Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
State
George Newhouse is a senior attorney in Richards Carrington’s Los Angeles Office. George’s practice focuses on white collar defense, general criminal defense, securities defense, and government investigations along with complex civil litigation. George has tried nearly 40 criminal, civil and arbitration cases to verdict and handled more than 40 appellate cases in federal and state courts. He represents clients in a wide range of cases involving antitrust, environment, health care,...
Mauro Tucci, a Member in the CSG Law Litigation Group, regularly litigates in federal and state courts on a range of complex commercial disputes. Mauro’s experience includes white collar criminal defense, regulatory and administrative matters, labor disputes, and class action defense. He routinely represents health care providers, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufactures, and public entities. Prior to joining the firm, Mauro was an attorney with McEl...
A member of the trial bar for over 50 years, Jim has unparalleled experience and skill in preparing and presenting cases for adjudication – whether by jury, judge, arbitrator, mediator or the parties themselves. He represents Silicon Valley companies with commercial, trade secret and intellectual property issues. Jim also represents individuals in a wide variety of matters, including civil rights actions, employment disputes, family law and criminal defense.
Russell Hayman represents companies in the technology, health, life sciences and in other sectors in complex civil litigation nationwide. Drawing on his background as a federal prosecutor, he has also represented companies in government investigations and criminal proceedings. A successful trial lawyer having taken over 25 cases to trial, Russell has successfully defended clients in complex federal antitrust, patent infringement and theft of trade secret cases involving acoustic, cellular, Wi...
Drawing on nearly 40 years of combined experience as a federal prosecutor and defense attorney, Sheldon Zenner expertly navigates his clients through high-stakes matters, including government and internal investigations, regulatory proceedings, all phases of criminal matters and related civil litigation. Sheldon's diverse client base is made up of corporations, high-ranking executives and company owners across a wide range of industries, including financial services, health care and entertain...
Founding Partner Stephen T. LaBriola maintains a broad commercial litigation practice while leading the firm's catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice practice. He regularly represents clients in complex business disputes and catastrophic cases involving life altering injuries and wrongful death.
Thomas R. Freeman is a principal at Bird Marella and a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law. His practice is focused on civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and criminal appeals. He is certified as an appellate specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and has argued countless cases before federal and state appellate courts and case-dispositive motions before trial courts. Tom has handled a broad range of complex matters, including...
Wade Davies has tried complex cases for over thirty years. In August 2025, he was sworn in as President of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has served on the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee and now represents attorneys in matters before the Board. Mr. Davies has concentrated on state and federal investigations and criminal trials throughout his career. Mr. Davies graduated first in his class from the University of Tennessee Colle...
Nancy DePodesta is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Nancy practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Nancy DePodesta since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Nancy DePodesta is held by other lawyers.
Clients can rely on Emily to use her experience in federal district and appellate court to advocate for their interests in criminal and civil proceedings. Emily is well regarded for her work as amici curiae for high-profile individuals and as counsel for corporations and individuals in government investigations and litigation. Emily McGowan is well regarded for her work as counsel for organizations and individuals in a variety of complex enforcement and litigation matters. She defends individ...
E. Bart Daniel is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Government Relations Practice. E. Bart practices law in Charleston, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized E. Bart Daniel since 2014. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which E. Bart Daniel is hel...
Brandon McCarthy is a trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor in the fraud unit. After 13 years as a prosecutor, he now makes use of his government experience in defending companies, executives and health care professionals facing white-collar investigations and prosecutions. Having handled countless criminal investigations, including the largest health care fraud investigations in the country, Brandon knows how to spot weak points in the government's case and use them to benefit his clien...
Dan Small practices in the area of litigation, focusing on witness preparation, government and internal investigations, white-collar criminal law and complex civil litigation. He has extensive investigation, jury trial and other litigation experience. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Small was a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, during which time he tried RICO, corruption, financial and regulatory cases. Mr. Small received various awards and commendations for his work. He ...
Drawing on his over 20 years of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, Joey Burby represents corporate and individual clients in criminal and civil investigations by the Department of Justice as well as regulatory investigations and enforcement actions by the SEC and other federal and state agencies. He has significant experience handling matters involving securities fraud, insider trading, health care fraud, the False Claims Act, antitrust violations, bribery, the Foreign Corr...
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.
