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Navigating the criminal justice system in New York City often begins with understanding the specific focus of a given lawyer or firm. This overview highlights 10 prominent criminal defense practices representing clients across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

The featured practices vary widely in size, geographic reach, courtroom background, and core areas of concentration. While some practitioners launched their defense careers following stints as government prosecutors or public defenders, others have built specialized niches in federal litigation, white-collar fraud investigations, DWI defense, or violent crimes.

Selection criteria for this guide include prior government or prosecution service, trial experience, and the scope of criminal matters regularly handled. Practice specializations range from state-level felonies and violent offenses to driving while intoxicated (DWI), narcotics and weapons violations, and complex federal financial crimes.

1. Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC

• Key Figures: Robert Tsigler (Founding Attorney)
• Headquarters: 299 Broadway, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10007 (Additional offices in Brooklyn, Queens, and Garden City)
• Phone: 718-841-0711
• Website: tsiglerlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, federal criminal defense, immigration and removal defense, family law
• Firm Size: Multi-attorney boutique firm
• Google Rating: 4.7⭐ (486 reviews)

Firm Overview:

The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler evolved from its founder’s foundation in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office into a comprehensive multi-attorney practice. Founder Robert Tsigler leads the firm and has earned distinction from the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (listed among the "Nation’s Top 1%") and the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys' 10 Attorney Round Table, alongside a 10.0 "Superb" rating on Avvo.

While Tsigler remains the central figure, client matters are managed in collaboration with a dedicated team of associate attorneys and paralegals from initial arraignment through trial. This team-oriented framework ensures continuous client support.

The firm handles state and federal cases, covering DWI, drug offenses, assault, weapons violations, and white-collar fraud. Additionally, its immigration and removal-defense practice provides crucial counsel for non-citizen clients facing collateral immigration consequences from criminal charges. Serving clients throughout the five boroughs and Long Island, the firm maintains multiple regional offices.

2. Greco Neyland, PC

• Key Figures: Jeffery Greco and Dustan O. Neyland (Founding Partners); Eli Crozier (Associate)
• Established: Over 50 years of combined attorney experience
• Headquarters: 1140 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1035, New York, NY 10036 (Additional office in White Plains; Long Island by appointment)
• Phone: (212) 951-1300
• Website: newyorkcriminallawyer.com
• Practice Areas: State and federal criminal defense, DWI defense, drug crimes, violent crimes, weapons offenses, sex crimes, white-collar/federal fraud, domestic violence
• Firm Size: Boutique partnership
• Google Rating: 4.8⭐ (114 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Greco Neyland, PC centers its practice on the insider insights of former prosecutors who understand how law enforcement agencies and prosecutors build investigations and charging strategies.

Founding partner Jeffery Greco is a NHTSA-certified Drug Recognition Expert and a perennial Super Lawyers honoree. Co-founder Dustan O. Neyland prosecuted a broad range of juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases and holds specialized training in forensic chromatography-a technical asset applied directly to disputed drug and substance analysis.

The firm offers 24/7 availability for urgent arrests or law enforcement inquiries. Operating out of Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, Greco Neyland represents individuals facing serious state and federal allegations across New York City and Westchester County.

3. The Vitaliano Law Firm

• Key Figures: Michael E. Vitaliano (Founder and Principal)
• Established: Over 10 years in practice
• Headquarters: 1492 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10301
• Phone: (718) 273-7800
• Website: vitalianolaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (homicide, narcotics trafficking, illegal firearms, burglary, robbery, DWI, sex offenses), white-collar and financial crimes, tax fraud, RICO
• Firm Size: Solo practitioner with support staff
• Google Rating: 4.8⭐ (51 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Led by former New York City prosecutor Michael E. Vitaliano, The Vitaliano Law Firm handles high-stakes criminal matters, drawing on Vitaliano’s early career handling homicides, narcotics trafficking ring prosecutions, illegal firearms cases, and financial crimes.

Vitaliano has been recognized by "America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys" and The National Trial Lawyers’ "Top 40 Under 40." His practice bridges traditional felony defense with complex economic litigation, including tax fraud and RICO matters.

Deeply rooted in Staten Island-where his family holds a long-standing civic and judicial history-the firm serves clients throughout the local community and the wider New York metropolitan area.

4. The Law Office of Tracy & Tracy, PLLC

• Key Figures: Brendan Tracy and Victoria Tracy (Co-Founders)
• Headquarters: 646 Forest Ave, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10310
• Phone: (917) 831-7678
• Website: tracy-legal.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (DWI/DWAI, drug crimes, domestic violence, violent crimes), family law and ACS/child-welfare proceedings
• Firm Size: Small partnership
• Google Rating: 5.0⭐ (17 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Tracy & Tracy unites two distinct legal backgrounds to address overlapping legal needs in New York. Co-founder Brendan Tracy spent nearly ten years as a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney before serving as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Staten Island District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, managing sex crimes and homicide prosecutions.

Victoria Tracy brings extensive experience in child welfare and family law, having held a senior leadership role with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS).

This dual-expertise allows the firm to handle criminal defense matters that intersect with Family Court or child custody proceedings-situations frequently triggered by domestic or family-related criminal allegations. Based on Staten Island, the firm advocates for clients across all five boroughs and parts of New Jersey.

5. Law Office of Jonathan Savella

• Key Figures: Jonathan Savella (Founding Attorney)
• Established: 2015
• Headquarters: 100 Pearl Street, Suite 1801, New York, NY 10004
• Phone: (646) 801-2184
• Website: jonathansavella.com
• Practice Areas: Federal criminal defense, financial and white-collar crime, criminal appeals, federal fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, RICO, drug trafficking, gun crimes, health care fraud, cyber crimes, grand jury subpoenas, bail applications, extraditions
• Firm Size: Solo practitioner
• Google Rating: 5.0⭐ (5 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Jonathan Savella established his Lower Manhattan practice in 2015 following a federal judicial clerkship with U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in the District of New Jersey, building on years of prior experience with prominent New York City appellate counsel.

Savella’s practice is heavily focused on complex white-collar defense and federal litigation. His docket frequently encompasses securities fraud, money laundering, health care fraud, racketeering, narcotics conspiracies, and high-level financial crimes, alongside post-conviction appeals, grand jury inquiries, and international extradition matters.

Admitted to multiple federal jurisdictions-including the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals-Savella represents individuals and corporate clients locally and nationwide.

6. Konta Georges & Buza P.C.

• Key Figures: Adam B. Konta, Robert W. Georges, and John P. Buza (Partners)
• Headquarters: The Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway, Suite 900, New York, NY 10279
• Phone: (212) 710-5166
• Website: kontageorges.com
• Practice Areas: State and federal criminal defense (drug offenses, homicide, theft, weapons, DUI/DWI), civil rights litigation, personal injury
• Firm Size: Boutique partnership
• Google Rating: 4.9⭐ (74 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Konta Georges & Buza combines varied perspectives from across the legal spectrum. Partners John Buza and Robert Georges bring seasoned prosecutorial experience from New York City district attorney offices, while Adam Konta began his legal career as a public defender.

The firm emphasizes direct senior-partner involvement through every stage of hearings and trials. Their track record features significant jury acquittals in high-stakes cases involving murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, and weapons possession.

Operating out of the historic Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan, the firm manages state and federal criminal matters alongside civil rights and personal injury litigation for clients across all five boroughs.

7. The Ebanks Law Firm, PLLC

• Key Figures: Alberto Ebanks (Founder)
• Established: Admitted to the NY State Bar in 1994 (approx. three decades of experience)
• Headquarters: 20 Vesey Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10007
• Phone: (212) 766-4434
• Website: ebankslawfirm.com
• Practice Areas: State and federal criminal defense, DUI/DWI, white-collar crime
• Firm Size: Solo practitioner
• Google Rating: 4.9⭐ (98 reviews)

Firm Overview:

A Bronx native, Alberto Ebanks launched his legal career representing financial institutions before serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx. Transitioning to private practice, he built a reputation representing members of municipal and federal law enforcement unions, alongside high-profile clients in the sports and entertainment industries.

Ebanks's practice spans all New York state courts and all four federal districts within the state. Having litigated more than 100 trials, his casework ranges from desk appearance tickets to sprawling multi-count federal indictments.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the firm provides accessible, trial-tested counsel close to the city's central courts.

8. Bachner & Associates, P.C.

• Key Figures: Michael F. Bachner (Partner)
• Established: 1988
• Headquarters: 39 Broadway, Suite 1610, New York, NY 10006
• Phone: (917) 639-5370
• Website: bhlawfirm.com
• Practice Areas: White-collar crime (securities fraud, insider trading, tax evasion, public corruption, RICO), traditional criminal defense (drug offenses, homicide, weapons)
• Firm Size: Small partnership

Firm Overview:

Michael F. Bachner entered private practice in 1988 after serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Rackets Bureau, Deputy Bureau Chief in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, and in-house counsel for an NYSE-member brokerage firm.

This rare blend of prosecutorial and securities-regulation background defines the firm's elite white-collar practice. Bachner & Associates routinely handles complex investigations involving insider trading, tax fraud, public corruption, and enterprise corruption (RICO), alongside serious felony defense matters.

The firm’s accomplishments include securing non-prosecution decisions and acquittals in prominent federal and state fraud prosecutions. Headquartered in Manhattan’s Financial District, the firm also assists clients across New Jersey and Florida.

9. The Law Office of Jeffrey Chabrowe

• Key Figures: Jeffrey Chabrowe (Founder)
• Established: Left the Manhattan DA’s Office in 2005 (over 20 years of experience)
• Headquarters: 521 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1729, New York, NY 10175
• Phone: (212) 235-1510
• Website: chabrowe.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, white-collar crime, cybercrime, drug crime defense, DWI, federal crimes, civil rights and police-brutality claims, post-conviction appeals
• Firm Size: Solo practitioner
• Google Rating: 5.0⭐ (149 reviews)

Firm Overview:

Jeffrey Chabrowe spent seven years as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office before founding his private defense practice in 2005, accumulating over two decades of courtroom experience.

His practice handles traditional criminal defense, complex white-collar matters, cybercrimes, federal indictments, and post-conviction appellate work. Uniquely, the firm also handles civil rights and police brutality litigation, providing comprehensive advocacy against governmental overreach.

Chabrowe’s high-profile cases have been featured by major media outlets including The New York Times, New York Post, and New York Daily News. Based in Midtown Manhattan, the firm maintains 24/7 availability for clients facing sudden arrest or active investigation.

10. Moskowitz Colson Ginsberg & Schulman LLP

• Key Figures: Avraham C. Moskowitz, Deborah Colson, Peter R. Ginsberg, and Eylan Schulman (Partners)
• Established: Deborah Colson licensed in NY since 1996
• Headquarters: One Battery Park Plaza, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10004
• Phone: (212) 257-6452
• Website: mcgslaw.com
• Practice Areas: Federal white-collar criminal defense (securities fraud, money laundering, health-care fraud, insider trading), national-security and violent-crime matters, internal investigations, appellate litigation, business disputes
• Firm Size: Boutique partnership

Firm Overview:

Moskowitz Colson Ginsberg & Schulman LLP focuses heavily on sophisticated federal criminal defense, regulatory enforcement, and complex commercial litigation, steering clear of high-volume misdemeanor practice.

Partner Deborah Colson, a Harvard Law School graduate, served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of New York from 2001 to 2006 before entering private practice. Her trial record includes notable federal jury acquittals in major securities fraud and drug importation cases.

Combined with partners possessing extensive federal prosecutorial backgrounds, MCGS delivers a formidable blend of defense and government insights. The firm handles insider trading, white-collar fraud, national security cases, internal corporate investigations, and high-stakes business disputes, operating from Lower Manhattan near the federal courthouses.

How to Choose a Criminal Defense Firm in New York City

When comparing defense counsel across the five boroughs, keep these core factors in mind:

• Relevant Experience: Seek an attorney with a proven track record handling charges similar to yours-whether a local DWI, a felony narcotics charge, or a federal white-collar investigation.
• Courtroom Familiarity: Verify whether the lawyer regularly practices in the specific New York borough, state court, or federal district overseeing your case.
• Attorney Involvement: Clarify exactly which partner or associate will personally manage your strategy and stand beside you in court.
• Prosecutorial Background: While former prosecutors offer valuable strategic insights into how the government evaluates cases, it is only one metric among many.
• Communication Protocols: Confirm how frequently you will receive case updates and who your designated point of contact will be.
• Fee Structure: Understand whether the lawyer charges flat fees or hourly rates, what services are included, and what potential disbursements might arise.
• Initial Consultation: Use your initial meeting to candidly discuss your allegations, evaluate options, and gauge the attorney's preparedness.

New York City Criminal Defense Resources

• New York State Unified Court System: Official hub for court locators, public case histories, and procedural guides.
• New York City Criminal Court: Information on arraignments, summonses, and borough-specific criminal court operations.
• New York State Bar Association: General legal service directories and consumer guides.
• Legal Aid Society: Public defense resources for financially eligible individuals.
• District Attorney Offices (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond Counties): Local prosecution guidelines, victim services, and community program details.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I choose a criminal defense attorney in New York City?

Evaluate a lawyer based on their direct experience with your specific charges, familiarity with your designated courthouse, trial history, communication style, and transparent fee arrangements. Attorneys who frequently handle your exact type of case are often better equipped to navigate nuanced local procedures.

2. What types of criminal cases do NYC defense attorneys handle?

Defense attorneys handle everything from misdemeanors and desk appearance tickets to violent felonies, weapons possession, drug distribution, homicide, and sex crimes. Boutique federal firms also concentrate heavily on white-collar offenses such as financial fraud, money laundering, and securities violations.

3. Should I hire a former prosecutor as my defense attorney?

A former prosecutor often provides useful perspectives on internal charging decisions and government investigative tactics. However, this background is just one consideration; their active trial record, command of the relevant law, and familiarity with your specific court are equally critical.

4. How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in NYC?

Legal fees vary widely based on the complexity of the charges, the anticipated need for expert witnesses, and whether the case proceeds to trial. Attorneys may utilize flat-rate billing or hourly structures. Always request a written, transparent breakdown of fees before retaining counsel.

5. Can a criminal defense attorney help with federal charges?

Yes. Attorneys specializing in federal criminal defense are admitted to federal district courts and handle complex multi-agency investigations (such as FBI, IRS, or DEA probes) involving white-collar crime, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. Because federal rules differ significantly from state court procedures, specialized federal experience is essential.