№ MANHNY
JW
Attorney
Jonathan Whitfield
Whitfield & Crawford LLP
Civil LitigationWhite Collar CrimeCriminal Defense
- City
- New York
Register → Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
Counsel
12+
Avg. experience
14 yrs
Free consultations
68%
Sub-practices
8+
§ Editorial
What to look for in a criminal defense attorney.
— The Counsel editors
Defense against criminal charges including felonies, misdemeanors, and federal crimes.
Finding the right criminal defense attorney requires careful consideration of experience, communication style, and fee structure. The attorneys listed here represent a broad cross-section of practitioners serving clients in this area of law.
“The constitutional presumption of innocence is not a formality — it is the foundation of your defense. A skilled criminal defense attorney's first job is to force the government to prove every element of its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Before you discuss strategy, ask every attorney you interview how many cases they have taken to verdict, and what those verdicts were.”
§ What to look for
- 01Genuine trial experience — not just attorneys who plead every case
- 02Specialization in the specific charge type (violent crimes, financial fraud, etc.)
- 03Responsiveness and accessibility — you need someone who returns calls
- 04Transparent fee arrangements with no surprise add-ons
- 05Experience in the specific courthouse where your case will be heard
- 06A record of acquittals or favorable verdicts, not just settlements
§ Questions to ask at your consultation
- ›How many cases like mine have you taken to trial?
- ›What is your honest assessment of the evidence against me?
- ›Which constitutional defenses might apply to my situation?
- ›How does your office handle communication between court dates?
- ›Do you foresee any conflicts of interest in representing me?
- ›If we go to trial and lose, what is the sentencing exposure compared to a plea?
§ 01 — Sub-practices
Within criminal defense.
The matters most often brought to counsel.
§ 02
Counsel in criminal defense.
A selection of attorneys in this practice area.
№ GROVIL
Matthew Gebhardt
DUI/DWICriminal DefenseReal Estate
- City
- Buffalo Grove
№ ANTOTX
EV
Attorney
Elena Vega
Vega Criminal Defense
Drug CrimesCriminal Defense
- City
- San Antonio
№ DENVCO
TM
Attorney
Travis McCoy
McCoy Criminal Defense
Drug CrimesCriminal Defense
- City
- Denver
№ ARLIVA
CH
Attorney
Colonel Hayes
Hayes Military Defense
Criminal DefenseMilitary Law
- City
- Arlington
№ CHICIL
LW
Attorney
Lisa Williams
Williams IP Law
Drug CrimesDUI/DWICriminal Defense
- City
- Chicago
§ 03 — Legal News
Recent coverage in criminal defense.
Newsroom and court coverage curated for this practice area.
Carolina JournalSep 25, 2026
01
Defendant hopes SCOTUS will take NC police ‘knock-and-talk’ case
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxQYkp4RkJSdVNiZDBETEZMTm0wUVRZUF9kb0FrTnlvcFE3STViRGlTNVdkWGQ4M2U3VjZUMVpFN1RTb2pKamU1aFpkcHcwUHFjSjREU0lLODZOUktad1pudVhJQUEyWHBVOXJXaXZKeVhoOXpGV0d2RU51NlJxSzVYS3FfRnpmVENucENTQmtMYUEydzJ4MVNmaGJMZw?oc=5" target="_blank">Defendant h
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WLOSSep 3, 2026
02
Cherokee man found not guilty of first-degree murder in 2024 shooting case
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgJBVV95cUxOXzl0dE40ekZ6dzkzTGNnc3RCcy16bkNXeEQ0MHM5cDZJcm9iU182MmZIRUZBdFNDSGlFWHdtM2hJTE9FNkV5dDFsTTVXemJ5YkFDeXVrdDYxdkN4SmlXSzVfQ2tvR1BtWWUxdm1yRzllUmp2TjFJZkRWWm05UEdXZkRzV1dsRVBkVjNIUC1uNGZqT1RkRFoyMHZYdUJTMlhHQ09JS005Z184aXpwY3k0cEdtZ2VSZUZ
Read full story→
Fox NewsSep 1, 2026
03
NC mom's insanity defense draws parallels to Lindsay Clancy case
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVkFVX3lxTE9vUDgwNDAzQ1JYRGZxX1pyT19GR0d0Z3ZsX2JQeG9CYzlaWGlQUDdBeWNXanJkX0I4aWY5ZThDTXdOUkRvTGpTakNvZjQtX1VqenlGTi1R?oc=5" target="_blank">NC mom's insanity defense draws parallels to Lindsay Clancy case</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font co
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Brewtiful LivingAug 4, 2026
04
David Rudolf Now: The Staircase Lawyer, Wife, Cases & Owl Theory
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxOenlLYjNYN1dwbnV0UnJjOVNoQXRmT0xPYjhWMTlFeEdMMUdPUGpEZldub1VZWG92cDNTMmVia050OFdjODIyemo4MnJmRDh3VUNtRzRSRV9sREFEUGI5QnItTEFzRGJsV0RxN0xuay1uX19hRkVQZXBjUU9ITmE4QURqcDNKNy13WlNF?oc=5" target="_blank">David Rudolf Now: The Staircase L
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