America's Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame

Geoffrey Fieger

Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense

Geoffrey Fieger stands among America's most successful and controversial trial attorneys. Based in Southfield, Michigan, Fieger has secured hundreds of millions in verdicts for injured clients, including multiple eight-figure awards. His fearless courtroom style and media presence made him a household name.

Most famously, Fieger defended Dr. Jack Kevorkian in multiple assisted suicide cases, becoming the face of the right-to-die movement in America. His $50 million verdict in a single medical malpractice case set Michigan records. Fieger's combination of aggressive litigation, masterful storytelling, and refusal to settle cheap has made him a legend in personal injury law.

Notable Cases: Jenny Jones wrongful death ($25M), Kevorkian defense, numerous medical malpractice records

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Leslie Abramson

Criminal Defense

Leslie Abramson became America's most famous female defense attorney through her representation of Erik Menendez in the notorious Menendez Brothers murder trial. Her passionate advocacy and willingness to present controversial abuse defenses changed how courts view domestic violence survivors who kill their abusers.

Abramson's courtroom presence was legendary. She fought for clients others deemed undefendable, using psychological evidence and expert testimony to humanize defendants. Her work on the Menendez case, though ultimately unsuccessful in preventing conviction, sparked national conversations about childhood trauma and family violence.

Notable Cases: Erik Menendez defense, Phil Spector initial defense team

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F. Lee Bailey

Criminal Defense, High Profile Cases

F. Lee Bailey defended some of America's most controversial clients, from Boston Strangler Albert DeSalvo to heiress Patty Hearst to O.J. Simpson. His cross-examination skills were considered among the finest in American legal history.

Bailey's career spanned six decades and included multiple book deals, television appearances, and teaching positions. His aggressive courtroom tactics and media savvy made him a template for modern celebrity defense attorneys. Though later disbarred in Florida and Massachusetts, his impact on American trial advocacy remains undeniable.

Notable Cases: Sam Sheppard (inspiration for The Fugitive), O.J. Simpson, Patty Hearst

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Johnnie Cochran

Civil Rights, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury

Johnnie Cochran's passionate advocacy for civil rights and his role as lead counsel in the O.J. Simpson trial made him an American icon. But beyond the celebrity cases, Cochran spent decades fighting police brutality and racial injustice through civil litigation.

His closing arguments were poetry in motion, combining legal precision with emotional resonance. Cochran secured massive verdicts against police departments for wrongful death and brutality, changing how law enforcement is held accountable. His famous "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" became part of American lexicon.

Notable Cases: O.J. Simpson defense, Abner Louima police brutality case, Geronimo Pratt wrongful conviction

Gerry Spence

Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Civil Rights

Gerry Spence has never lost a criminal case as a defense attorney and hasn't lost a civil case since 1969. The Wyoming-based lawyer's distinctive appearance (fringed buckskin jacket, cowboy boots) and powerful storytelling made him a courtroom legend.

Spence represented Karen Silkwood's family against Kerr-McGee, Randy Weaver after Ruby Ridge, and countless injury victims against major corporations. His Trial Lawyers College has trained thousands of attorneys in his narrative-based advocacy techniques.

Notable Cases: Karen Silkwood case, Randy Weaver (Ruby Ridge), Imelda Marcos defense

Alan Dershowitz

Appeals, Constitutional Law, Criminal Defense

Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz built his reputation on impossible appeals and constitutional arguments. His legal scholarship combined with courtroom success made him America's most famous appellate advocate.

Dershowitz defended clients from Claus von Bülow to Mike Tyson to O.J. Simpson on appeal. His arguments before the Supreme Court shaped constitutional law. Though controversial for his positions and clients, his legal mind is considered among the sharpest in American history.

Notable Cases: Claus von Bülow appeal, O.J. Simpson appeal team, Jeffrey Epstein (controversially)

Gloria Allred

Women's Rights, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination

Gloria Allred has represented more women in sexual harassment cases than perhaps any attorney in history. Her media-savvy advocacy for women's rights made her a feminist icon and changed how workplace discrimination cases are litigated.

Allred's firm has handled thousands of cases involving sexual abuse, discrimination, and women's rights. She brought cases against powerful men decades before the MeToo movement, often facing criticism for her media presence. Her willingness to take on unpopular cases for vulnerable clients defined her career.

Notable Cases: Nicole Brown Simpson family (civil case), multiple Cosby accusers, Amber Frey (Scott Peterson case)

Mark Geragos

Criminal Defense, High Profile Cases

Mark Geragos represents celebrities and controversial clients with equal vigor. His Los Angeles practice has defended everyone from Michael Jackson to Chris Brown to Colin Kaepernick in his collusion case against the NFL.

Geragos combines media savvy with genuine trial skills. Unlike some celebrity lawyers, he actually tries cases and has secured numerous not guilty verdicts. His aggressive pre-trial publicity strategy often shapes public perception before trial begins.

Notable Cases: Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Scott Peterson (unsuccessful), Colin Kaepernick NFL collusion

Robert Shapiro

Criminal Defense, Plea Negotiations

Robert Shapiro built the O.J. Simpson "Dream Team" and pioneered the modern celebrity defense strategy. His strength lies in assembling expert teams and negotiating favorable plea deals for high-profile clients.

Before Simpson, Shapiro represented athletes, entertainers, and business figures facing criminal charges. His approach favors settlement over trial when possible, securing reduced charges for clients who might otherwise face serious prison time. After his son's death from drug overdose, Shapiro became an addiction treatment advocate.

Notable Cases: O.J. Simpson (assembled dream team), Christian Brando, Vince Coleman

Barry Scheck

DNA Evidence, Wrongful Convictions

Barry Scheck co-founded the Innocence Project, which has used DNA evidence to exonerate over 375 wrongfully convicted people. His expertise in forensic science revolutionized criminal defense.

As part of the O.J. Simpson defense team, Scheck's cross-examination of LAPD criminalist Dennis Fung exposed contamination in DNA evidence collection. His work has freed dozens of death row inmates and changed how forensic evidence is handled in criminal cases.

Notable Cases: O.J. Simpson (DNA expert), Innocence Project (375+ exonerations), forensic science reform

Roy Black

Criminal Defense, White Collar Crime

Miami attorney Roy Black represents the elite facing criminal charges. His sophisticated defense strategies and courtroom presence have secured acquittals in seemingly impossible cases.

Black defended William Kennedy Smith against rape charges, Rush Limbaugh on prescription fraud allegations, and numerous financial fraud defendants. His meticulous preparation and smooth courtroom demeanor make him a favorite among wealthy clients facing serious charges.

Notable Cases: William Kennedy Smith acquittal, Rush Limbaugh, Kelsey Grammer

David Boies

Corporate Litigation, Antitrust, Civil Rights

David Boies may be America's most accomplished civil litigator. His victories include the Microsoft antitrust case, Bush v. Gore (representing Gore), and the successful challenge to California's same-sex marriage ban.

Boies combines academic brilliance with practical courtroom skills. His cross-examinations are surgical, his arguments elegant. Though he stumbled representing Theranos and Harvey Weinstein, his overall record places him among the greatest litigators in American history.

Notable Cases: Microsoft antitrust, Bush v. Gore, Proposition 8 (marriage equality), Theranos (controversially)

Thomas Mesereau

Criminal Defense

Thomas Mesereau earned the nickname "the attorney of last resort" for taking over seemingly lost cases and winning acquittals. His successful defense of Michael Jackson against child molestation charges cemented his reputation.

Mesereau's thorough preparation and powerful closing arguments have freed clients facing life sentences. He works cases personally rather than delegating to associates, spending countless hours on investigation and witness preparation.

Notable Cases: Michael Jackson acquittal, Robert Blake acquittal, Bill Cosby retrial defense

Benjamin Crump

Civil Rights, Police Misconduct, Wrongful Death

Benjamin Crump has become America's most visible civil rights attorney, representing families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. His work has sparked national movements for police reform.

Crump's practice focuses on police shootings, wrongful death, and civil rights violations. He has secured hundreds of millions in settlements for families of victims. His media presence brings attention to cases that might otherwise be ignored, though critics argue he prioritizes publicity over litigation strategy.

Notable Cases: Trayvon Martin family, George Floyd family, Breonna Taylor family, Michael Brown family

Jose Baez

Criminal Defense

Jose Baez achieved the seemingly impossible when he secured Casey Anthony's acquittal in her daughter's death. The Florida attorney's methodical trial preparation and compelling storytelling overcame overwhelming circumstantial evidence.

Baez followed the Anthony acquittal with successful representation of Aaron Hernandez on double murder charges (though Hernandez was convicted in a separate case). His rise from struggling solo practitioner to nationally recognized defense attorney inspires young lawyers.

Notable Cases: Casey Anthony acquittal, Aaron Hernandez (one acquittal, one conviction)

William Kunstler

Civil Rights, Radical Defense, Constitutional Law

William Kunstler defended the most controversial clients in American history, from the Chicago Seven to American Indian Movement leaders to Larry Davis (who shot six police officers). His passionate advocacy for radical causes made him a hero to some, villain to others.

Kunstler believed legal representation was political action. He took cases to advance civil rights, challenge government overreach, and defend unpopular speech. His constitutional arguments expanded First Amendment protections and defendants' rights.

Notable Cases: Chicago Seven, Attica Prison uprising, American Indian Movement, Larry Davis

The Legends

Geoffrey Fieger

Leslie Abramson

F. Lee Bailey

Johnnie Cochran

Gerry Spence

Alan Dershowitz

Gloria Allred

Mark Geragos

Robert Shapiro

Barry Scheck

Roy Black

David Boies

Thomas Mesereau

Benjamin Crump

Jose Baez

William Kunstler

The Common Thread

Explore Individual Profiles and Famous Cases