Astor Criminal Lawyers

We are a law firm based in the heart of Tampa with expertise in Family Law, Discrimination and Business Litigation. Our lawyers have collective experience of over 35 years handling cases just like yours. We are a boutique law firm focused on your rights and making sure that those rights are taken care of.

Our attorneys are able to provide the skills and expertise that may be found at larger firms without the overhead expenses many of these larger law firms typically pass on to its clients. We are passionate about helping to build our community and its businesses and work...

Whitney C. Coyne received his Juris Doctorate from The Florida State University College of Law in 2001. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2002 and during that time has had the opportunity to litigate thousands of cases.Coyne Law, P.A. is dedicated to zealously advocating on behalf of our clients. Attorney Whitney Coyne has been practicing in the Sarasota/Bradenton area for over 15 years. During that time, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge to assist his clients with any situation or need that has arisen due to their legal issues. Mr. Coyne began his career as...

Daniel J. Fernandez defends individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area and the State of Florida. With more than 30 years experience as a criminal defense attorney and hundreds of jury trials, Daniel earned tremendous accolades from judges, other lawyers, defendants and even jurors. Daniel started his legal career as a state prosecutor and became the chief of the Narcotics division before opening his own law practice in 1985. Daniel and members of his staff are fluent in Spanish and are available to answer questions you may have regarding a recent injury or...

I have been practicing law since 1992 when I began as a Assistant State Attorney in the Tampabay area, In 1996 I entered private practice in an effort to share my experience with clients seeking legal help. My background includes 10 years of law enforcement experience as a patrolmen, K-9 officer and organized crime detective. I was trained by the DEA in narcotics investigations and worked on local and Federal task force. My experience includes investigating fatal traffic crashes, K-9 handler, covert investigations, state prosecution and extensive criminal defense including traffic and serious felony trials. I have represented injured families...

Born and raised in Tampa, Drew attended Tampa Preparatory High School and then graduated from New College of Florida, The State’s Honors College, in Sarasota. During Law School at the University of Florida, Drew interned as a student law clerk for both State and Federal Judges in Tampa and worked as a certified legal intern at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

At the State, Drew was able to conduct voir dire (jury selection) and prosecute criminal jury trials before he graduated from law school. It was during this later experience that he came to understand the invaluable...

Attorney Jackson Hilliard has lived in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area for the past ten years. Mr. Hilliard received his Bachelor’s degree in 1988 from the University of Central Florida. He earned his law degree in 2006 from Stetson College of Law. He is a member of multiple associations, including the Florida Bar, Clearwater Bar, St. Petersburg Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer. Mr. Hilliard is the leading attorney at his Clearwater law firm, Hilliard Law, P.L. At the firm, he provides Florida residents with criminal and DUI...

Jeff Thomas is a Tampa criminal defense lawyer at Thomas & Paulk, P.A. He is a Florida native and graduate of Stetson College of Law. Throughout his career, he has handled more than 3,500 criminal cases. He is experienced with non-jury cases, jury trials, and traffic cases.

I have been dedicated to the practice of Criminal Law for over 30 years, with more than 100 jury trials to my credit. I have extensive experience in representing individuals charged or under investigation for State and Federal criminal charges as well as appeals. I am also admitted to practice in the State of Massachusetts in both the State and Federal Courts as well as the 11th and 1st Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. I am a Certified Circuit Court and Federal Court Mediator. My practice areas include the Middle District...

I am a native of central Georgia until I moved to Florida in 2011. While in Georgia, I attended Georgia Institute of Technology for Aerospace Engineering and obtained my degree in Business Administration and Business Economics from Georgia State University. After graduating from Georgia State in 2010, I moved to central Florida to attend Barry University School of Law, starting August 2011. In summer of 2012, I began an internship for a criminal defense attorney in Orlando, focusing on white collar defense. By late 2012, I was gaining experience family law matters and made the decision to shift...

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney, Ben Stechschulte, is a board-certified expert in criminal trial law. He has been practicing in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 15 years and has tried over 60 cases to verdict.  His experience is both varied and comprehensive, which makes him uniquely qualified to aggressively and effectively defend his clients who are facing criminal charges or have been injured in an accident. Ben attended Stetson University College of Law, which is recognized as one of the top law schools in the country for trial advocacy.  After graduating in 2005, Ben served as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County.  Ben...

Brian Mallonee is a take-charge advocate and a well-disciplined, board certified criminal defense trial lawyer. He has defended thousands of cases and has extensive experience in all phases of the criminal justice system. This includes pre- and post-arrest investigations, negotiating charging decisions with the prosecutor's office, creative motion practice, plea bargaining, bench trials, jury trials, appeals, and post-conviction matters. Mr. Mallonee is licensed to practice in all Florida state courts and the Southern District of Florida's Federal courts.

Thomas M. Prestia began his legal career serving as a prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Mr. Prestia gained the knowledge and experience necessary to manage and litigate cases from the government’s perspective. This knowledge and experience has been critical in defending individuals facing criminal charges, as well as in his general trial practice. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Prestia further developed his trial practice by working at a leading medical malpractice firm. There he gained valuable insight into the operation of medical practices, experience in evaluating and litigating serious...

As a Martin County native, Attorney Kathryn Roegiers attended Martin County High School before enrolling in the University of Florida. She then went on to pursue her legal education by enrolling in Stetson University College of Law. After graduating, Ms. Roegiers worked with the 19th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s office, obtaining valuable experience working on juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases. Ms. Roegiers briefly worked at a private law firm on the Treasure Coast before opening her own practice. Now, she is able to provide the criminally accused a haven for defense at Roegiers Law. Ms. Roegiers has been given a...

Ms. Stover is an attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in a wide variety of legal matters including family law (divorce, custody, child support), criminal and traffic (DUI/DWI, theft, Post-Conviction Petitions), personal injury (auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls), and immigration (naturalization, adjustment of status, and asylum).

After graduating law school, Ms. Stover clerked for the Honorable Marielsa A. Bernard of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD. Throughout her clerkship, Ms. Stover not only gained knowledge of the law and the inner workings of the courthouse, but she also gained extensive insight into a wide variety of family law...

Attorney Jay M. Arnesen is a fierce fighter for those who find themselves in desperate situations. If you have been arrested for DUI or a crime in Fort Lauderdale, you need an experienced lawyer who is educated, prepared, experienced and willing to go the extra mile for you. After being arrested, the stakes couldn’t be higher as your freedom, reputation, job and permanent criminal record are on the line. If you have been arrested for a DUI, you need a criminal defense lawyer who will stand up to the Assistant State’s Attorney and level the playing field. You need a...

Drew McLaughlin is a dedicated attorney who represents those facing criminal charges and others seeking help through personal injury claims in South Florida. McLaughlin serves clients throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties as an attorney with McLaughlin Morris, P.A., the firm he co-founded in 2014. McLaughlin attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelors of arts in both history and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. He then turned his focus to law school at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, where he earned his start in the legal field as a Certified Legal...

Jeffrey Morris is an experienced defense attorney and co-founder of McLaughlin Morris, P.A. who serves those facing criminal charges and personal injury matters in Delray Beach, Florida and the surrounding areas. He has a passion for providing each customer with personal care to meets his or her individual needs. With more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor and an attorney, he is able to apply his knowledge of Florida's courtrooms to the challenging situations that his clients face. This dedication to every matter can be seen in his work ethic and educational background. After studying...

Shayna K. Cavanaugh is dedicated to the practice of issues involving families, including divorce, guardianship, children’s issues, child support and alimony, and domestic violence. Recognizing that every case is unique, we focus on the individual client and provide the personalized attention that each client deserves. We strive to listen to each client’s needs, to educate them regarding their options, and to advocate for their goals and desired outcomes.

Edward Kone has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lafayette College, 1984, and a J.D. Degree from University of Miami Law School, 1987. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in November of 1987. He has conducted numerous Jury Trials and is in Court in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties on almost a daily basis. In over twenty-five years of practice, he has handled over a thousand criminal cases, over 500 personal injury cases, and close to 10,000 traffic tickets.

As a preeminent West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer at Perlet & Shiner, P.A., Marc Shiner has a reputation as a top-notch, tough, respected attorney with 28 years of experience and hundreds of trials, many of them high-profile which received national media attention. Over the course of his career, Mr. Shiner has achieved notable success. As a former major crimes prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office, he has had 250 jury and non-jury trials, including many high-profile sex crimes and murder cases. Mr. Shiner handles all criminal cases, including all white collar crimes, drug offenses, conspiracy, murder, DUI manslaughter, fraud, robbery,...

Melissa Sherman earned her Juris Doctor from the Barry University School of Law in Orlando, where she graduated magna cum laude, and when she’s not defending clients, she’s volunteering in the Fort Myers community. She opened the Sherman Defense Law Firm in May 2021. Defense attorney Melissa Sherman has successfully represented misdemeanor and felony defendants in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and throughout central and south Florida. As an Assistant Public Defender, Melissa Sherman has represented defendants charged with crimes that include robbery, arson, aggravated battery, drug crimes, sex crimes, theft, burglary, and driving under the influence (DUI).

Michael Mirer is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer in Miami-Dade, Florida. His firm, the Law Office of Michael Mirer, P.A., handles all types of misdemeanor, felony, and federal charges. Michael earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and was licensed by the Florida State Bar in 1997. Michael served as a Miami-Dade County Assistant State Attorney before entering into private practice. His experience on both sides of the courtroom helps him build comprehensive defenses and seek the best possible results for each client. Michael has defended a number of high profile cases...

Mr. Shafran has dedicated his legal career to zealously advocating for victims and seeking justice for others. Mr. Shafran grew up in Parkland, Florida until he attended Florida State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. In 2012, he received his Juris Doctor in law at Nova Southeastern University College of Law.

Upon graduating law school, Mr. Shafran worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County, prosecuting those accused of committing crimes and representing victims of crimes. As a prosecutor, Mr. Shafran handled thousands of cases ranging from minor offenses like misdemeanors, all the way...

Luke Newman is an experienced Tallahassee criminal defense attorney who began his practice in 2004 as part of a small law firm handling only criminal matters, from civil traffic infractions to murder appeals. In 2009, Luke opened his own law practice dedicated to criminal trial advocacy and criminal appeals. He is one of fewer than 70 Florida attorneys board certified by the Florida Bar in criminal appeals. He has been appointed by the Florida Bar to chair the committee which tests and evaluates other attorneys (including prosecutors and judges) seeking criminal law board certification. He has been elected by his...

Robert Greene is an experienced Cape Coral personal injury lawyer with over 30 years of legal service in SW Florida.. He has been Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Lawyer for over 25 of those years. Only about 2% of the lawyers in Florida have this certification. His legal philosophy is simple: to provide personal service to each client from start to finish. He takes the time to understand their needs and to personally address their concerns. This even includes making sure you are treated by qualified doctors, so your insurance is not wasted on...

Susan Winston has been practicing law since October 2004 when she was admitted to the Florida Bar. She came to Florida from Virginia after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the College of William and Mary in 2001. Susan then went to the University of Miami School of Law and received her Juris Doctor in 2004. Susan began her legal career at the Office of the Public Defender for the 15th Judicial Circuit in 2004. In over six years at the Office of the Public Defender, Susan represented the indigent accused in...

Edward Tapanes, Founder & Managing Partner of Tapanes Law, P.A., specializes in state and federal cases in Florida and throughout the United States. He has tried numerous jury and bench trials and has successfully handled several criminal appeals. Many of his cases involve high profile international narcotic traffickers, public corruption, organized fraud, money laundering, felonies and misdemeanors. His civil litigation experience is in commercial litigation, international business transactions, fraud, contract disputes, personal injury, insurance claims, debt collection and real estate. He also performs residential and commercial real estate closings. Tapanes graduated from Florida International University in 1999 and received his...

Criminal Defense Attorney in South Florida.

Gary Cole is a Fort Lauderdale based criminal defense attorney providing legal representation that is specifically tailored to each client’s unique situation. Whether you're charged with a misdemeanor such as DUI, Petit Theft of Possession of Cannabis, or are charged with a Felony such as Drug Possession or Trafficking, Burglary or Robbery, Gary Cole will provide you with the experienced legal representation you need. Gary Cole has a unique perspective in criminal defense from his experience as a former prosecutor. In order to successfully represent someone charged with a crime, one must know what the available options are and have...

Joshua Padowitz is a skilled and dedicated criminal defense attorney at Kenneth Padowitz, P.A., a reputable criminal defense law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With a strong passion for justice, a reputation for his acute attention to detail and aggressive representation, and a commitment to protecting his clients’ rights, Joshua brings an impressive background and diverse experience to every case he handles. Joshua adds his skills, knowledge, and tenacious attitude to the firm’s collective 40+ years experience in legal practice. Joshua’s experience extends beyond his work with Kenneth Padowitz, P.A. He served as a Supreme Court Certified Legal Intern and...

David Sobel, Ft Lauderdale criminal attorney, was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved to South Florida with his family to attend high school. Mr. Sobel achieved great academic success, graduating with highest honors as the valedictorian of the American Heritage School, Boca/Delray. Following high school, Mr. Sobel attended the University of Miami, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in History. Mr. Sobel later attended Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he again graduated cum laude, earning his Juris Doctorate degree. During law school, Mr. Sobel was invited to join the prestigious Moot...

Attorney Nisha E. Bacchus, a founder of Bacchus Law Firm, received her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center. While attending Nova Southeastern University, Ms. Bacchus was an active member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and earned a scholarship through The Florida Bar for her pro bono work throughout the community. Ms. Bacchus ultimately graduated and received the prestigious Order of the Barrister's Award for her trial advocacy skills. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Bacchus graduated with Honors from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in...

Josh A. Howard, Esq. is a trial and appellate attorney, practicing in South Florida’s tri-county area (Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties). Mr. Howard’s practice focuses primarily on criminal defense work, representing adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanors, felonies, domestic-violence crimes, and both criminal-traffic and traffic-citation matters.
Mr. Howard attended the State of Florida’s first law school, and the Nation’s preeminent law school for trial lawyers – Stetson University College of Law, which is consistently ranks number one among law schools in the United States for trial advocacy, and number two for legal writing, by U.S. News & World Report....

As the principal partner at Ferrari & Associates, P.C., Washington D.C. attorney Erich C. Ferrari offers legal guidance in the areas of sanctions law, federal criminal defense and federal employment law. Attorney Ferrari has offered counsel in many matters before the Office of Foreign Assets Control. He is regularly called upon to speak on sanctions law concerns by media outlets and other organizations. Mr. Ferrari received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and his Juris Doctor from the St. Mary’s School of Law. Visit his firm’s website or call them today to arrange for a consultation.

Ronald Larry Baum earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the University of Maryland and earned his Law Degree from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale. After graduating from law school Ron L Baum was admitted to practice law in Florida, Maryland, Washington D.C., and is a member of the Federal Bar. As a criminal attorney Ron has extensive trial experience and earned 5 consecutive Hat Trick Awards from the BACDL (each separate award represented 3 consecutive felony jury trials with the Defendant being found not guilty on all counts in each case). Legal Leaders chose Ronald Larry...

Lyle Long is a personal injury and criminal defense lawyer, and one of the founding partners of LJ Law Group.

Mr. Long graduated from Nova Southeastern University with his Juris Doctor and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2012. In 2015, Mr. Long became a partner of LJ Law Group in Pompano Beach, FL, with a focus on personal injury and criminal justice. Mr. Long focuses on aggressively fighting insurance companies, recovering millions for his injured clients. By placing the interests of his clients’ first, Mr. Long has contributed to the firm’s overall success.

Aggressive and Effective Legal Representation for Divorce, Child Custody and Federal and State Criminal Defense! Serving Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties "Since 1991 - When Experience Counts" "FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM" Payment Plans Available FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION At the Law Office of Edward J. Chandler, P.A., our clients come first. Every client is treated with courtesy and is guaranteed effective representation. Our experience and integrity have earned us a reputation as one of Florida's premier legal firms. Attorney Chandler knows the system. He knows how to win jury trials. He prides himself on getting a just result for his clients. He believes you...