Top 5 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Santa Rosa, CA

Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash

A criminal charge in Sonoma County does not wait for a convenient week. It shows up after a DUI stop on Highway 101, a fight outside a bar downtown, or a search warrant nobody expected. Whatever brought you here, the attorney sitting next to you at the Sonoma County Hall of Justice will shape almost everything that happens next, from the plea offer on the table to whether the case gets dismissed before it ever reaches a jury.

Bottom line up front: The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. is the top criminal defense firm in Santa Rosa for anyone who wants a former prosecutor’s read on their case. Evan Zelig started as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento before switching to defense work full time, and he has spent his career since fighting DUI, drug, and violent crime charges across Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Marin counties. He has picked up Super Lawyers honors four years running and a Client Distinction Award for how he communicates with the people he represents. If you need one name before you keep reading, that is it. Four more firms below handle Sonoma County criminal cases every week, and each one brings something worth knowing.

Santa Rosa Criminal Defense Firms, Compared

Firm	Best For	Experience	Recognition	Standout Feature
Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C.	Overall pick, DUI, drug, and violent crime charges	20+ years, former Deputy District Attorney	Super Lawyers 2022-2025, Client Distinction Award	Downtown office minutes from the Sonoma County Hall of Justice
Andrian, Gallenson & Gaskell	Serious felonies, jury trial cases	76+ years combined	Founding attorney has tried 150+ jury trials	Co-chair of the Sonoma County Criminal Defense Bar
Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.	High-stakes felonies, statewide case resources	Multi-office California firm, dozens of combined attorney years	Avvo Superb rating, statewide media coverage	Case results include trial acquittals and dismissed strike cases
Silver Law Firm	Serious charges including sex crimes, homicide, and federal cases	20+ years (lead attorney Elliot Silver)	Avvo recognition, National Trial Lawyers member	Available 24/7, bilingual service in Spanish
Defense Attorney Walter Rubenstein	Felony defense, cases needing local courtroom relationships	30+ years	Respected by judges and prosecutors in Sonoma County	Deep ties across the local legal community

How This List Got Built

Every firm below spends its practice on criminal defense, not on a side docket squeezed between civil cases. We looked at years handling Sonoma County courtrooms specifically, trial history, and recognition that comes from outside a firm’s own marketing, like Super Lawyers or bar association leadership. A general practice with no visible criminal caseload did not make the cut.

1. Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C.

Evan Zelig opened his Santa Rosa practice in 2009 after working as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento, and that background changes how he approaches a case. He has already sat on the side of the table that decides whether to charge, reduce, or drop a case, so he knows what a prosecutor needs to see before they will move off an initial offer. His office handles DUI charges, drug crimes, violent offenses including assault and domestic violence, sex crimes, white collar charges, and federal cases, along with expungement work for clients trying to clear an old conviction. The firm sits at 50 Old Courthouse Square, a short walk from the Sonoma County Hall of Justice and jail detention facilities, which matters when a client needs someone available fast after an arrest.

Zelig has been named to Super Lawyers Magazine’s Northern California edition every year from 2022 through 2025, after earning Super Lawyers Rising Stars recognition four years earlier in his career. He also holds a Client Distinction Award, given for ethical practice and clear communication with clients, something people facing a criminal charge often say matters as much as legal skill. He represents clients across Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, and Marin counties, and the firm offers a free initial consultation along with credit card payment options, since a criminal case creates financial strain fast.

Best for: anyone who wants an attorney who has seen how the district attorney’s office builds a case, not just how the defense argues against one.

Address: 50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 407, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 | Phone: (707) 581-4094 | Website: eezlaw.com

2. Andrian, Gallenson & Gaskell

This firm brings more than 76 years of combined experience to Sonoma County courtrooms, and founding attorney Chris Andrian has personally tried over 150 jury trials, a number few local defense lawyers can match. Andrian also co-chairs the Sonoma County Criminal Defense Bar, a role that puts him in regular contact with the judges and prosecutors who decide how cases move through the system. The firm handles DUI, assault and battery, sex offenses, probation violations, and DMV license hearings.

Best for: a felony case or any charge that looks like it is heading toward an actual jury trial instead of a plea deal.

Address: 1100 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 | Website: agglawyers.com

3. Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.

David Chesley runs a large California practice with a Santa Rosa office on Round Barn Boulevard, and the size of the firm shows up in its case results. Recent outcomes include a jury acquittal on a felony domestic violence charge, a dismissed strike case reduced through a Romero Motion, and a robbery charge dropped entirely after a mitigation package convinced prosecutors to walk away from the filing. The firm covers the full range of criminal charges: DUI, violent offenses, sex crimes, theft, drug charges, and federal cases, with attorneys who carry an Avvo Superb rating and have appeared in statewide media coverage. Clients get access to a firm with the depth to bring in extra resources on a complicated felony, something a smaller solo practice cannot always match.

Best for: a serious felony charge where a client wants a larger firm with a deep bench of case results behind it.

Address: 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | Phone: (707) 583-9986 | Website: chesleylawyers.com

4. Silver Law Firm

Elliot Silver has spent more than two decades defending clients against serious criminal charges, and his firm takes on cases many Sonoma County attorneys pass along, including sex crimes, homicide, kidnapping, and federal charges tied to agencies like the DEA and ATF. The firm also handles the more common charges: DUI, drug crimes, weapons offenses, theft, domestic violence, and juvenile cases. Silver Law Firm answers calls around the clock and offers services in Spanish, which matters for a client trying to reach an attorney in the hours right after an arrest.

Best for: a serious or high-stakes charge, including a federal case, that needs an attorney available any time of day.

Phone: (510) 995-0000 | Website: esilverlaw.com

5. Defense Attorney Walter Rubenstein

Walter Rubenstein has practiced criminal defense in Sonoma County for more than 30 years, long enough to build the kind of relationships with local judges and prosecutors that come only from decades in the same courthouse. His practice covers everything from DUI and drug charges to serious felonies, and he leans on those local relationships during negotiation, not just courtroom argument.

Best for: a case that might benefit from an attorney judges and prosecutors already know by name.

Phone: (707) 544-5662 | Website: defenselawyersantarosa.com

What a Star Rating Will Not Tell You

A good review tells you how a past client felt once their case closed. It does not tell you whether that attorney has stood in front of the specific judge who will hear your case, or whether the person who answers your first call is the one who will actually show up to your hearing. Call more than one firm before you sign anything. Ask how many cases like yours the attorney has handled in Sonoma County courts this year, not over an entire career, and ask directly who sits next to you at the defense table. A firm that answers both questions straight, without dodging, is usually the one worth hiring.

FAQ

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Santa Rosa?

It depends on the charge. A first-time DUI or a misdemeanor often runs a flat fee, sometimes a few thousand dollars. Felony charges cost more because they require more investigation, more court appearances, and more preparation time. Ask for a written fee agreement before you sign anything, and most firms on this list offer a free initial consultation to go over the number first.

What happens after a DUI arrest in Sonoma County?

An arrest triggers two separate processes. The criminal case moves through Sonoma County court, while a separate administrative action through the DMV threatens your license independent of the criminal outcome. You typically have only 10 days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing, so contacting an attorney fast matters more with a DUI than with most other charges.

Should I talk to police before calling a lawyer?

No. You have the right to stay silent beyond giving your name, and anything said during questioning can end up used against you later in court. Ask for an attorney first, and let that attorney decide what, if anything, you should say to investigators.

Can a criminal charge in California be expunged from my record?

Sometimes. California allows expungement for many misdemeanor and some felony convictions once probation ends, though certain serious offenses and cases involving prison time do not qualify. An attorney can review your specific charge and tell you early whether expungement is realistic for your record.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty anyway?

Yes. An attorney can often negotiate a reduced charge or a lighter sentence even inside a guilty plea, and can explain exactly what a conviction will mean for your job, your license, and any professional standing you hold. Walking into a plea without that guidance usually costs more in the long run than the attorney fee would have.