By Ashley Robinson Facing a criminal charge in Broward County — whether a DUI, drug offense, domestic violence allegation, serious felony, or a federal matter in the Southern District of Florida — requires experienced legal representation from an attorney who knows the 17th Judicial Circuit inside and out. Pembroke Pines is one of Broward’s largest and most active cities, and the difference between a knowledgeable defense attorney and a generalist can determine whether a charge is dismissed or results in a conviction.
After thorough research into attorney credentials, client feedback, peer ratings, and professional recognition, here are five of the most highly regarded criminal defense attorneys serving Pembroke Pines:
1. Kenneth Padowitz — Kenneth Padowitz, P.A.
Kenneth Padowitz is a former Broward County Homicide Prosecutor who spent 16 years with the State Attorney’s Office — trying 35 First Degree Murder trials and developing one of the most decorated trial records in South Florida — before transitioning entirely to criminal defense. With over 400 jury trials to his name and 40 years of combined experience, he is among the most credentialed criminal trial attorneys serving Pembroke Pines and Broward County.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for 17 consecutive years, recognized by Super Lawyers for five years, included in Best Lawyers and U.S. News Best Law Firms, named to America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, and rated a perfect 10.0 on Avvo — a breadth of sustained peer and independent recognition unmatched by most Broward County practitioners.
- A 34-to-1 win/loss record in First Degree Murder trials across 40 years of practice, with over 400 total jury trials and 50-plus grand jury presentations — a documented courtroom history that represents genuine trial mastery, not just legal credentials on paper.
- Adjunct Law Professor at Nova Southeastern Law School for 17 years teaching Trial Advocacy and Scientific Evidence, and a frequent national lecturer on forensic and courtroom evidence — academic depth that directly strengthens his ability to challenge expert witnesses and technical prosecution evidence in Broward County courtrooms.
Address: 888 South Andrews Avenue, Suite 205, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (serving Pembroke Pines) | Phone: (954) 761-3888
2. Mark Eiglarsh — Law Offices of Mark Eiglarsh
Mark Eiglarsh is a former state prosecutor with over 30 years of criminal defense experience, a national media presence as a legal analyst, and a South Florida reputation built on high-profile results. Born and raised in Miami, he runs a boutique firm that accepts select cases specifically to ensure he personally devotes full time and energy to each client’s matter.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, selected to Florida Super Lawyers every year from 2006 through 2025, named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite — an honor given to fewer than 1% of Florida lawyers — and awarded a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating with 52 five-star verified reviews, with not a single review below five stars across his entire profile.
- Board Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Executive Board Member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers — leadership roles that place him at the forefront of criminal defense policy and best practices at both the state and national levels.
- Adjunct law professor and sought-after national legal commentator who brings a rare combination of academic rigor, prosecutorial experience, and media-hardened communication skills to client representation — particularly valuable in high-profile cases where public perception and courtroom strategy must work together.
Address: 3107 Stirling Road, Suite 207, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (serving Pembroke Pines) | Phone: (954) 466-1665
3. Adam Rossen — Rossen Law Firm
Adam Rossen is an award-winning Broward County criminal and DUI defense attorney whose firm has established one of the strongest client review profiles in the region. The Rossen Law Firm operates with a full team of defense attorneys — including Partner David Tarras, who has personally defended over 1,000 state and federal cases — and maintains a dedicated Pembroke Pines practice serving clients throughout the 17th Judicial Circuit.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, awarded a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, recognized among the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s top 1% of attorneys nationally, and named a Top 100 DUI Attorney — a combination of peer and client recognition that positions the firm at the top tier of Broward County criminal defense.
- More than 400 five-star reviews across the internet — one of the highest verified client satisfaction totals among Pembroke Pines area criminal defense firms — with reviewers consistently citing the team’s responsiveness, transparency, and ability to achieve case dismissals and charge reductions in DUI, domestic violence, drug, and felony matters.
- 24/7 availability for free consultations, with a multi-attorney team that includes former prosecutors whose inside knowledge of Broward County charging decisions makes the firm particularly effective at pre-filing intervention and early case resolution before charges are formally brought.
Address: 6400 N Andrews Ave 510, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 | Phone: Available via firm website
4. Joseph R. Fasone — Law Office of Joseph R. Fasone, Esq.
Joseph Fasone is a Pembroke Pines-based criminal defense attorney carrying an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell — one of the few locally-based practitioners in Pembroke Pines to hold this designation. His practice is committed and hands-on, focusing on white-collar crimes, probation violations, domestic violence, and juvenile defense for both adult and minor clients throughout Broward County.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- AV Preeminent rated — the highest peer-review designation issued by Martindale-Hubbell — reflecting the evaluations of fellow attorneys and judges who rank him at the highest level for both legal ability and ethical standards, a distinction that carries particular weight for clients seeking a locally grounded, Pembroke Pines-based defense attorney.
- Recognized by Expertise.com among the best criminal defense lawyers in Pembroke Pines following a 50-point independent evaluation, with a practice philosophy centered on aggressive advocacy regardless of the nature or perceived severity of charges his clients face.
- Handles the full range of criminal matters including felonies, misdemeanors, white-collar offenses, probation and parole violations, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency — ensuring that clients from Pembroke Pines do not need to travel to Fort Lauderdale or Miami for quality, credentialed criminal defense representation in Broward’s courts.
Address: 100 SE 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394, United States | Phone: Available via firm website
5. Rossen Law Firm — David Tarras, Partner
While Adam Rossen leads the firm, Partner David Tarras merits individual recognition for his federal criminal defense profile. Having spent his entire legal career exclusively in state and federal criminal defense, Tarras has personally handled over 1,000 cases across the Southern District of Florida — a volume of federal court exposure rarely matched by attorneys at regional Broward County firms.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- Exclusive career focus on state and federal criminal defense — no civil matters, no family law — translating into a depth of criminal procedure knowledge and courtroom familiarity that generalist attorneys simply cannot develop across divided practice areas.
- Extensive Southern District of Florida federal court experience covering drug trafficking, firearms charges, wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy matters — federal charges that carry mandatory minimum sentences and require an attorney with genuine federal practice history, not just state bar admission.
- Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion recognition backed by strong verified reviews on both Martindale and Google platforms, with clients consistently praising the firm’s thoroughness, communication, and outcomes across both misdemeanor and serious federal felony matters.
Address: 2750 SW 145th Ave, #112A, Miramar, FL 33027 | Phone: Available via firm website