Top Criminal Lawyers Near Me in Clearwater Area

Tom began his career as a lawyer fighting for victims as a prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office.  There he was quickly promoted to a lead trial attorney and recognized by R.I.D.D. and M.A.D.D. for his trial victories against drunk drivers.  As a felony prosecutor, Tom was part of the DUI manslaughter response team and received specialized training in serious and fatal DUI accident investigation, which he now puts to use in pursuing punitive damages in civil cases.. Tom worked 5 years for a large central Florida “insurance defense” law firm after leaving the State Attorney’s Office.  For those years he focused his career on trial litigation in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, trucking accidents, and wrongful deaths.  Mr. Cope took many of these serious injury cases to trial against the best plaintiff’s lawyers in the State.  As a defense lawyer, Tom simply never lost.. Tom has brought his formidable trial and litigation skills to work for the injured and their families.   He frequently uses the skills and inside knowledge he learned as a trucking and insurance company lawyer for the benefit of his clients.

Since my college years at Florida State University I have always been interested in the law. Majoring in Criminology, I developed a passion for understanding and defending the rights of American citizens against unwarranted governmental intrusion. This passion extended to law school and Stetson University College of Law, where I honed my advocacy skills with the intention of becoming a trial lawyer. During my years at Stetson, I was dedicated to helping others, and received the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award in recognition of my efforts.. I began to test my advocacy skills while still in law school as a Certified Legal Intern for the 6th Judicial Circuit's juvenile prosecution unit. I prepared for and conducted numerous bench trials prior to graduation. After passing the bar, I served as an Assitant State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Sarasota, where I learned the ins and outs of seeing a case from a prosecutor's perspective. I then joined a private defense firm who concentrated their practice on DUI defense. During my years preparing for DUI trials, I learned just how complicated DUI defense could be.. I have now brought these skills to my partnership in Fowler Law Group, where I intend to vigriously defend the rights of my clients to place them in the best possible position when their case is resolved.

Nick Chotos, earned his law degree from St. Thomas University in 2014.  Mr. Chotos followed his passion for criminal law and began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County.  There he defended thousands of criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors and DUIs to serious felonies.  Mr. Chotos now works as lead trial counsel at the firm’s Ft. Lauderdale office, handling all Broward criminal cases.

Maura Doherty is a native of Pinellas County, but has lived and worked throughout the Tampa Bay area.  She attended Loyola University in New Orleans, where she majored in English Literature.  Maura’s father and grandfather were both attorneys, so the decision to pursue a career in law was a natural one for her.  Maura graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. As she watched her father, one of the area’s preeminent criminal lawyers, she realized how satisfying it could be to help those who truly need it and not just clients who could afford to pay.  Maura devoted herself to representing indigent criminal defendants for over nine years.  During that time, Maura learned many things that have aided her in her career, as well as in her personal life.  She also gained valuable experience in the court room trying some of the most difficult kinds of cases.  She brings unique abilities as an advocate and as a counselor to Walker Law Group where she now counsels to and advocates for injury clients exclusively.. Maura is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida since 2003.  She is a member of the Florida Justice Association, The Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the Goldberg Inn of Court.

Lynda Barack is a former staff attorney in the Criminal Division of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida, where she worked on pretrial and postconviction matters.  Previously, she was an assistant public defender in Pinellas County, where her practice included misdemeanor, juvenile and felony cases.  Her current practice focuses primarily on criminal appeals and postconviction cases.  Lynda has a  blog focusing on postconviction and criminal appeals

Joseph T. Hobson has been winning cases in Florida for twenty years, always as a defense attorney, never as a prosecutor. That means you will have an attorney who has never tried to convict a person in your position.

Jay A. Hebert. As a well-established defense lawyer within the Tampa Bay legal system, Jay Hebert puts his clients first. He is dedicated to serving his clients not only by navigating them through the complicated and daunting court system but also by helping them stay on the right side of the law.. “One of the reasons people come to me is that we try not to put a Band Aid on the problem. I get to the root of the problem and solve it. I consider myself more of a problem solver. That’s how I have distinguished my career from many others.”. Born in Winter Park­­­­­­­, Florida, Jay A. Hebert is a  Florida native who attended Clemson University (B.A., 1985) and continued his education at Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 1990). In 1991, he was admitted to the Florida Bar, the United States District Court, the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Hebert started his own firm, The Hebert Law Group, in 1994.. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, St. Petersburg Bar Association, Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Pinellas County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity.. Since 2010, Mr. Hebert has spoken to numerous school groups and parents about the possible negative impact the internet has on friendships and relationships. Jay Hebert has also taught as an adjunct Professor at the Stetson University College of Law and regularly speaks to students as a guest lecturer.. He has received the AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell 5.0 out of 5.0 since 2005 and received a superb rating, 10 out of 10, by AVVO. He has also been recognized by Marquis as Who’s Who in American Law.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email at. Mike graduated from the University of Florida, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and an Area of Specialization in Criminology.  Thereafter, he obtained his Juris Doctor from Florida State College of Law.  After law school, Mike accepted a  position as an Assistant State Attorney with the Orange County State Attorney’s Office in the 9th Judicial Circuit.  After his time spent as a prosecutor, he took a position as an Assistant Public Defender in the 13th Judicial Circuit.  Before relocating to Clearwater and joining Roman & Roma in April 2014, Mike worked at a highly regarded personal injury law firm in Melbourne, Florida.  Throughout his legal career, Mike has always represented individuals, not big businesses or corporations.  He has also compiled significant trial experience and gained valuable insight into inner workings of the litigation process. Mike believes in the value of hard work and has witnessed it pay off first hand in receiving numerous jury verdicts in his clients’ favor.  As a valuable asset to Roman & Roman, Mike draws upon his past experiences to achieve optimal results for his clients.  Mike has also appeared live on the radio answering various legal questions and has lectured in front of several civic organizations.. Mike is a member of several professional organizations, most notably the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Pinellas County Bar Association.  He resides in Clearwater and enjoys surfing, fitness training, and spending time with his family and friends.

I have been practicing criminal law for over 30 years.  My initial consultation is free.  Please call so that I can let you know how I can help you.. Larry Sandefer has handled well over 5,000 criminal cases. Over 200 of these have resulted in jury trials of from one day to several weeks in length. These trials have included numerous first degree murder cases, multi-jurisdictional drug and homicide conspiracies, drug trafficking, sales and possessions, sexual battery, lewdness and exposure charges, arson, white collar crimes including trade secrets and fraud, robbery, theft, assault and battery, domestic violence, traffic deaths, DUI, resisting arrest, shoplifting, abuse allegations of children and the elderly, embezzlement, insurance fraud, burglary, kidnaping, and many other criminal charges.. After over 30 years in criminal law in Florida, Mr. Sandefer is familiar with and has worked very often with the Judges and prosecutors assigned to the criminal and civil courts. He is a former prosecutor of over eight years, with experience as both a Lead Trial Attorney and a Division Director in the State Attorney's Office. In those positions, he not only tried the most serious cases, he also over saw several trial divisions and trial attorneys. He was involved with the investigation and decision making aspects of these charges. As a member of the homicide investigation unit, he was often called out to the scene of homicides.. In 1986, Mr. Sandefer opened his own office and has continued in the defense of criminal cases since that time. He was one of the first attorney's in the State of Florida to become Board Certified in criminal trial law, that occurred in 1987. He has maintained that certification continually since that date. This vast background of experience gives him the knowledge of both sides of a criminal case from both a decision making perspective and a trial perspective, and the understanding of what affects those decisions by the prosecution and what goes into those decisions. What this means for you is the knowledge, the experience, and the court room skills to assist you in your defense.. Mr. Sandefer has continued his training through continuing education courses involving violent crime, organized crime, defending capital cases in Florida, narcotic investigation techniques, and various advanced education programs by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a graduate of the Criminal Trial Advocacy Institute at the University of Florida and has attended Masters of DUI Courses of the Florida Bar and the DUI Defender Courses in Las Vegas, Nevada of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.. Mr. Sandefer has been honored with the national recognition of being named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in America. This is a register which lists only the most distinguished law practices, those that signify the highest levels of legal ability and the adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.. Mr. Sandefer has achieved a prestigious rating of AV by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating is a result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and judges. Martindale-Hubbell has been recognized for over a century as the most respected source of authoritative information about members of the legal community. An AV rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards.

Former state prosecutor serving the Pinellas, Pasco and surrounding Tampa Bay areas with legal representation in the area of criminal defense.

Biography: Paul A. Meissner was born in New York and moved to Florida with his family as a child.  He is a graduate of Clearwater High School.  He co-founded the Carlson & Meissner law firm with Edward Carlson in 1971.  Paul and his wife Jayne have five children & thirteen grandchildren.  They enjoy boating and traveling, especially on Paul's Harley motorcycle.. Paul Meissner has written The Florida Law Enforcement Manual.. Position: Paul A. Meissner is a co-founder of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A.  He co-founded the firm in 1971.. Areas of Practice:. Certification / Specialties:. Professional Associations and Memberships:. Education:. Classes / Seminars Taught:. Past Employment:

Bethany Jackson received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in 2006. She attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 2002.. Ms. Jackson was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2006. Attorney Jackson served as a former Assistant State Attorney (Florida, 2006), and as a Child Protective Investigator (Florida, 2003).  She also worked as an associate attorney in private practice.  (2006-2008).   She is a member of the Florida Bar; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association; Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

A Trial Attorney licensed to practice in all Florida State Courts and the Unites States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Concentrating on Criminal Defense including all Traffic Court Cases, DUIs, Misdemeanors, and Felonies. As a former prosecutor, I have the experience and insight to give you an honest assessment of your criminal case and strive to provide the highest standard of legal representation to achieve the best results for my clients.