Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar

The biggest victory is quietly stopping a case, and David has helped clients avoid charges in many DOJ,SEC, and other government investigations. But David is equally known for courtroom and appellate victories – including antitrust, environmental, health care, securities, immigration, commodities, banking, bribery, government contracts, and others. He also has been recruited to try civil cases, sometimes shortly before trial. Cases include: Acquittal of the Boeing pilot charged in the 7...

Gregg Costa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Gregg, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregg is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sean R. McKenna is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Sean R., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sean R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Wirskye has been defending clients in white-collar criminal, False Claims Act and civil fraud disputes with the government for over 25 years. A strategic problem solver who is results focused and detail oriented, she works proactively with the government to help clients avoid an indictment or lawsuit. Sarah is an experienced courtroom litigator who has successfully tried white-collar criminal, civil, and other criminal cases in federal and state court. Sarah also has represented clients...

PHILIP H. HILDER was formerly the attorney-in-charge of the Houston Field Office of the United States Department of Justice, Organized Crime Strike Force. Prior to his appointment as a special attorney with the Justice Department, Mr. Hilder was an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of Texas with the Presidential Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Since leaving government service, Mr. Hilder has practiced in the area of white collar criminal defense, internal ...

Charley Davidson leads the firm’s criminal defense practice, where he offers passionate, responsive counsel to guide clients facing state and federal charges in the areas of white collar and blue collar crime. Prior to joining Hanszen Laporte, he was a partner at a large international firm specializing in white collar defense, as well as a partner at a Houston-based criminal defense law firm. Charley also spent three years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Offic...

Joe Roden grew up in Liberty, Texas and attended the University of Texas as an undergraduate, where he graduated in 1988. He then went into the U.S. Marine Corps. Joe attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was a decorated officer in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm, the first Gulf War. After leaving the Marine Corps, he graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with honors and then clerked for Justice Murry Cohen on the First Court of Appeals. After clerking for the Court of Ap...

Richard Bratton Roper is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Richard Bratton, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard Bratton is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Nichols practices both civil trial and criminal law, and joined the Austin office of Butler Snow in 2019. His background includes not only many years representing companies and individuals in private practice but also experience in both Texas state government and the federal government, having served as Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and a law clerk to a ...

Neal A. Davis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Neal A., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Neal A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryne Sandel graduated from Texas A&M University with a Major in Psychology and Minors in Philosophy and Sociology. He attended law school at Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan School of Law) in Fort Worth. Ryne was on the Dean’s List, served as a teaching assistant, and graduated number 4 in his graduating class. As an advocate, Ryne Sandel will fight for his clients. Ryne prides himself on his ability to stand toe to toe with anyone in the courthouse. C...

Mr. Saputo has practiced throughout Texas in more than fifty Texas state and federal courts. He has obtained hundreds of dismissals and acquittals for clients facing a wide array of serious charges. He has also developed groundbreaking innovations in defense strategies and tactics. Mr. Saputo is a graduate of the elite Duke University School of Law , a nationally recognized top-ten law school in the United States. Before graduating law school, he worked for a Federal District Court Judge and ...

Julián Alejandro Ríos is a litigation associate who joined Ford O’Brien Landy LLP in 2022. Julián mainly focuses on complex commercial and securities litigation within the firm’s general white-collar defense practice. Julián has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 and 2025 for work in securities litigation and white-collar criminal defense. Julián has also been recognized in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars 2024 for...

Ryan J. Meyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law and Securities Regulation. Ryan J., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Audrey Hatcher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and DUI / DWI Defense. Audrey, who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Audrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Audrey is an associate at Varghese Summersett , where she...

Mauricio Escobar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Construction. Mauricio, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mauricio is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.