Best Lawyers in District of Columbia, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
John E. Kelly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Health Care Law. John E., 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 John E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Barry Boss is co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations practice group, vice chair of the Commercial Litigation Department and office managing partner of the D.C. office. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor in April 2004, Barry was an assistant federal public defender in Washington, D.C. Barry focuses his practice on complex criminal matters, particularly involving allegations of white-collar crime in federal court. Barry has extensive jury tria...
Bill Pittard is an experienced lawyer with a unique depth of government and litigation experience. Bill’s practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses with high-stakes problems. He particularly helps clients connected to the Legislative Branch, whether as officials of that branch or as individuals and businesses preparing for congressional hearings or otherwise responding to congressional inquiries. Over the past several years, for example, Bill has helped guide clients t...
Courtney M. Brown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Courtney M., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Courtney M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Howard Shapiro is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has more than 35 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer in civil and criminal matters, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s leading litigators in high-stakes cases, ranging from bet-the-company contractual disputes to mass torts to white-collar litigation.
Kwame Manley is the Global Co-Chair of the Paul Hastings Litigation Department, and the former Chair of the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings. Based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, Mr. Manley focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations, and complex civil litigation. A former federal prosecutor, Mr. Manley defends individuals and companies before various agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ),...
Erin Steele is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Health Care Law. Erin, 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 Erin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andrew Hanson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Andrew, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jarrad Kirsh is a litigator and member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group. He represents clients in internal and government investigations. My focus I represent corporate and individual clients through all stages of investigations, including criminal and regulatory investigations. I have represented clients in high-profile, high-stakes government investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, multiple U.S. Attorney offices, and the U.S. Sec...
Caroline Geist-Benitez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Caroline, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caroline is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Eric T. Werlinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Patent. Eric T., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lora Elizabeth MacDonald is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Lora Elizabeth, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lora Elizabeth 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.