Lawyers, also known as Criminal Defense Attorneys, are often behind-the-screens and nobody knows who they are. They love to hear themselves when they talk but are usually done in a half-empty courtroom or behind closed doors. Although they are not typically famous, some criminal defense lawyers represent celebrities and are often well-known.
Here is a run-down of the top Celebrity lawyers.
10. Leslie Abramson
Celebrity clients: Phil Spector and the Menendez Brothers
Leslie Abramson is a criminal defense attorney in the states who gained her popularity when she defended the Menendez brothers in a case. Her trademarks are outspoken client advocacy and unruly hair. In 1989, Eric and Lyle Menendez faced allegations for shooting their parents in their Beverly Hills home back. She attempted to gain sympathy for them during the trial by pointing out their father’s alleged physical and mental abuse.
9. Gloria Allred
Celebrity clients: The family of Nicole Brown Simpson, Paula Jones, Amber Frey (girlfriend of Scott Peterson)
Gloria Allred is one of the most popular female attorneys in the country today. She represents both celebrities and regular people such as Rob Lowe’s nanny who claimed he harassed her sexually. Allred has also served more than 28 women who accused Bill Cosby of physical harassment, physical assault and other forms of physical misconduct.
8. David Boies
Celebrity clients: Michael Moore, George Steinbrenner, Carly Simon
David Boies is a legendary attorney who had an upliftment in his career when he defended IBM in an antitrust allegation. He has several famous clients including Al Gore in Bush v. Gore and has worked with Ted Olson, his former opponent to battle California’s Proposition 8.
7. Alan Dershowitz
Celebrity clients: O.J. Simpson, Mike Tyson, socialite Claus Von Bulow and Patricia Hearst
Alan Dershowitz is a fantastic scholar of criminal law and constitutional law in the U.S and a top defender of civil liberties. Most of his career was spent at Harvard Law School, and he was nicknamed “Dersh” by some of his students. At the age of 28, he became the younger professor of law in the Ivy League School history.
6. Martin Garbus
Celebrity clients: Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Tom Brokaw, Sean Connery, Richard Gere
Martin Garbus also was known as The Guardian is one of the finest trial lawyers in the world. He is the founding partner of one of most prestigious law firms in the U.S. In 2007; Business Week named him “legendary,” this is, “a ferocious attorney who has received tons of media citations as a leading trial lawyer in the U.S,”
5. Mark Geragos
Celebrity clients: Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Chris Brown and Scott Peterson
Mark Geragos is a celebrity attorney and usually seen in the news. He was born in Los Angeles California and was hired but later fired by Michael Jackson to represent him in a molestation case. He also defended Winona Ryder when she was accused of shoplifting by Saks.
4. Allen Grubman
Celebrity clients: Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez
Allen Grubman is a lawyer who has represented several A-list artists and also major labels and their executives. If you need the services of a lawyer like Grubman, then you must have made it a bit too far. The title “sole superpower attorney was given to him by the New York magazine.
3. Gerald Shargel
Celebrity clients: Marc Dreier, Joe Halderman, Murder Inc founder Irv Gotti
Gerald Shargel represented his colleague Mac Derier, who was convicted of embezzling millions from hedge funds and his customers. He also defended Joe Halderman when David Letterman charged him with a money extortion attempt.
2. Howard K. Stern
Celebrity clients: Anna Nicole Smith
Howard K. Stern was the ex-partner, agent, and lawyer of the model and actress Anna Nicole Smith. He became famous when he featured as a co-star on The Anna Nicole Show, a TV reality series from 2002-2004. He made a living, and a career out of representing his former partner.
1. Joe Turner
Celebrity clients: Willie Nelson and Matthew McConaughey
It was said that if you need a criminal defense attorney to get you out of trouble in Austin, Texas, Joe Turner is the man for the job. With over 30 years experience as a criminal defense attorney, he has represented many musicians and celebs such as Matthew McConaughey and Willie Nelson.