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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Buffalo, NY

Our Recommended Best Buffalo Criminal Defense Lawyers

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Buffalo criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

199Reviewed

121Curated

4Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Buffalo
2100 Main Place Tower, 350 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Personius Melber LLP offers criminal defense to accused individuals in Buffalo, New York. It defends the rights of those facing general criminal charges and white-collar crimes, including terrorism, corruption, money laundering, civil rights violations, and tax and securities fraud. The firm also takes on cases related to extortion, antitrust violations, and human trafficking. It has adopted a client-focused approach, maintaining regular communication with its clients and returning telephone calls and email messages promptly, keeping them informed and confident in the progress of their cases.

Partner attorney Rodney Personius is a criminal defense lawyer with over 40 years of experience. In 2014, he was honored with the WDNY U.S. District Judges' Criminal Justice Act Award for representing indigent defendants. In 2024, he received the NYS Bar Association's Charles F. Crimi Memorial Award for upholding the highest ideals of the Criminal Justice Section.

  • DWI/DUI

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Buffalo
42 Delaware Ave. Suite 770, Buffalo, NY 14202

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (24)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Louis C. Mussari Attorney at Law provides criminal defense solutions to locals of Buffalo and the surrounding communities in New York. The law firm protects the rights of individuals accused of crimes, such as narcotics possession and sales, financial crimes, and fraud. It has a track record of successfully litigating in jury trials involving gun possession, murder, and burglary. The legal practice is led by a lawyer who served as a prosecutor in the Erie County District Attorney’s Office for almost a decade.

Louis C. Mussari handles criminal cases at the boutique legal firm he established. He is an adjunct professor of criminal law at the University of Buffalo and handles classes that cover legal research and the limitations of the criminal justice system. Mussari is a registered member of the New York State Defenders Association.

  • Juvenile Crimes
  • DWI/DUI
  • Drug Crimes

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Buffalo
438 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (33)
Avvo
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

For more than 20 years, the Law Office of Nelson Torre has been protecting the rights of individuals accused of a crime in New York through its criminal defense services. It handles various cases in Buffalo and the surrounding areas, including DWI violations and drug-related offenses. The law firm also represents its clients in juvenile delinquency matters. In addition, it represents the interests of people facing the threat of asset forfeiture and those being investigated for engaging in cross-border illegal activities.

Nelson Torre is a former prosecutor in New York City who spent more than four years in a trial bureau. He is a member of the New York State Defenders Association and the American Association for Justice. The legal practitioner speaks Spanish and German.

  • Federal Crime

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Buffalo
3099 William Street, Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (401)
Avvo
4.9 (62)
FindLaw
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Led by a dedicated defense attorney with more than 20 years of experience, The Law Office of Richard R. Shaw II provides legal representation to people who have been accused of a crime in Buffalo, New York. The legal practice offers criminal defense to those who have been charged in cases like insurance fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, identity theft, and insider trading. It also helps drivers who have been issued traffic tickets for violations like speeding, driving with a revoked or suspended license, and reckless driving.

Richard R. Shaw II is a member of the New York State Defenders Association. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with magna cum laude honors and obtained his Juris Doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law.

Compare Best Buffalo Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Personius Melber LLP
2100 Main Place Tower, 350 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Louis C. Mussari Attorney at Law
42 Delaware Ave. Suite 770, Buffalo, NY 14202
Law Office of Nelson Torre
438 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
The Law Office of Richard R. Shaw II
3099 William Street, Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Buffalo, NY Criminal Defense FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Buffalo, New York?

    The non-emergency contact number for the Buffalo Police Department is (716) 853-2222.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Buffalo, New York?

    After you reported an incident through the Buffalo Police Department's Community Online Reporting Service (https://crime.erie.gov/bpd/report), it will be reviewed for approval. You will receive an email with a report number and a copy of the final report after it has been approved. In most cases, the approval process takes up to five business days.

  • How should a police officer act during a traffic stop in Buffalo?

    Law enforcement personnel may change their response depending on the circumstances. But, in general, police officers will abide by the following procedures during a traffic stop in Buffalo:

    • Provide name upon request
    • Present proper identification if not wearing a uniform
    • Inform the reason for being stopped
    • Employ force only if needed to secure an arrest and maintain the person's custody
    • Will not search the body of a person of the opposite sex unless it is necessary to avoid harming someone or destroying evidence
  • What is the expungement process in Buffalo?

    In Buffalo, some situations—including certain marijuana-related misdemeanors, trespassing, traffic infarctions, juvenile offenses, and dismissed cases—are expunged automatically. Otherwise, these steps should be followed to have a conviction struck from your record:

    • Send an application to the judge or the court that handed down the conviction, along with a notarized statement of the reasons for expungement, disposition certificate, and supporting documentation.
    • Submit the application and supporting paperwork to the district attorney's office, which has 45 days to notify the court of any objections.
    • Wait for the judge's approval or dismissal of the request.
  • What questions should you ask when hiring a criminal defense attorney in Buffalo?

    When facing criminal charges in Buffalo, it is crucial to consult with a criminal defense attorney who can support your case. Some of the questions you can ask are:

    • How long have you been practicing law?
    • Do you specialize in criminal defense cases?
    • Do you have any prior experience with cases comparable to mine?
    • What strategies do you recommend for defending my case?
    • How much does your service cost? Is there any way to reduce the fees?
    • Do you have references from your previous clients?
  • Is it illegal to drink and drive on a lawnmower in Buffalo?

    Yes, it is considered a non-automobile DWI in Buffalo. According to state law, a device equipped with a motor is considered a motor vehicle. Other motorized vehicles include ATVs, motorcycles, golf carts, scooters, mini-bikes, and snowmobiles. Additionally, drinking while driving a motorized watercraft, such as a jet ski or a boat, is classified as boating while intoxicated or BWI. A criminal defense lawyer can help in defending DWI cases.

  • What is an opiate treatment court in Buffalo?

    An opiate treatment court (OTC) in Buffalo is mainly a pre-plea court. It is a 90-day program primarily intended to stabilize opiate users through medically assisted treatment and daily reporting to court. Other requirements include an 8 PM curfew, daily curfew calls, random wellness checks and drug tests, and honesty. The criminal case will be put on hold while the offender is getting the treatment. Most criminal cases are resolved with an OTC disposition and a compliance period.