Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 25978 Available

Jonathan Shapiro graduated from Northwestern University in 1971 and from American University, Washington College of Law in 1974. He has been litigating cases ever since, with a three-year break to serve as a Clinical Instructor at the Criminal Justice Clinic, and as Director of the Institutionalized Persons Clinic at Washington College of Law. In 2001, he was honored by his law school with the Peter Cicchino Alumni Award for “Outstanding Advocacy in the Public Interest Within the United States,” as a distinguished criminal defense attorney.. Jon has handled countless criminal cases in the state and federal courts, including conspiracies and white-collar crimes, and has extensive appellate experience. He has also litigated a number of civil rights cases involving jails, prisons and institutions for the mentally disabled. Along with his partner Peter Greenspun, he handled the defense of John Muhammad, the accused “Beltway Sniper.” Jon also handled the defense of Jim Nicholson, a CIA Station Chief, and of Brian Regan, an NSA employee, both charged with espionage.. Jon has been listed for years in the Best Lawyers in America for White-Collar and Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense. He is frequently listed in Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Lawyers, most recently in 2011 for the best criminal defenders in the Washington DC area. Also, he is always included in The Washington Post Magazine’s yearly listing of The Washington DC Area’s Best Lawyers. Jon was the long-time chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the Alexandria Bar Association and is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars. He was selected as a Faculty Member for the Virginia State Bar Professionalism course. Jon handles complex criminal law cases at the trial and appellate levels in the state and federal courts. In 2009, Jon became an adjunct professor at Washington and Lee University College of Law.

Cynthia Murray is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and has over 20 years of distinguished legal experience in the courtroom and in the board room.. Cynthia first served her community as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for more than a decade handling and winning complex, high profile criminal cases.. international contract negotiator for a major global defense contractor. In that capacity she has successfully negotiated and formalized agreements as well as multiple millions of dollars worth of contracts with large companies and navies. Her experience in these contractual negotiations give her an undeniable edge in drafting and negotiating contracts at every level.. As a litigator, Cynthia has a special ability to relate to clients from many nations, backgrounds and cultures who now live in Virginia. She has a strong desire to see her clients succeed in and out of court.. Cynthia is fluent in Spanish, proficient in Farsi and Italian and speaks basic French. Her cross-cultural background makes her an asset to any client’s team wanting to succeed.. Member of theAmerican Bar Association. Member of the Charlottesville-AlbemarleBar Association. Admitted and member in good standingof the Virginia State BarAdmitted and member in good standingof the Georgia Bar

I am Lewis Combs, the founder of Lewis Combs Attorney at Law, doing focused practice on criminal law and personal injury law in Virginia. I have been practicing law since 1985, and I have faced a jury over 200 times in my career and litigated everything from First Degree Murders and DUIs to Personal Injury Cases.

A “double Hoo” graduate of the University of Virginia, (1993 CLASS, 1996 LAW); Charlottesville attorney André Hakes has 17+ years experience as a practicing attorney in Charlottesville, Virginia and the surrounding areas. Ms. Hakes is a partner at the law firm of Tucker Griffin Barnes, handling criminal defense and civil litigation cases. To the art and science of criminal defense, Ms. Hakes bring prosecutorial and police educator experience, and a long, successful track record defending clients on murder, sex crimes, drug charges, DUI, embezzlement, assault, and many other criminal allegations. Ms. Hakes has a reputation for "out-working" her opponents in preparing for trials.. [The results obtained under one set of circumstances cannot be a predictor of future results.]

The daughter of an Army veteran and a schoolteacher, Victoria understands the anxiety and confusion that can come with working with an attorney. The legal process can be daunting and overwhelming. Victoria provides individualized care and attention to make this process as transparent and understandable as possible for her clients. She ensures that clients know the continuing status of their cases, what to expect, and how to prepare for the best outcome.

Attorney Catherine Carré came to Foster McCollam Wright, PLLC after spending most of her legal career as a public defender. She worked for six years in the Fairfax Public Defender’s Office and almost two years in the Public Defender’s Office for Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties. During her time in those offices, she tried dozens of jury trials on charges ranging from traffic offenses to murder. She also helped train all of the new public defenders throughout the Commonwealth in 2018, teaching them the law and practice tips for sentencing and probation revocation hearings. She worked extensively with clients who had mental health issues and successfully represented clients who had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in conditional and unconditional release hearings. Attorney Carré drafted and argued multiple novel evidentiary motions, including a motion to quash search warrants and a motion to quash a subpoena duces tecum issued by a special Grand Jury.. Her real interest, though, was in juvenile and domestic relations. She spent several years focusing on cases originating in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR). She learned the intricacies and nuances of juvenile law and the many different programs, services, and outcomes available to juveniles. In Fauquier County, she assisted in implementing the Standardized Dispositional Matrix, with the goal of ensuring that juveniles charged with crimes are treated similarly throughout the Commonwealth.. Attorney Carré also has experience in civil litigation. For two years, she worked at Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, specializing in insurance defense and in defending government employees and agencies in civil lawsuits. She handled federal cases throughout the Commonwealth and in the Eastern District of Virginia. She is also barred in New York State.. She currently lives here in Prince William County but is a Philadelphia native. She attended the prestigious J.R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, followed by Penn State University, where she was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Catherine was also a member of the University Park Allocation Committee, overseeing the distribution of $2.4 million to various university groups.. Attorney Carré went to law school at Temple University, which consistently ranks as one of the best law schools in the nation in trial advocacy. While there, she was named Outstanding Oral Advocate in her Advanced Trial Advocacy program and was a fellow in the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society. She coached a high school mock trial team, which went to state championships. She took advantage of numerous internship and clinical opportunities while in law school, and interned or participated in clinicals with the Delaware Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office in Camden, New Jersey. Her experiences in law school helped solidify her love of criminal defense, but also provided her with valuable insight into the workings of prosecutors’ offices and governmental agencies, which has been useful for her clients countless times throughout her career.. This firm provides Catherine the opportunity to be more involved in her own community while utilizing the skills she has built through her years as a criminal and civil attorney.

David has been in practice nearly 25 years, 20 of which were in Ohio before he relocated to Virginia. David practiced criminal law exclusively for many years in Ohio and represented hundreds of clients charged with felony, misdemeanor and traffic offenses.. In 2021, David moved to Virginia and continued practicing criminal law serving as a Senior Assistant Public Defender and as Senior Trial Attorney with the Fredericksburg Public Defender. There, he represented clients charged with felony crimes in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg. As lead or co-counsel, David has tried over 25 felony jury trials including 7 murder trials to verdict with 2 death penalty trials to verdict.. David is highly experienced in high-stress and high-conflict cases, excellent at advocacy before judges, and highly competent in the rules of evidence. He brings these trial and advocacy skills to the Irving Law Firm where he practices in the areas of Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and Landlord/Tenant law.. When not practicing law, David enjoys golfing, making music and hiking with his wife and two dogs.

Caroline Butler is a relentless criminal defense attorney who fights for people facing the full force of the criminal legal system. She represents individuals charged with serious felony offenses—including robbery, drug distribution, and sex crimes—and is known for her strategic, aggressive defense both in and out of the courtroom.. Caroline understands firsthand that the criminal system is not always fair. Too often, it punishes poverty, overlooks context, and fails to deliver justice for those it targets most harshly. She fights to ensure her clients’ rights are respected and their voices heard.. At Coates, Battle, & Tyree, Caroline handles high-stakes criminal cases as well as civil matters like protective orders and contract disputes. Previously, she served as an Assistant Public Defender in Fredericksburg, where she defended hundreds of clients—many facing life-altering charges—with compassion, skill, and unwavering resolve.. Caroline earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law, where she focused on criminal law and international human rights. Her legal experience spans continents, including work in Ghana and Senegal. While abroad, she collaborated with grassroots organizations to promote access to justice, expose systemic inequities, and advocate for the rights of underserved communities—experience that continues to inform her work in U.S. courtrooms today.. Clients come to Caroline when they feel like the system is stacked against them—and they stay because they know she will fight for them at every step.

Attorney Keith A. Jones practices family law (divorce/custody) and criminal defense from our Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia offices of Smith Strong, PLC.. Keith Jones is an experienced trial lawyer, routinely in court on a weekly basis for almost 20 years.  Prior to joining Smith Strong, PLC in 2017, Keith worked for prominent law firms in Chesterfield County, Virginia and then maintained his own firm, Jones Law Group, P.C., also in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which enjoyed a solid reputation for his courtroom advocacy.. Prior to entering private practice in 2000, Keith Jones served in the United States Navy for 8 years after graduation from VCU.. Keith has litigated over 1,000 cases in over 15 jurisdictions from central Virginia through the Tidewater Virginia area--an experienced, calming voice for our clients.. Keith is a member of the Virginia State Bar, Chesterfield County Bar Association, and former member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.. Outside of the courtroom, Keith is an active member of his community, having hosted over 8 charity golf events for local causes.  As Keith's children attend high school in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Keith maintains an active coaching schedule with their athletics.. Keith grew up in New Jersey, but has been proud to call Chesterfield, Virginia home since entering private practice in 2000.  Keith also attended college at VCU in Richmond, Virginia in the early 1990s, before entering the U.S. Navy, then returning to central Virginia after military service.