Top Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys

Criminal defense lawyers in Houston spend much of their time on DWI and drug charges. The rest of the work runs across assault, family violence, theft, weapons cases, sex offenses, and federal indictments. Once a case opens, the attorney reviews the police report, questions how evidence was gathered, and negotiates with the prosecutor. The aim is a dismissal, a reduced charge, or an acquittal that keeps a conviction off a record. Most firms will look at a case for free before anyone signs anything.

To compile this list, we review Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers based on public information, client feedback, and professional standing.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Consistency of public reviews across multiple platforms

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Leading Houston Criminal Lawyers for State & Federal Charges

Screenshot of the John T. Floyd Law Firm Website
3730 Kirby Dr # 750, Houston, TX 77098, USA

John T. Floyd Law Firm is a Houston criminal defense practice handling serious state and federal charges. Floyd is board-certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by roughly 1% of Texas attorneys. He has spent more than 30 years in the courtroom and appears regularly as a media commentator on criminal cases.

The team defends federal fraud, health care fraud, money laundering, drug crimes, and firearms charges. On the state side, they take assault, homicide, sex crimes, and criminal appeals across Harris County.

Attorneys Christopher M. Choate and Mia Floyd round out the firm. Published case results include jury acquittals, grand jury no-bills, and pretrial dismissals. The River Oaks office books confidential consultations.

Screenshot of the Fred Dahr PLLC Website
405 Main St #900, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Fred Dahr is a Houston criminal lawyer with over 20 years of practice and a record of dismissals and not-guilty verdicts. His downtown office sits three blocks from the courthouse, and he focuses almost entirely on Harris County cases.

Dahr defends aggravated robbery, drug possession, weapons charges, fraud, DWI, and murder. He also files expunctions, non-disclosures, direct appeals, and habeas corpus applications for people trying to clear a record.

Much of his caseload involves professionals and students worried about what a criminal charge does to their careers or to a licensing board review. He does not advise a client who says they are innocent to plead guilty. Consultations can be arranged by phone.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of David A. Breston, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorney Website

The Law Office of David A. Breston has defended clients throughout Harris County since 1997. Breston brings more than 20 years of trial experience and has represented over 4,000 people.

The firm takes assault, domestic violence, sex crimes, DWI, drug offenses, juvenile cases, and immigration matters. Record sealing and expungement are also part of the practice.

The office responds within 24 hours and works in both English and Spanish. Outside the city, Breston serves Conroe, Cypress, Pearland, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Galveston, and League City. Free consultations are available downtown.

Screenshot of the Sullo & Sullo, LLP Website

Founded in 2000 by brothers Andrew and Greg Sullo, Sullo & Sullo has represented more than 300,000 clients across Harris County. Twelve attorneys and a 25-member staff cover DWI, theft, assault, and drug possession cases.

The firm also handles traffic tickets, immigration, and personal injury claims. Payment plans keep costs manageable, and free consultations can be scheduled online.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Nathaniel Pitoniak Website

Nathaniel Pitoniak is a Houston criminal defense attorney and former Chief Prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. That background shapes how he reads a file and anticipates what the state will do next.

His practice is devoted entirely to criminal charges, including sex crimes, family violence, felonies, and white-collar offenses. He frequently represents non-citizens facing immigration consequences. Free consultations are available.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Brett A Podolsky Website
917 Franklin St UNIT 510, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Brett A. Podolsky has practiced in Houston for over 25 years. He worked as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney before moving to the defense side.

His jury trial record covers capital murder, robbery, DWI, drug possession, assault, and theft. The Franklin Street office also takes sex crime cases, federal charges, and expungements. Consultations are free.

Screenshot of the James Alston Law - Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Website

James Alston Law concentrates on federal criminal defense in Houston, work many attorneys avoid. Alston spent 12 years as a prosecutor, including four as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas.

He is board certified in criminal law and has handled more than 400 federal matters. Cases range from drug trafficking and health care fraud to white-collar crime. Alston works each file himself rather than passing it to an associate.

Screenshot of the Criminal Defense Attorney Neal Davis Website
1545 Heights Blvd #700, Houston, TX 77008, USA

Neal Davis Law Firm defends serious felony cases across Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties. Davis has 25 years of practice, has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, and served as president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association in 2019.

The firm handles sex offenses, computer crimes, DWI, fraud, and homicide, along with appeals and Title IX campus matters.

Screenshot of the Scheiner Law Group P.C. Website
2211 Norfolk St #735, Houston, TX 77098, USA

Grant Scheiner has practiced Texas criminal law since 1992 and opened his own firm in 1995. He is board certified in criminal law and a past president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

DWI work is a specialty. Scheiner is a certified instructor in standardized field sobriety testing and has training in forensic chromatography, which helps him identify errors in police and lab procedures. The firm also defends sex crimes, drug charges, and federal white-collar cases.

Screenshot of the Chernoff Law Website
917 Franklin St suite 300, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Ed Chernoff has worked inside the Houston criminal justice system for over 35 years, first as a Harris County prosecutor and since 1991 on the defense side. He is board-certified in criminal law and has taken more than 150 cases to trial.

Chernoff Law handles assault, DWI, theft, drug possession, sexual assault, violent crimes, and federal charges. The office answers calls day and night.

Screenshot of the Adamo & Adamo Law Firm Website
3200 Travis St 4th floor, Houston, TX 77006, USA

A family firm since 1975, Adamo & Adamo pairs Sam Adamo Sr. and Sam Adamo Jr., both board certified criminal law specialists with about 60 years of combined experience. Sam Sr. built the white-collar special crimes division at the Harris County DA's office before going into private practice.

The firm reports a dismissal or not-guilty rate above 40% and keeps offices in Houston and Austin.

Screenshot of the Blass Law PLLC Website
917 Franklin St 400, Floor 4, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Jay Blass Cohen founded Blass Law in 2009 and has never worked as a prosecutor. He is an ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist trained in the chemistry behind blood and breath testing, which matters when a DWI case turns on lab evidence. The firm serves Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Galveston counties.

Screenshot of the Lisa Shapiro Strauss Attorney at Law Website

Lisa Shapiro Strauss prosecuted cases in Dallas County, including six months as chief prosecutor in a family violence court, before opening her Bellaire firm in 1999. She defends theft, assault, drug, and DWI charges and files expunctions and non-disclosures for clients cleaning up a record.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Brian S. Laviage Website

Brian S. Laviage is a board certified criminal defense attorney serving Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Galveston counties. He handles juvenile offenses, record expunctions, public intoxication and DWI charges, and Medicaid fraud. Consultations are free.

Screenshot of the The Haggard Law Firm Website
1217 Prairie St UNIT 201, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Carl D. Haggard spent a decade at the Harris County DA's office, rising to chief prosecutor in both misdemeanor and district courts. His downtown firm has defended felony, misdemeanor, and federal charges for over 30 years. Free case evaluations.

Screenshot of the Looney, Smith, Conrad & Hefti, P.C. Website
11767 Katy Fwy Suite #740, Houston, TX 77079, USA

Looney, Smith, Conrad & Hefti keeps offices in Houston and Hempstead. Paul Looney has tried 60 criminal jury trials since 1995 with zero final convictions. The firm also covers appeals, family law, business law, professional licenses, and personal injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Houston?

Usually a flat fee. Most Houston criminal attorneys quote a flat fee for the case rather than billing hourly. Ask whether that fee includes a jury trial, because many firms charge extra once a case is set for trial.

How long does a criminal case take in Harris County?

Months, not weeks. Felony settings at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center usually fall every three to eight weeks. Misdemeanors often resolve faster. A case set for trial can run a year or longer.

What is the statute of limitations on criminal charges in Texas?

Two years for most misdemeanors. Standard felonies carry three years under Article 12.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Many serious felonies run five, seven, or ten years, and murder and some sex offenses have no limit at all.

What happens right after an arrest in Houston?

A magistrate sets bond. People arrested in Harris County are booked at the Joint Processing Center and usually see a magistrate within 48 hours. Bond conditions may include drug testing or an interlock device. Breaking one can land you back in jail.

Do I need my own lawyer if a public defender is available?

It depends on the caseload. The Harris County Public Defender's Office handles serious work, but appointed caseloads are heavy. A retained attorney can usually give a case more time and start the investigation sooner.

Is there a deadline after a DWI arrest in Texas?

Fifteen days. That is the window to request an ALR hearing and contest a license suspension after a DWI arrest. Miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, separate from the criminal charge itself.

Can a Houston criminal record be cleared?

Sometimes, yes. Dismissed cases and acquittals may qualify for expunction, which destroys the records. Completed deferred adjudication often qualifies for an order of nondisclosure instead, which seals the case from most employers.

Types of Criminal Cases Houston Lawyers Handle

DWI and intoxication offenses. These fill a large share of Harris County dockets, from first-time stops on the 610 Loop to intoxication assault cases. Defense often turns on the stop itself, field sobriety testing, or the chemistry behind a blood draw.

Drug charges. Possession, delivery, and trafficking cases run through both state courts and the federal courthouse downtown. Illegal search and seizure is the most common pressure point, since bad traffic stops get evidence suppressed.

Assault and family violence. Texas treats assault and battery as one offense, and a family violence finding follows a person for life. The complaining witness cannot drop a case, because the State decides whether to prosecute.

Theft, fraud, and white-collar crime. Charges range from shoplifting in a Galleria store to embezzlement and mortgage fraud. Larger cases often move to federal court in the Southern District of Texas.

Sex offenses. Indecency, sexual assault, and online solicitation carry long prison ranges and registration requirements. These cases usually need an independent investigation, not just a review of the State's file.

Violent crime and homicide. Murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault are tried in Harris County district courts. Self-defense and identification issues drive many of these trials.

Juvenile cases. Children face a separate juvenile justice system with its own detention hearings and timelines. Early representation can keep a record from following a teenager into adulthood.

Federal charges. Drug conspiracy, health care fraud, and firearms cases are prosecuted in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. Federal sentencing guidelines make these very different from state cases.

How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston

Check for board certification. Only a small share of Texas lawyers are board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. It is a fast way to confirm real depth in the field.

Ask how many jury trials they have tried. Prosecutors treat a lawyer who tries cases differently from one who always pleads. Ask for a number, not a general answer.

Look for Harris County experience. Each court has its own settings, coordinators, and habits. A lawyer who works these courthouses weekly knows what a particular prosecutor will accept.

Weigh prosecutor background against pure defense background. Former prosecutors know how the State builds a file. Career defense lawyers often bring a different instinct. Neither is automatically better.

Get the fee agreement in writing. Confirm what the fee covers, what happens if the case goes to trial, and who pays for investigators or expert witnesses.

What Outcomes Are Realistic in a Houston Criminal Case

No lawyer can promise a result. What drives the outcome is the strength of the evidence, your criminal history, and the specific court your case lands in. Many cases end in dismissal, a reduction to a lesser offense, or pretrial diversion, which can later be expunged. Deferred adjudication avoids a conviction but carries real risk if probation is violated. A trial is sometimes the better option, especially when the State's proof is thin or the plea offer is unreasonable. A Houston attorney can review the file and give you a realistic range before you decide.

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