Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in Austin, Texas

Michael & Associates is a criminal defense law firm in Austin, TX, led by attorney Ben Michael. The firm defends clients across Travis County against DWI, drug, assault, theft, and weapons charges.

Ben Michael holds a Top 10 Texas Defense Attorney ranking and a 10/10 Avvo rating. He has been named a Top 10 DUI/DWI attorney by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys. His team brings senior trial lawyers to every case, with no work pushed to junior associates.

The firm reports a 98% client satisfaction rate and a 5.0 Google rating. Clients get direct access to their senior attorney, proactive case updates, and a dedicated case concierge. Michael & Associates also handles cases in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and other Texas markets.

The Hull Firm handles criminal defense and DWI cases for clients across Travis County and Central Texas. Since 2021, the firm reports more than 960 dismissed cases, covering DWI, drug charges, assault, theft, juvenile, and white-collar matters.

The team takes calls 24/7 and is available for jail release on short notice. The firm also publishes a detailed DWI resource library covering BAC challenges, first-time offenses, and Texas DWI law, giving clients a clear picture of what they face before deciding on representation in Austin.

Attorney Kevin Bennett runs a solo criminal defense practice in downtown Austin and Travis County. His work covers felonies, misdemeanors, DWI, family violence, sex crimes, drug charges, and serious traffic offenses.

Bennett also helps clients with expunctions, record sealing, and out-of-county arrests. He is one of the few criminal defense lawyers in Austin who keeps an attorney on call 24/7 for jail release.

Stephen Bowling leads a DWI and criminal defense team made up of former police officers turned defense lawyers. That background gives the firm a working knowledge of field sobriety procedures, BAC testing, and traffic-stop protocols.

The team is based in Austin and also serves clients out of San Antonio. They handle first, second, and third DWI offenses, drugged driving, underage DWI, and DWI accidents. An attorney is reachable around the clock for new arrests in Travis or Bexar County.

David White has practiced criminal defense for 22 years and serves clients across 10 Central Texas counties from offices in Austin and Georgetown. His firm handles DWI, drug crimes, assault, sex offenses, white-collar charges, federal cases, and intoxication manslaughter.

Attorneys Kenneth Hines and Taylor Kacir round out the team, which has earned 250+ five-star reviews on Google and Avvo.

Partners Duke Hildreth and Florencia Rueda have logged more than 20 years of combined criminal defense experience in Texas. Hildreth brings a former prosecutor's perspective to the firm, which serves clients in Travis and Williamson counties.

Their caseload includes DWI, drug charges, assault, family violence, theft, and serious felonies such as aggravated assault and burglary. The firm also defends college students, handles expunctions, and welcomes Spanish-speaking clients.

Founded in 2014, Blackburn Betts PLLC is the Austin practice of partners Benjamin Blackburn and Daniel W. Betts. Together they bring more than three decades of combined experience to DUI, drug, assault, theft, gun, and white-collar cases.

The firm does not charge a separate trial fee, which keeps its lawyers motivated through trial. They are available 24/7 for Travis County jail release and offer a money-back guarantee if the release doesn't happen.

Jorge Vela built his Austin practice on seven years of work as a former federal and state prosecutor. The office defends Travis County clients facing DWI, drug possession, domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, and violent felonies.

The firm also handles federal cases — including criminal conspiracy, federal drug charges, illegal reentry, and alien smuggling — and offers immigration-related representation such as removal defense, U-visas, and immigration bond. Vela's team is bilingual and on call after hours.

Jackson F. Gorski defends people charged with criminal offenses in Travis County and the surrounding Central Texas region. His practice covers DWI, sex offenses, domestic violence, drug charges, felonies, theft, hit-and-run, and white-collar matters.

Gorski has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. His office takes calls around the clock and offers a no-cost case review for new clients.

Diana Buss defends misdemeanor and felony charges throughout Travis, Hays, Williamson, Caldwell, and Bastrop counties. Her caseload spans assault, DWI, drug charges, theft, and property crimes.

The office also handles expunctions and non-disclosures for clients who want to clean up their Texas records. Buss runs her practice from southwest Austin and is reachable through a memorable toll-free number.

David Frank has defended criminal cases in Austin since 1993 and is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a past president of the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and serves on the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Strike Force Committee.

In 2014, Frank successfully challenged the Texas Mandatory DWI Blood Draw Statute, with appellate courts ruling it violated the Fourth Amendment. His firm focuses on DWI defense and serious criminal trial work. Payment plans are available.

With 20+ years in criminal law and a Super Lawyers selection, Chris Perri runs an Austin firm that takes on state and federal charges. The caseload includes DWI, drug crimes, family violence, sex crimes, cyber crimes, theft, firearms offenses, and homicide.

Perri also accepts appeals, writs, expungements, and non-disclosure orders.

Robert Keates brings 16+ years of criminal defense experience and limits his practice exclusively to Travis County. That local focus gives him deep familiarity with the Austin courts and prosecutors.

Keates handles DWI, weapons, theft, drug possession, assault, and other misdemeanor and felony cases. Every case goes through him personally — no associates or junior lawyers — and the firm uses transparent flat fees with payment plans.

Jessica Bernstein represents people charged with criminal offenses in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. A University of Texas Law graduate, she has presented to statewide audiences on DWI and helps train new attorneys at the Travis County Public Defender's Office.

Her practice covers everything from traffic tickets to felonies. Bernstein never charges an additional trial fee and works with clients on payment plans. Jail release services are available after hours.

Based in Round Rock and serving the greater Austin area, Sablatura & Williams has 30+ years of combined trial experience across criminal defense, family law, and personal injury. Partner Russ Sablatura is a 20+ year Texas trial lawyer who has defended high-profile cases.

Recognitions include Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and a 2024 Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating.

Zachary Bidner handles state and federal criminal cases throughout Central Texas, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Caldwell counties. His trial work covers DWI, domestic violence, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and drug offenses.

Bidner personally manages every case rather than passing it to an associate.

Licensed in Texas since 1995, Sandra C. Ritz runs a downtown Austin firm focused on misdemeanor and felony cases in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. Her practice covers DWI/DUI, BWI, assault, family violence, drug possession, theft, illegal firearms, and probation revocations.

Ritz speaks Spanish, has been selected to Super Lawyers from 2022 through 2025, and is on call after hours for jail releases.

Jeremy Sylestine spent more than 15 years as a Travis County felony prosecutor before opening his own defense practice. He has handled thousands of cases involving murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and child abuse, and now uses that insight to defend the accused.

Dan Wannamaker is board-certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, with 34+ years of trial experience. His boutique firm handles federal fraud, narcotics, money laundering, racketeering, DWI, and assault cases.