Top Criminal Defense Lawyers Near Me in Sarasota Area

With over 16 years of criminal law experience, Fayard Law provides aggressive, results-driven defense for clients facing criminal charges in Sarasota and surrounding areas. Led by attorney Michael Fayard—an AV-rated lawyer and former prosecutor in two states—our firm offers strategic legal representation across a wide range of criminal matters, including DUI, drug offenses, violent crimes, white-collar charges, and more.. Conveniently located near the Sarasota courthouse, Fayard Law delivers personalized legal guidance backed by deep courtroom experience and insider prosecutorial knowledge. We offer free consultations and serve clients throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, and Manatee County.. When your rights, freedom, and future are at stake, trust a proven criminal defense attorney who knows both sides of the courtroom. Contact Fayard Law today.

Thank you so much for visiting my profile. Please visit my web cite at and view "as seen on TV" for footage on National Television Appearances on The O'Reilly Factor and guest commentator on Court TV. You can also view apppearances on Spanish Television "La Guia TV".. ---. Please visit my web cite at .

I spent countless hours working on my websites and growing my practice through attending seminars and lecturing.   Unlike other lawyers, I personally put in case results and work on video shots.  My clients or prospective clients need to understand that I am deeply concerned about the outcome of their case.

I am an Attorney at The Byrd Law Firm where I practice Criminal Defense and Family Law.  I was born and raised on Long Island in New York and came to Florida to pursue a college degree at Stetson University.. While studying at Stetson I became intrigued with law, so after I graduated I pursued a law degree at Nova Southeastern University Law School.   At law school I interned at the Broward County State Attorney’s office, and it was there that I realized the injustices and indignities that are suffered by people accused of committing crimes.. After graduating from Law School I worked for over 3 years at the Public Defenders’ Office in Sarasota, where I defended well over a 1000 individuals accused of crimes. I tried many cases including some of the most serious felonies.. In 2008, I started working at the Byrd Law Firm, where I now practice Criminal  Defense and Family law in Sarasota and Manatee County.  I defend all types of criminal case with a large focus on DUIs and Juvenile crimes.. In 2009 I became one of the first attorneys in Sarasota and Manatee Counties to receive a Certificate of Achievement for completing the Breath Test Operator Course which is required of all licensed Breath Test Operators in the State of Florida.  I have also volunteered as a Judge for Teen Court of Sarasota, a diversion program aimed at helping juveniles with their self-esteem, motivation, and self improvement, and in turn prevent any future criminal behavior.. In my family law practice, I focus on all divorce related matters, including but not limited to, child support, alimony, timesharing, equitable distribution and attorney's fees, as well as paternity issues, and Injunctions involving violence.. I aggressively represent all my clients and diligently protect their best interest.. If you would like to speak about your legal matter, please give me a call at.

I am a fourth generation native Floridian.  My undergraduate degree is in accounting from the University of South Carolina.( a gamecock).  After graduation, I served in the United States Treasury Department as a special Agent with the Intelligence Division.  I recieved special training in Washington DC in basic law enforcement techniques including interrogation, surveillance, photography, forensics, photography, wiretapping and basic criminal investigation.  I understand how law enforcement thinks.. I recieved additional training in Income Tax Law, especially the criminal statutes.  I worked in the Miami office investigating organized crime, general tax crimes and on occasions was detailed for special security work.. While working as an agent, I obtained a law degree from the University of Miami.  I then transferred to Atlanta Georgia and worked for a year as an analyst for the Regional Commisioner of Intelligence.  I returned to South Florida in 1971 and joined the United States Attorneys Office where I prosecuted all types of Federal crimes, particuarly white collar crime and tax evasion.  I appeared before numerous grand juries and prosecuted successfully numermous federal crimes.. In 1974 I joined the law firm of Cohen and Hogan on South Beach.  It was probably one of the top criminal firms in Florida.  While there I had the occasion to meet and advise a number of high profile defendants including Jimmy Hoffa.. In 1974 I moved to Ft. Lauderdale where I continued to represent high profile clients from the labor unions including the Operating Engineers.  I defended rackateering and gambling cases many of which included tax charges.  In the late 1970's my practice included repesentation of major drug smugglers from within the United States, the Bahamas and Columbia.  As my reputation grew, my practice expanded and I traveled extensively across the United States defending complex Federal cases in Los Angeles, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.. During that time I defended literally every type of criminal case for drug conspiracies, money laundering, securities fraud, wire and mail fraud, high seas violations, wildlife crimes and bribery.  I represented many of the judges who came under investigation in Miami and my clientel has included everything from Gangsters to the Clergy.  I have seen it all.. In 2002 I expanded my practice to include the West Coast of Florida and formed a partnership with a local attorney in Ft. Myers by the name of Sean O'Halloran.  He was a former prosecutor in Lee and Charlotte County and my Federal experience and his State experience formed the perfect team.  In 2011, I moved to Sarasota where I manage the Aiken and O'Halloran Sarasota office.  My emphasis in the last three years has been in defending sex crimes, particularly Federal Internet crimes.  I have represented defendants in the television series "to Catch a Predator" as well as the last two "Operations Intercept" in Sarasota.  I now travel throughout Florida representing people charged in both State and Federal Court.

Derek Byrd is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar.  Less than 2% of attorneys in Florida are Board Certified.  Derek Byrd was born and raised in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. He grew up watching his father defend high profile criminal cases in the old Sarasota County Courthouse. Derek’s father’s legal skills and the excitement surrounding the legal system inspired Derek to become a criminal defense attorney. He graduated from Florida State University in 1990 with a B. A. in Criminology and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1995 from Quinnipiac College of Law in Hamden, Connecticut graduating cum laude (top 5% of his class). While in law school, Derek concentrated his studies on criminal and trial law and he served as Notes and Comments Editor for the Law Review Journal.. SARASOTA’S CRIMINAL DEFENSE / DUI ATTORNEY. After being admitted to the Florida Bar in early 1996, Derek went to work for the Public Defender’s Office in Sarasota, where he gained extensive and valuable trial experience. He opened The Byrd Law Firm in 1998. Derek is Board Certified in Criminal Defense and has been since 2004. He is a Past President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Statewide Chapter which has close to 2,000 members. Derek also served as the President of the Sarasota Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 1999 – 2001. Additionally, he is a Past President of the Sarasota County Bar. Derek also served as Chairperson of the local Florida Bar Grievance Committee. In 2019, he was awarded the Jim Slater Professionalism Award for outstanding professionalism in the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Notably, Derek is also on the Board of Directors of the Innocence Project of Florida, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping innocent prisoners in Florida gain their freedom and rebuild their lives. Additionally, he is the President-Elect of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court. He is licensed in all State Courts and the Federal Court, Middle District of Florida. Derek has written articles for the Defender magazine and spoken at FACDL seminars. He is a Life Member of FACDL, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar-Criminal Law section, and the Sarasota County Bar Association. Derek’s wife, Heather, has not only been his partner in life for over 20 years, she is also his Partner at The Byrd Law Firm, and her practice is concentrated solely on family law. They have raised two wonderful young men together.

AnneMarie Rizzo is a former Assistant State Attorney with extensive trial experience in the State of Florida. AnneMarie is the only female in the State of Florida with the Forensic Lawyer Scientist certification. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Magna Cum Laude and from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with her Juris Doctorate. AnneMarie also holds a Masters Degree from the University of Florida in Pharmecutical Sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Toxicology. AnneMarie feels this advanced education helps her to have a formal background in using science to help build and argue her clients' cases. AnneMarie teaches on a national and statewide level helping lawyers to better litigate their cases in court. AnneMarie has tried many cases involving complex legal and scientific matters from accident reconstruction to toxicology to proper scentific testing methods. AnneMarie has handled and tried cases from minor misdemeanors to homicide cases such as Vehicular Homicide and DUI Manslaughter. AnneMarie presents throughout the country and State of Florida on various topics related to ways to defend her clients.. AnneMarie has been featured on multiple news media stations due to her advocacy for her clients discussing topics high profile cases, personal injury cases, and criminal cases on TV outlets such as the local ABC, CBS, and Fox News affiliates. She was also on CNN when she handled a bond hearing for a high profile case. The herald tribune has featured AnneMarie on multiple occasions about her cases because of her unique legal arguments and about cases she has handled. Check out this article about AnneMarie's Lawyer Scientist Certification:. AnneMarie is on the executive board for the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and is President Emeritus after serving the organization as President in 2022. She also has served as the President of the local chapter for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and as a Director At Large for the statewide Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She also is a member of the American Chemical Society. Moreover, AnneMarie has served in the community as Chair of the local Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Law Week Committee where she recruited attorneys to teach high school students about the legal system. She also has served as a Guardian ad Litem. In addition, she has spent time serving as a presiding judge over Teen Court proceedings. AnneMarie has been involved in other local organizations such as the Florida Association of Woman Lawyers, Inns of Court, and Junior League.. During her tenure as an Assistant State Attorney she specialized in prosecuting Domestic Violence and Criminal Traffic cases. She assisted hundreds of victims involved in violent relationships in criminal prosecution and assisted victims at hearings seeking protective injunctions. AnneMarie leaves a legacy of winning four separate, consecutive jury trials in the same trial week. She was appointed as a Special Prosecutor by the Governor of Florida to represent the State of Florida on a DUI case in Lee County in 2007 which resulted in another favorable jury verdict for her at trial. She quickly gained the reputation of being an aggressive and zealous advocate for her clients.. AnneMarie has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the state specifically in the areas of evidence based prosecution and trial advocacy in Domestic Violence and Criminal Traffic. She also has trained medical doctors at SHANDS UF and Child Protective Investigators with the Department of Children and Families in the areas of domestic violence and family dynamics. AnneMarie has successfully completed the Advanced DUI School hosted by the Florida Prosecutor Attorney Association. She also has successfully completed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Course sponsored by the Institute of Police Technology and Management, a course designed to train law enforcement to effectively identify impairment in individuals suspected to be driving under the influence. (A field sobriety exercise regularly used on the roads today) AnneMarie also attended and successfully completed the Trial Advocacy School at the National Advocacy Center held at the United States Department of Justice in South Carolina. AnneMarie also has attended and was awarded certificate of successful completion for intense studies at the National College of DUI Defense at Harvard University. Furthermore, AnneMarie was awarded multiple certificates of completion for her studies at Axion Labs as it relates to Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry as well as being awarded certificates of completion for Mastering Scientific Evidence Seminars.. In her free time AnneMarie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, doing yoga, traveling, and thoroughly enjoys scuba diving (especially with sharks).

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.

Experienced Criminal Defense attorney serving clients in Sarasota and surrounding areas.