The “Best of the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers” lists those colleagues that Attorney Kevin J. Mahoney believes are among the most prominent, talented, and successful criminal defense lawyers in the country. He has met, corresponded with, or spoken with a number of these lawyers. This directory is made available as a public service. None of the attorneys listed have paid to have their names included.
Can anyone deny that now more than ever there is a crying need for trained advocates, strong, able, willing, and unafraid to stand between the accused citizen and the legions of society ranged against him—between the defendant and the embattled press, between the man under indictment and the public clamor of the moment.
~Lloyd Paul Striker, The Art of Advocacy (1954)
Alabama
John E. Mays, Esq.
P.O. Box 655
Decatur, AL 35602
(256) 355-7527
Author: Defending Death Penalty Cases in Alabama.
Arizona
Gregory J. Kuykendall, Esq.
145 S. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 792-8033
Speaker, Nationwide Continuing Legal Education Programs.
Arkansas
John Wesley Hall, Jr.
1311 Broadway
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 371-9131
Secretary of National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
California
Leslie H. Abramson, Esq.
4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 940
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(323) 933-9002
Defended Erik Galen Menendez against two counts of 1st degree murder of his parents. Despite confessions of both Erik and his brother Lyle to the murders, the first jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and the trial was declared a mistrial.
Myles L. Berman, Esq.
9255 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 720
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 273-9501
Attorney Berman is the author of California DUI Trial Notebook and the Founder of the National Drunk Driving Defense Task Force.
Richard P. Berman, Esq.
Nuttall Berman Attorneys
2333 Merced St.
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 233-2333
Member, Board of Governors, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
Bruce M. Margolin, Esq.
8749 Holloway Dr.
W. Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 276-2231
em>Recipient, 1999 Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year Award.
Bernard J. Schwartz, Esq.
Attorney at Law
3877 Twelfth Street
Riverside, CA 9205
(909) 788-4601
www.defensecriminal.com
Colorado
Pamela Robillard Mackey
150 East Tenth Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 831-7364
prmackey@hmflaw.com
Currently defending Laker guard, Kobe Bryant. Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Larry S. Pozner, Esq.
Hoffman, Reilly Pozner & Williamson, LLP
511 16th St., Ste. 700
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 893-6100
Co-author, Cross Examination: Science and Techniques. Listed, Best Lawyers in America.
Florida
Roy Black, Esq.
201 S. Biscanye Blvd., Ste. 1300
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 371-6421
Renowned trial lawyer, Roy Black successfully defended William Kennedy Smith of rape. Consistently ranked as one of the “Best Lawyers in America.”
Robert Augustus Harper, Esq.
325 W. Park Ave.
P.O. Box 10132
Tallahassee, FL 32302
(850) 224-5900
Listed, “The Best Lawyers in America.”
Albert J. Krieger, Esq.
1899 S. Bayshore Dr.
Miami, FL 33133
(305) 854-0050
Past President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award, NACDL (1987) and Outstanding Practioner Award Criminal Justice Section, New York State Bar Assn.
Bruce M. Lyons, Esq.
600 NE 3rd Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 467-8700
Past President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (1986-1987) and recipient of Robert C. Heeney Award, NACDL (1997).
J. Cheney Mason, Esq.
390 N. Orange Ave., Ste 2100
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 843-5758
Past President, Florida Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers (1997).
Christopher N. Patterson, Esq.
P.O. Box 1368
Panama City, FL 32402
(850) 872-0226
Recipient, Fla. Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award (1995)
James M. Russ, Esq.
Tinker Bldg.
18 W. Pine St.
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 849-6050
Listed, Best Lawyers in America and recipient of Robert C. Heeney Award, NACDL (1988).
William J. Sheppard, Esq.
215 Washington St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-9661
Recipient, Selig I. Golden Memorial Award, Criminal Law Section, Florida State Bar Assn.
Georgia
Roger J. Dodd, Esq.
613 N. Patterson
P.O. Box 1066
Valdosta, GA 31603
(912) 242-4470
Co-author of Cross Examination: Science and Techniques. Attorney Dodd is regarded by his peers as one of the best cross examiners in the country.
Robert R. Giannini
Giannini & Spence, LLC
Attorneys at Law
220 West Crogan Street, Suite 200
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045
770-237-3800
www.georgiafelonydefense.com
Hawaii
Brook Hart, Esq.
333 Queen St., Ste. 610
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 526 -0811
Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America.”
Illinois
Thomas M. Peters, Esq.
Murphy, Peters & Davis
542 S. Dearborn St., Ste. 750
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 697-0022
Kansas
Thomas J. Erker, Esq.
Erker, Norton & Hare, LLC
130 N. Cherry St., Ste. 203
Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 829-2500
Recipient, President’s Award, Johnson Co. Bar Assn.
Kentucky
R. Burl McCoy, Esq.
McCoy & West
P.O. Box 1660
309 N. Broadway
Lexington, KY 40588
Maryland
J. Harrison Phillips, III
115 72nd St.
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 524-1944
Past Chairman, Criminal Law Section, Maryland Bar Assn. Director, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Assn.
Massachusetts
Kevin J. Mahoney, Esq.
Law Offices of Kevin J. Mahoney, P.C.
545 Concord Avenue, Ste. 22
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 492-0055
www.relentlessdefense.com
Successfully defended Christina Martin (the JELL-O Murderer) against 1st degree murder charge. Life Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
*Attorney Mahoney has declined to choose who among his colleagues of the Massachusetts Bar should be included, and more importantly, should be excluded.
Minnesota
Allan H. Caplan, Esq.
10 S. 5th St., Ste. 525
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 341-4570
Selected by his peers as “Leading Minnesota Attorney.”
Ronald I. Meshbesher, Esq.
1616 Park Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(800) 274-1616
Listed, Best Lawyers in America.
Missouri
Michael M. Frank, Esq.
7777 Bonhomme Ave., Ste. 1601
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 725-7777
Former Chairman, Criminal Justice Committee, General Practice Section, American Bar Association.
Burton H. Shostak, Esq.
Moline, Shostak, Mehan, LLC
8015 Forsyth Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 725-3200
Montana
Scott Alan Albers, Esq.
410 Central Ave., Ste. 613
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 727-3226
Craig Kevin Shannon, Esq.
240 E. Spruce
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 542-7500
Nevada
Dominic P. Gentile, Esq.
3960 Howard Hughes Pkwy., Ste. 850
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 386-0066
Listed, “Best Lawyers in America.”
New Jersey
William H. Buckman, Esq.
714 E. Main Street, Ste. 1B
Moorestown, NJ 08057
(856) 608-9797
Trial lawyer and author of Confessions of the Mentally Ill: The Expert’s Role, Trial Magazine.
New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers
Attorneys in New Jersey specializing in criminal defense
cases such as sexual abuse, insurance fraud, crime embezzlement, identity theft, and homicide charges.
New York
Kevin J Mahoney
Suite 22
545 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-492-0055
North Carolina
Steven A. Bernholz, Esq.
506 E. Franklin St., Ste. 300
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-7151
Ohio
John H. Rion, Esq.
Rion, Rion & Rion, LPA
1630 1st National Plz.
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 223-9133
Listed, Best Lawyers in America.
Oklahoma
Scott Adams, Esq.
City Pl. Bldg.
204 N. Robinson, 25th Fl.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
(405) 232-9100
Garvin A. Issacs, Esq.
123 NW 8th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 232-2060
Instructor & Member of Board of Trial Lawyers College.
Oregon
Michael Curtis, Esq.
Curtis & Correll
1125 SE Madison, Ste. 110A
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 230-9285
/p>
Shaun McCrea, Esq.
1147 High Street
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 485-1182
Pennsylvania
George H. Newman, Esq.
834 Chestnut St., Ste. 206
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-0699
South Carolina
M. Gregory McCollum, Esq.
516 29th Avenue N.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-5480
Life Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Tennessee
James A. H. Bell, Esq.
110 W. Summitt Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 637-2900
Michael J. Love, Esq.
Cartwright & Love, PLLC
215 S. 2nd St.
Clarksville, TN 37041
(931) 552-8877
Jerry H. Summers, Esq.
500 Lindsay St.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 265-2385
(212) 227-8877
Listed, “Best Lawyers in America”
Texas
Samuel D. Adamo
600 Travis St., Ste. 2700
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 237-8380
Mike DeGuerin, Esq.
Foreman, DeGeurin, Nugent & Gerger
300 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 655-9000
Dick DeGuerin, Esq.
1018 Preston Ave.
7th Fl.
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5959
Successfully defended Millionaire Robert Durst of 1st Degree Murder of his neighbor by arguing self-defense.
Louis Dugas, Jr.
1804 N. 16th Street
Orange, TX 77630
(409) 883-3506
Houston Criminal Defense Attorney
John T. Floyd Law Firm
600 Travis, Ste. 7070
70th Floor – JPMorgan Chase Tower
Houston, TX 77002
713-224-0101
www.JohnTFloyd.com
Gerald H. Goldstein, Esq.
Goldstein, Goldstein & Hilley
310 S. St. Mary’s St., Ste. 2900
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-1463
Recipient, Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyers Award, State Bar of Texas (1991).
Edward A. Mallett, Esq.
Mandell & Wright, LLP
712 Main, Ste. 1600
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 228-1521
Past President of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2000-2001).
Michael Ramsey
Ramsey & Tyson
2120 Welch
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 523-7878
Currently representing former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay. Unlike many “high profile” lawyers, Attorney Ramsey communicates in a straight forward, authentic manner. He is highly intelligent and shows no fear of the Federal government.
Randy Schaffer, Esq.
1301 McKinney, Ste. 3100
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 951-9555
Recipient, Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer, State Bar of Texas and President’s Award of Merit, NACDL.
Virginia
James C. Turk, Jr.
1007 Norwood St.
P.O. Box 2968
Radford, VA 24143
(540) 639-9056
Washington
Irwin H. Schwartz, Esq.
710 Cherry St.
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 623-5084
Fellow, American Bd. of Criminal Lawyers.
Wyoming
Gerry L. Spence, Esq.
Spence, Moriarty & Schuster
15 S. Jackson St. P.O. Box 548
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-7290
Widely regarded as the best trial lawyer in America. Successfully defended Imelda Marcos, Randy Weaver (of Ruby Ridge) and Sandy Jones. Has never lost a criminal case. Has not lost a trial since 1967. Mr. Spence is the founder of the Trial Lawyer’s College. He is also a successful author. His books include, “How to Argue and Win Every Time.”
