13 of the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Phoenix

13 of the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Phoenix

Choosing a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix can mean comparing lawyers with very different backgrounds, areas of focus and ways of handling cases. This guide looks at credible Phoenix firms and what may set each one apart.

Key Takeaways

• Finding the best criminal defense attorney in Phoenix depends on your case, since different lawyers bring experience with areas such as DUI defense, serious felonies, federal charges, appeals and forensic evidence.
• Many Phoenix criminal defense attorneys have worked as county, state or federal prosecutors. That experience can help them understand how the government investigates cases, reviews evidence and prepares charges.
• Board certification isn't required to practice criminal law in Arizona. It's an additional State Bar credential that requires substantial criminal-law experience, peer review and an exam.
• If you’re searching for the best criminal lawyer in Phoenix for your case, consider which attorney’s background is most relevant to the charges you’re facing rather than relying on ratings or years in practice alone.
• Phoenix has both larger criminal defense teams and smaller practices. Some clients may prefer having several attorneys involved, while others may want more direct contact with one lawyer.
  

A criminal defense attorney represents people who have been accused of crimes or are under investigation. Depending on the case, that work may involve reviewing police conduct, challenging evidence, dealing with prosecutors or representing a client in court.

If you’re searching for the best criminal defense attorney in Phoenix for your situation, it helps to look beyond ratings and years in practice to find the right one for you. Training, past government work, trial experience and the types of

cases the firm handles can all shape what a criminal defense lawyer can bring to your case.

Who Are the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Phoenix?

Finding the best criminal lawyer in Phoenix is subjective because every case and client is different. Instead of naming one attorney as the top choice, we’ve highlighted 13 Phoenix criminal defense lawyers and firms that stand out for different reasons.

1. DM Cantor

DM Cantor is a criminal defense practice based in downtown Phoenix. The firm currently has three attorneys who are board-certified in criminal law by the State Bar of Arizona. That credential requires substantial criminal law experience, including felony jury trials, along with peer review and testing.

For someone facing a serious felony, having several board-certified attorneys at one firm can give you access to a more experienced defense team rather than leave you depending on one lawyer alone.

The firm also uses a team approach for major felony cases and handles matters ranging from DUI and sex crimes to homicide and white-collar charges. DM Cantor offers free initial consultations.

2. MayesTelles PLLC

MayesTelles PLLC brings together attorneys with backgrounds in prosecution, federal courts and law enforcement. Founding partner David Telles previously prosecuted sex crimes for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He also worked as a prosecutor in Pima and Cochise counties and served on a DEA narcotics task force.

That background may be especially relevant if you’re facing a serious felony or sex-crime allegation because Telles has seen how prosecutors review these cases and what evidence they may focus on.

This Phoenix practice also takes a team approach, with attorneys meeting regularly to review active cases. MayesTelles offers free consultations, flexible payment plans and 24/7 availability.

3. Feldman Royle Ahl

Feldman Royle Ahl has built its Phoenix criminal defense practice around attorneys who previously worked on the prosecution side. David Ahl joined the firm after serving as both a state and federal prosecutor.

His earlier cases included homicide, sex crimes and death penalty litigation that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. If you’re facing a serious felony or federal charge, that background may give Ahl firsthand knowledge of how prosecutors prepare complex cases.

Founding partner Adam Feldman also began his career at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, where he handled cases ranging from DUI to serious violent crimes.

The firm has a Phoenix office and offers free case evaluations. It also uses flat fees for many criminal cases, which can make legal costs easier to understand upfront.

4. Suzuki Law Offices

Suzuki Law Offices handles both state and federal criminal cases from its Phoenix office. Founder RJ Suzuki previously worked as a deputy Maricopa County attorney and later as an assistant U.S. attorney.

That federal experience may matter if you’re being investigated by a federal agency or facing charges in federal court because Suzuki has worked inside the system handling those cases.

The firm also has former law enforcement investigators on staff who can review how police gathered evidence and handled an investigation. That gives clients access to both prosecution and investigative experience under one roof.

Suzuki Law Offices offers free consultations and handles matters including DUI, violent crime and white-collar charges.

5. Law Office of Elizabeth Mullins

Elizabeth Mullins has spent her entire legal career representing people accused of crimes. She has never worked as a prosecutor, and her Phoenix practice has remained focused on criminal defense.

If your search for the best criminal lawyer in Phoenix includes finding someone who has always worked on the defense side, Mullins stands out for that reason. She has also been board certified in criminal law by the State Bar of Arizona since 2015.

Her work goes beyond trial-level defense. Mullins handles federal cases, appeals and post-conviction matters, which may be useful if your case is already further along in the court system. The Law Office of Elizabeth Mullins offers free case evaluations and 24/7 phone access.

6. The Law Office of Zach Murphy

The Law Office of Zach Murphy is a smaller Phoenix practice led by former prosecutor Zach Murphy. He spent more than seven years with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office before entering private practice in 2009. His final 2½ years there focused on homicide cases, after following earlier work involving gangs and repeat offenders.

If you’ve been accused of a serious violent felony, Murphy is familiar with how prosecutors prepare some of the highest-stakes cases handled in Maricopa County.



He also earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry before law school, which may be useful when a case involves lab testing or other scientific evidence. Murphy works directly with clients rather than passing cases to a large team.

7. Law Offices of Trent R. Buckallew

Trent Buckallew combines criminal defense experience with an unusual academic background. He holds a master’s degree in forensic science and is board-certified in criminal law by the State Bar of Arizona.

His science training may be especially useful when a case involves DNA, fingerprints, blood or urine testing or other lab evidence. Rather than relying only on legal training, Buckallew has graduate-level education in how forensic evidence is examined and interpreted.

He is also an associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Buckallew handles criminal and DUI cases as a solo practitioner from his Phoenix office, including matters ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony trials.

8. Law Office of Michael Alarid III

Michael Alarid III runs a Phoenix practice focused on criminal and DUI defense. He’s board certified in criminal law by the State Bar of Arizona and in DUI defense through the National College for DUI Defense. Only a small number of Arizona attorneys hold both credentials.

Someone searching for the best criminal defense attorney in Phoenix for a DUI case may place extra value on that added training. DUI cases can turn on breath tests, blood samples, traffic stops and whether officers followed proper testing procedures.

Alarid also represents people facing violent crime, sex-crime and drug charges, so his practice is not limited to DUI defense. The firm offers free case evaluations from its East Camelback Road office.

9. Knowles Law Firm, PLC

Knowles Law Firm handles criminal defense and DUI cases in Phoenix. Attorney Anthony Knowles worked as an Arizona police officer before becoming a lawyer, giving him firsthand experience with traffic stops, arrests and criminal investigations.

If you have questions about how police handled your arrest or gathered evidence, Knowles can review those steps from the perspective of someone who has done that work. He also worked at the Arizona House of Representatives and served on the House Judiciary Committee while criminal laws were being revised.

The firm handles criminal defense and DUI matters from its downtown Phoenix office. Its legal team also includes former prosecutors, giving clients access to both law enforcement and prosecution experience.

10. The Koplow Law Firm

The Koplow Law Firm focuses much of its work on DUI and crimes involving vehicles. Lawrence Koplow opened the practice in 2005 after prosecuting DUI cases and working in the Vehicular Crimes Section of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

He later defended civil lawsuits involving car crashes while working for Farmers Insurance. If you’re facing a DUI or criminal charge after a serious crash, Koplow has experience with driving-related cases on both the criminal and civil sides.

He also has advanced training in DUI forensics and blood alcohol testing and has handled more than 300 jury trials. Clients at the Phoenix practice work directly with Koplow rather than being passed to a junior attorney.

11. Law Offices of David A. Black

David A. Black founded his Phoenix defense practice in 2010 after working as a prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Before that, he graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University and earned his law degree from UCLA School of Law.

The Law Offices of David A. Black limits the number of clients it accepts so its attorneys can spend more time on each case. That may appeal to someone who values more direct attention from their legal team.

Black has also earned outside recognition for his work. Best Lawyers named him Phoenix Lawyer of the Year for DUI/DWI Defense in 2023 and 2025 and continues to recognize him for criminal defense work.

12. Kolsrud Law Offices

Kolsrud Law Offices is a Phoenix criminal defense law firm led by Josh Kolsrud, a former state and federal prosecutor with extensive experience in serious criminal cases. He spent more than five years as an assistant U.S. attorney after earlier work prosecuting felony and major-crime cases in Arizona. His federal cases included drug trafficking, firearms, financial crimes and human trafficking.

If you’re facing federal charges, Kolsrud has firsthand knowledge of how federal prosecutors work with agencies, develop investigations and prepare cases for court.

His courtroom background is also extensive. Kolsrud has tried more than 100 cases and has handled matters in both state and federal courts.

13. Law Offices of Robert J. McWhirter

The Law Offices of Robert J. McWhirter handles criminal defense cases in Phoenix, with a strong focus on federal matters. Robert J. McWhirter spent nearly two decades as an assistant federal public defender before moving into private practice.

That background means McWhirter has years of experience defending people within the federal court system rather than prosecuting them.

He’s also board certified in criminal law by the State Bar of Arizona and has tried more than 100 criminal cases. His work includes criminal and immigration law, which may help noncitizens facing charges that could affect their immigration status.

How To Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney in Phoenix

Choosing the right lawyer comes down to finding a team that specializes in your type of case. If you’re facing criminal charges, finding the best criminal defense attorney in Phoenix means looking for a firm dedicated to criminal defense strategies.

Criminal charges carry life-altering consequences like jail time and a permanent record, leaving zero room for a learning curve. Having a dedicated focus ensures your attorney spends every day navigating local court rules, prosecutor tactics and aggressive defense strategies to protect your freedom.

However, if your situation involves a crash or personal injury, Sargon Law Group is here to fight for you. Our practice focuses exclusively on representing injured victims and holding negligent people accountable.

If you were injured in a crash on an Arizona road, contact Sargon Law Group today to schedule a free consultation with a Phoenix car accident attorney.