Best Lawyers Near You in Washington, District of Columbia for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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),...
John Brownlee is chair of Holland & Knight's National White Collar Defense and Investigations Team and is a member of the firm's Directors Committee. Mr. Brownlee's areas of focus include white collar defense and securities enforcement — including Grand Jury and Inspector General investigations, and investigations involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), False Claims Act, Food and Drug Administration regulations, complianc...
George J. Hazel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. George J., 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 George J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Schertler is widely recognized as one of the top white–collar criminal defense attorneys in the Washington area and nationwide. He founded Schertler & Onorato, LLP, in 1996 and has built the firm’s reputation as a premier litigation boutique through his broad experience with criminal and civil investigative and trial matters and the results that he has achieved for his clients. Mr. Schertler is known for his skilled and tenacious representation of individuals and entitie...
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.
Jeff Habenicht represents and counsels clients regarding a broad range of complex regulatory matters in connection with government investigations, congressional inquiries and product development involving intersecting legal, public policy and media dimensions that frequently require a coordinated strategic response. He has extensive experience working with social media platforms, including representing executives and technology companies in high-profile congressional investigations and hearin...
Kaitlin Konkel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Kaitlin, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kaitlin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Derek K. Kraft is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Derek K., 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 Derek K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Catherine is a member of the Cross-Border Risks team. Her practice focuses on compliance, internal investigations, and business immigration. My focus I help clients navigate complex immigration and government compliance matters. I work closely with John Sandweg and our team of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to handle crises, manage risk, and determine solutions to complex cross-border issues. I have assisted clients with criminal, civil, and regulatory investigations ...
Lisa M. Phelan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Lisa 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 Lisa M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Britt Cass Steckman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Public Finance Law. Britt Cass, 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 Britt Cass is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Audi Syarief is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches U.S. economic sanctions and export controls. Audi advises clients on all aspects of U.S. economic sanctions and export controls, with significant experience in enforcement risk assessment, internal investigations, compliance program design, and restricted...
David B. Houck is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. David B., 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 David B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Megan E. Gerking is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Megan 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 Megan E. 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.