governor Chris Christie appointed Mr. Chiesa to serve in the United States Senate following the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg. Duri...
Allison Near is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Allison, who practices law in New Haven, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Allison is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Barak Cohen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Barak, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Barak is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jack M. Knight, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Banking and Finance. Jack M., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jack M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jack DiCanio’s litigation practice focuses on complex litigation, white collar defense, securities litigation and special corporate investigations. Mr. DiCanio has extensive trial experience representing corporate and individual clients in a variety of civil and criminal actions involving: internal corporate investigations; federal and state securities litigation, including broker/dealer liability; securities fraud, including allegations of accounting improprieties, material misrepresen...
Attorney Neil Rockind, widely recognized as the "Rockweiler," stands as one of Michigan's premier criminal defense trial lawyers. Renowned for his fiery, quick-witted, and relentless defense style, Rockind has earned the reputation of the "go-to" attorney for challenging high-profile criminal cases. Rockind honed his trial skills during his tenure as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office from 1993 to 1997. He handled thousands of criminal cases, many culm...
William N. Shepherd is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Banking and Finance. William N., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Justin D. Ginter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Justin D., who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ellen C. Brotman began her career as a law clerk in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. She has served as an Assistant Federal Defender in Philadelphia, PA and practiced in small, medium and large firms with a focus on criminal defense, appellate advocacy, professional responsibility and ethics. She has defended a wide variety of high-profile criminal cases, including political and public corruption, securities fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, currency structur...
Biz is a leader in the field of criminal defense and internal investigations focusing on white-collar defense and health care cases. Biz regularly represents clients in congressional and criminal fraud investigations as well as qui tam, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), False Claims Act (FCA), civil RICO, and employment litigation. She has counseled clients — including boards, audit committees, and management — on the development and implementation of internal compliance and e...
Acclaimed Texas trial lawyer Rusty Hardin is the founder and name partner of Houston’s Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP , accomplished in both complex civil matters and significant criminal cases. Mr. Hardin has more than 40 years of litigation experience, beginning his career as an assistant prosecutor in Houston’s Harris County in 1975. Since entering private practice in 1991, Mr. Hardin has tried over 70 jury trials, fairly evenly split between civil and criminal cases. His c...
Russell D. Babb was born in Wilson, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and co-captain of the 1995 Carolina football team. A four-year starter as an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels, Mr. Babb was also the winner of the 1995 Jim Tatum Award, which is presented each year to the top Senior Scholar-Athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After college, Mr. Babb entered the University of North Carolina School of La...
Mark N. Bartlett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Health Care. Mark N., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.