Best Lawyers in District of Columbia, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Michael Leotta conducts internal investigations and represents corporations and individuals in white collar criminal law and regulatory enforcement matters. He regularly represents US consumer banks, global correspondent banks, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and FinTech companies in a broad range of matters, including defending financial institutions’ compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and related anti-money laundering (AML) rules, securities law, and the Foreign Corrupt Practic...
Having spent over a decade as a prosecutor in the criminal and civil divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Michelle Bradford uses her extensive knowledge and skill, coupled with her profound determination and sharp wit, to defend clients in white collar criminal and complex civil litigation matters. Michelle brings considerable value to clients facing complex litigation by thoroughly and efficiently reviewing issues, identifying the heart of a matter and ...
Criminal defense lawyer and civil litigator Michael Battle is focused on white collar criminal matters. Having previously served as a prosecutor and judge himself, Michael understands their perspectives and designs compelling arguments that have the best chance of defending his clients and mitigating their exposure to prosecution. After leaving public service for private practice, Michael has counseled numerous clients on cases involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), healthcare fr...
Ronald Machen, a member of the firm's global Management Committee and Chair of the Firm’s Litigation and Controversy Department is one of the nation's leading trial and white-collar defense lawyers. His practice focuses on government enforcement, corporate and congressional investigations, and litigating civil business disputes. An experienced litigator who has tried more than 35 cases to verdict, Mr. Machen specializes in litigating complex criminal and civil actions. He also routinely...
Amy Jeffress has extensive experience advising clients regarding complex national security and compliance matters, as well as conducting trials and assisting clients in navigating challenging government and internal investigations. She is a former federal prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Attaché, and Counselor to the Attorney General. Amy represents individual and institutional clients in criminal defense, national security, compliance matters, and civil litigation. She als...
Anthony Munter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Qui Tam Law. Anthony, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anthony is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Patrick F. Stokes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Patrick F., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jamie Gorelick is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most distinguished lawyers. As Law.com recently wrote, “Think of some of the most defining moments in American history over the last five decades, from Watergate to the 9/11 attacks, and attorney Jamie Gorelick has often been there in the moment or aftermath, fact-finding or working to advance a client's interest. Think of some of the biggest disasters and crises, and the Brooklyn, New York native has been there, too, repres...
Abbe David Lowell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Abbe David, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Abbe David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Roscoe C. Howard, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Roscoe C., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Roscoe C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Adam Hoffinger's litigation and trial practice focuses on complex civil and white‑collar criminal matters, including securities, health care, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, False Claims Act, export controls, money laundering, antitrust, and bankruptcy. He counsels corporations and individuals in compliance matters, internal investigations, and Congressional and regulatory matters. He also represents corporations and individuals in high stakes civil litigation. Mr. Hoffinger has defended numer...
Having tried numerous high-profile fraud and corruption cases as a veteran prosecutor for the DOJ’s Criminal Division, Edward (Ted) Kang brings a thorough understanding of white collar defense and compliance to clients under investigation by federal agencies. He applies a pragmatic, business-oriented approach to the challenging issues that his clients confront in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Ted is the co-leader of Alston & Bird’s White Collar, Government &a...
Michael Spafford is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Mr. Spafford’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and related litigation. He has represented financial institutions, funds and other companies, as well as individual clients in numerous high-profile government investigations and parallel li...
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.