I've been a criminal defense attorney in Virginia Beach for 15 years. I started as a magistrate right out of law school, conducting bond hearings and issuing search warrants. Knowing how the system functions behind the scenes helped make me a better lawyer. Then I was a longtime public defender. That's where I learned to try cases: murder, rape, armed robbery, all of it.

Ten years ago, we founded this firm to do one thing: provide honest, high-level criminal defense for people charged with serious crimes. We try more jury cases than just about any firm in this area and we're proud of our results. We've won not guilty verdicts in murder, rape, malicious wounding, gun charges, and sexual battery for clients who were facing life.

Here's what I've learned over all those trials: most lawyers talk like lawyers. They bury juries in jargon and lose them in the first five minutes. I pride myself on knowing the law backwards and forwards, but my job is explaining it like a human being, because trials aren't won by sounding smart. They're won when twelve regular people understand exactly why the government hasn't proved its case. It's the same skill I use on our podcast, breaking down legal issues so anyone can follow them. I also handle appeals in the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Supreme Court of Virginia.

I went to the University of Hawaii for undergrad and Washington & Lee for law school. After I left the public defender's office, I led the push to get Virginia Beach public defenders a city salary supplement. That office produces the best defense lawyers in the area, and the people doing that work should be paid like it. I live in Virginia Beach with my three kids, and when I'm not working I play guitar and soccer.