Top 5 Criminal Defense Attorneys in Miami

Facing a criminal charge in Miami-Dade County — whether a state misdemeanor, a serious felony, or a federal indictment — is one of the most consequential situations a person can encounter. The stakes are high: your freedom, your career, and your reputation can all hang in the balance. Miami’s court system is one of the most active and competitive in the country, handling everything from street-level drug offenses to complex federal white-collar prosecutions in the Southern District of Florida.

Choosing an attorney who understands the local judiciary, has genuine courtroom experience, and carries the professional recognition of peers is critical. After thorough research into attorney credentials, client feedback, peer ratings, and professional standing, here are five of the most highly regarded criminal defense attorneys serving Miami:

1. David M. Edelstein — The Edelstein Firm

David M. Edelstein has spent more than 30 years in Miami criminal defense, beginning his career as an Assistant Public Defender with the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office before founding his own firm. The Edelstein Firm operates exclusively in criminal defense — both state and federal — with a team of attorneys who share the same background as former public defenders and prosecutors.

Why Clients Choose Him:

• AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell continuously since 2007, placing him among the highest-rated criminal defense attorneys in South Florida as evaluated by legal peers. He has been listed multiple times in Florida Trend Magazine, the South Florida Legal Guide, and Super Lawyers Magazine in the criminal defense category.
• Exclusive criminal defense focus across state and federal courts — from misdemeanors like disorderly conduct and domestic violence to serious felony charges including drug trafficking, fraud, and organized crime — representing clients throughout Florida from Jacksonville to Key West.
• Clients across Google and Birdeye reviews with 133 total reviews consistently describe his intervention as genuinely life-changing, praising his accessibility, honesty, and ability to minimize consequences in even complex criminal situations.

Address: 4770 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 1250, Miami, FL 33137 | Phone: (305) 538-4545

2. Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

Founded in 1998 by two former Miami-Dade and Broward County state prosecutors, Hager & Schwartz brings over 50 years of combined legal experience to criminal defense in Miami. Partners John S. Hager and Brett M. Schwartz both carry AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and have built a reputation as fierce, strategic courtroom advocates whose prosecutorial backgrounds give them an inside-out understanding of how cases are built — and how to dismantle them.

Why Clients Choose Them:

• Both founding partners are AV Preeminent rated, with Brett Schwartz additionally recognized among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and appointed for three consecutive years to The Florida Bar’s grievance committee for the 11th Judicial Circuit — a mark of exceptional professional standing among peers.
• Former state prosecutor experience on both sides of Miami-Dade and Broward County courts gives the firm a tactical advantage in understanding prosecutorial strategy, plea negotiation leverage, and the specific habits of local courtrooms and judges.
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate consultation — a critical feature in criminal defense where early attorney involvement can make the difference between charges being filed or dismissed, and where initial statements to law enforcement carry lasting consequences.

Address: 555 NE 15th Street, Penthouse A, Miami, FL 33132 | Phone: (305) 330-1360

3. Michael J. Rosen — Michael J. Rosen, P.A.

With nearly 50 years of practice, Michael J. Rosen is widely regarded as one of the foremost federal criminal defense trial attorneys in South Florida. A 1974 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Rosen began his career as an Assistant Federal Public Defender before spending decades in private practice handling some of the country’s most significant and high-profile federal cases. His firm operates exclusively in criminal law and intentionally maintains a small caseload to ensure undivided client attention.

Why Clients Choose Him:

• Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers — one of the most selective and prestigious peer-recognized designations in criminal defense nationally — alongside recognition from Martindale-Hubbell’s Highest Rated Lawyers for Skill and Ethics and membership in America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys.
• Specializes in federal criminal defense with deep expertise in white-collar matters including tax fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, RICO, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations — areas requiring both legal depth and sophisticated financial understanding that few attorneys possess.
• Has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law teaching Advanced Federal Criminal Procedure and RICO, demonstrating a mastery of federal procedure that directly benefits clients navigating the complex U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Address: 100 SE 2nd Street, Suite 3400, Miami Tower, Miami, FL 33131 | Phone: (786) 342-0795

4. Seltzer Mayberg, LLC

Led by managing partner David S. Seltzer — a former Miami-Dade State Attorney — Seltzer Mayberg is one of Miami’s fastest-growing criminal defense firms, recognized by Super Lawyers and serving clients across both state and federal courts throughout the United States. The firm has built particular expertise in cybercrime, white-collar offenses, and complex federal prosecutions, with a multi-attorney team that includes former prosecutors and public defenders.

Why Clients Choose Them:

• Two attorneys selected to the Super Lawyers list — a peer-influenced, research-driven distinction awarded to the top 5% of attorneys annually — confirming the firm’s standing among Miami’s elite criminal defense practitioners across multiple practice categories.
• Nationally recognized expertise in cybercrime and internet-related offenses, including unauthorized computer access, online solicitation, and child pornography possession cases — an increasingly critical specialty as federal cyber prosecutions in the Southern District have grown substantially in recent years.
• Birdeye and Google reviewers with 92 verified reviews consistently cite the firm’s responsiveness, genuine client care, and David Seltzer’s personal accessibility — rare qualities in high-demand criminal defense, where clients often feel isolated during investigation and prosecution.

Address: 10750 NW 6th Court, Miami, FL 33168 | Phone: 1-855-5000-LAW

5. Brett M. Schwartz — Hager & Schwartz / Independent Recognition

While Brett Schwartz operates as a founding partner at Hager & Schwartz, his individual professional record merits separate recognition. Schwartz’s career arc — from state prosecutor in Miami-Dade to one of South Florida’s most recognized DUI and criminal defense attorneys — mirrors the trajectory of Miami’s most trusted courtroom advocates, and his individual commendations reflect sustained excellence across a broad range of criminal matters.

Why Clients Choose Him:

• Recognized among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 in criminal defense — a peer-nominated distinction reflecting superior qualifications, trial results, and professional leadership among criminal defense attorneys in Florida.
• Three consecutive appointments to The Florida Bar’s grievance committee for the 11th Judicial Circuit, reviewing attorney conduct complaints — an assignment that reflects an exceptionally high level of trust placed in him by the Bar and the legal community.
• Handles cases across the full spectrum of criminal charges including DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes, sex offenses, federal crimes, and homicide, with a philosophy centered on meticulous case preparation and direct client communication at every stage.

Address: 555 NE 15th Street, Penthouse A, Miami, FL 33132 | Phone: (305) 330-1360