Being charged with a crime is a serious matter. The penalty may include jail or imprisonment, mandatory treatment, fines, and/or probation, as well as the potential loss of significant civil rights and privileges. You need experienced criminal litigation trial lawyers to represent your interests and provide counsel so that you make the best possible choices under the circumstances.

We defend people accused of crimes or misconduct in Federal and State courts. Our criminal defense practice covers all 50 states and we often consult in matters involving foreign governments.

While many attorneys choose not to get involved in a criminal case until the defendant has been formally charged with a crime, we aggressively pursue, where appropriate, efforts to ward off criminal charges. Our experience has proven that there is no substitute for early intervention.

In fact, we are often successful in avoiding the filing of formal charges, even though that is not necessarily in our best financial interests. We do what is best for the client, whose interests and concerns are of greater importance than our own. We do ask that you respect the financial arrangements we have made while we do the very best we can for you.

When charges are filed, we commit ourselves and the law firm’s resources to removing whatever obstacles are placed in our path. We pursue motions where appropriate and painstakingly sift and winnow through the discovery process. Pretrial preparation and strategizing “outside the box” are often the keys to a successful resolution. We do not win all our cases, nor do we claim to. What we do is try the hardest we can to produce the best possible result. If we do not get that, we go to trial. That is what we do. We are trial lawyers.

Should you be convicted of a crime and you appeal, we have the knowledge, ability, and experience to help you through this increasingly complex legal process.

This area of our practice involves allegations of fraud in banking, bankruptcy, computer, health care, insurance, mortgages, postal service, money laundering, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), RICO statutes, and other types of criminal matters in Federal and State courts at the trial or appellate levels.  We have successfully resolved clients’ matters in the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure program.  Moreover, we have extensive experience in the defense of regulatory matters and representation of clients (businesses and individuals) involved in grand jury investigations.

Commonly referred to as white collar crime, this area of the law has become a specialty for criminal defense attorneys. Indeed, navigating through the often confusing and complex maze of Federal and State laws and regulations surrounding business activities has become a primary focus for our firm.

Most people accused of these types of crimes are ordinary citizens who, for a variety of reasons, make ill-fated decisions. Frequently these decisions are construed by the government as self-help or financing solutions. We see these decisions as a result of negligent or sloppy business practices. In many cases, a plausible, compelling and valid defense can be formulated for these situations. If it is there, we will find it.

We also provide advice, counsel and legal services for matters involving public corruption, gaming, Native American law, and complex civil fraud-related matters.

We have represented athletes, entertainers, public officials, private citizens, “regular” folks, local as well as multinational corporations, businesses and officers of major financial institutions. Here are a few noteworthy cases.

State of Florida vs. Blank
Jury acquittal of all charges involving insurance fraud and grand theft.

State of Florida vs. Bricklod
Fraud conviction reversed based on improper admission of hearsay testimony.

State of Florida vs. Chandler
Watershed United States Supreme Court decision in which we opposed cameras in the courtroom over the defendant's objection.

State of Florida vs. Law
Charges against NFL football player Ty Law, accused of resisting arrest and disobeying a lawful command by a police officer, dropped after aggressive pre-trial presentation to the prosecutor.

State of Florida vs. Melchionno
Jury acquittal of all charges involving an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon requiring a 20-year minimum mandatory sentence if convicted.

State of Florida v. Sawh
Jury acquittal involving attorney accused of grand theft ($2 million from trust account).

State of Florida vs. Silva
Changed the method of selecting juries in Florida State Courts.

State of Florida v. Smith
Reversal of Circuit Court Order requiring our client to provide a DNA sample to the State seven years after his probation was terminated. This successful appeal preserved the individual privacy rights of all Florida citizens, called into question the legality of over 700 DNA samples illegally obtained by the State, and shut-down an entire division of a Miami-based Police Department.

State of Florida vs. Spence
Aggravated battery charge against one of the country’s most prominent personal injury attorneys, dismissed.

State of Florida vs. Taylor
Jury acquittal of a serious felony charge in which Anthony Taylor was accused of pulling a gun on his adoptive son, Miami Dolphins football player Jason Taylor.

United States vs. Ehrling
The conviction of the former president of a $1.3 billion publicly traded company, reversed on the grounds that no crime was committed. The indictment charged that General Development Corporation had engaged in massive fraud in connection with its sales, marketing, and financing practices. The trial lasted nine months.

United States vs. Fanfan
Convicted of federal tax-related crimes by plea, Dr. Joseph Fanfan avoided up to four years of prison and was sentenced to home confinement and five months in a halfway house, as a result of an innovative and aggressive approach to the ordinary sentencing process.

United States vs. Hastings
We organized and prepared the complex defense of, and for, a sitting Federal Judge who was indicted for, and acquitted of, bribery.

United States vs. Ocon
Dismissal of Federal indictment charging the possession of 400,000 pills of MDMA (Ecstasy) following our successful motion to suppress.

Reprinted from InsuranceQuotes.com
HERE'S THE SCOOP: BAT POOP LEADS TO LEGAL FIGHT
March 2012

Reprinted from the Associated Press and The Miami Herald
FORMER MIAMI BEACH LAWYER ACQUITTED OF GRAND THEFT
December 16, 2011

Reprinted from The Sun Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post
AUTOPSY: BAD REACTION TO LIDOCAINE KILLED WOMAN AFTER LIPOSUCTION
March 19, 2010

Reprinted from NBC 6 News
DOCTOR IN LIPO DEATH STILL PERFORMING SURGERIES
March 1, 2010

Reprinted from CBS 4 News
TEEN ACCUSED IN MOM MURDER PLOT PLEADS NO CONTEST
November 20, 2009

Reprinted from The Miami Herald
TEEN IN STABBING CASE NOW ON HOUSE ARREST
Published September 26, 2009

Reprinted from National Press Release
CORAL GABLES, FLA., ATTORNEY BRIAN H. BIEBER ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NATIONAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE BAR ASSN.
Published August 25, 2009

Reprinted from The Sun Sentinel
CABLE TV HOST SENTENCED TO PROBATION, HOUSE ARREST IN DRUG CASE
Published August 26, 2008

Reprinted from The Miami Herald
COURT ORDERS POLICE TO STOP PURSUING EX-FELONS FOR DNA
Published December 16, 2006

Reprinted from The Miami Herald
MORTGAGE FRAUD IS RAMPANT IN FLORIDA: FLORIDA TOPS THE NATION IN MORTGAGE FRAUD, PARTICULARLY WITH BORROWERS FUDGING INFORMATION ON THEIR LOAN APPLICATIONS
Published December 14, 2006

ATTORNEY JOEL HIRSCHHORN NAMED TO BEST LAWYERS OF AMERICA 2006 EDITION FOR 21st CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Published September 21, 2005

Reprinted from Stuart News
JUDGE WANTS DATE SET FOR NEXT LUYAO TRIAL
Published July 2, 2005

CORAL GABLES ATTORNEY JOEL HIRSCHHORN MODERATES CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM PANEL AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ON APRIL 8, 2005
Published April 10, 2005

Reprinted from New York Daily News
TY FIGHTS THE LAW AND LAW WINS
Published June 22, 2004

Reprinted from South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FATHER GAINS CUSTODY OF ACCUSED CHILD KILLER'S BABY
Published June 9, 2004

PROSECUTORS REMOVED IN ENVELOPE FLAP
Published May 20, 2003

Reprinted excerpts from The Miami Herald
DOLPHIN DAD NOT GUILTY IN ASSAULT ON SON
Published December 4, 2002

Reprinted from South Florida Sun-Sentinel
DOCTOR AVOIDS PRISON FOR NOT PAYING TAXES
Published July 18, 2002

Reprinted from Christian Science Monitor
TELEVISED TRIALS: TERROR COMPOUNDS DEBATE MOUSSAOUI AND COURT TV FAVOR CAMERA IN COURT. CRITICS SAY SUSPECT MAY GET FORUM TO PROMOTE TERROR.
Published on January 9, 2002

Reprinted excerpts from The Miami Herald
DRUG SUSPECT FREED WHEN JUDGE RULES SEARCH IMPROPER
Published on August 8, 2001

Reprinted excerpts from The Miami Herald
DEVELOPER CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED
Published on April 17, 1996

Reprinted excerpts from The Miami Herald
BATTERY CASE DROPPED AGAINST INJURY LAWYER
Published on August 10, 1995