Criminal Defense · Toronto
Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in Toronto
Criminal defense lawyers represent people under investigation or charged with offences, from traffic and misdemeanour matters to serious felonies. This list compares 7 criminal defense lawyers practising in Toronto on verified licences, years in this area, focus and sourced reputation.
- Updated 19 Oct 2026
- Ranking v1.0.0
- How we rank
- lawyers considered
- 7
- 4 verified licences
- 57%
- average years in practice
- 20
The ranking
Score out of 100- 1
- 2
Leila Quinn
VerifiedOf Counsel
Prescott & Harrow LLP14 yrs in practice3.4(18)Criminal DefensePersonal InjurySpeaks English, Mandarin
- 3
Michael Shapiro
UnverifiedSenior Associate
Thorne & Sterling LLP29 yrs in practice4.2(23)Criminal DefenseSpeaks English, Arabic, Punjabi
- 4
Ethan J. Quinn
Out of dateFounding Attorney
Sterling & Brook LLP32 yrs in practice3.6(7)Criminal DefenseEmploymentImmigration+1 moreSpeaks English, Spanish, Punjabi
- 5
Theo Kowalski
VerifiedAttorney
35 yrs in practice4.8(22)DivorceCriminal DefenseImmigrationSpeaks English, Arabic
- 6
Vivian M. Nakamura
UnverifiedOf Counsel
Fairfax & Prescott LLP29 yrs in practiceCriminal DefenseChild CustodyFamily+1 moreSpeaks English, Punjabi
- 7
Theo Brennan
VerifiedFounding Attorney
Sterling & Brook LLP11 yrs in practice3.7(3)Real EstateChild CustodyCriminal Defense+1 moreSpeaks English, Arabic, Hindi
How we rank
Each lawyer gets nine component scores from 0 to 100. The bar shows how many of the 100 available points each component contributed. Weights are fixed for every lawyer in this list and published in full; payment plays no part.
Expertise50%
- Credentials20%
- Relevant experience15%
- Specialization15%
Standing35%
- Verified reputation15%
- Professional recognition10%
- Relevant track record10%
Service & data15%
- Client experience5%
- Profile & data quality5%
- Data freshness5%
Toronto legal resources
- Law Society of Ontario
Lawyer and paralegal directory; referral service.
Choosing a criminal defense lawyer
Experience in the specific court and with the specific type of charge matters. Ask whether the lawyer has handled trials, not only plea negotiations, and whether they previously worked as a prosecutor or public defender. Contact a lawyer before speaking to investigators.
Frequently asked questions
Should I talk to the police without a lawyer?
You generally have the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present. It is usually wise to speak to a criminal defense lawyer before giving any statement.
What if I cannot afford a lawyer?
If you are charged with an offence that can lead to imprisonment, you may be entitled to a public defender or legal aid. Ask the court about eligibility.