Canyon Criminal Lawyers

Zorislav Leyderman moved the U.S. from Ukraine (former Soviet Union) when he was 11 and grew up in St. Paul. He obtained his B.A. degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied politics and the American criminal justice system. After college, Zorislav continued his education at the William Mitchell College of Law, where he obtained his J.D. and graduated with honors. While in law school, Zorislav Leyderman worked for the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic and the William Mitchell Law Clinic, representing low-income people and Minnesota prisoners in both criminal and civil cases. Zorislav also worked for...

Luke J Blahnik is the founder of Law Firm of Luke J Blahnik. Mr. Blahnik was born in the city of Rochester, Minnesota and graduated from Caledonia High School, in Caledonia, Minnesota. In 1998 he received his Bachelor of Science in History from Winona State University, in Winona, Minnesota. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law in 2001 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota in 2002. From 2001 through 2004 Mr. Blahnik was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Koochiching County Courthouse, where he...

A Proud Minneapolis Background:
Thomas “Tommy” Leavitt was born and raised on the South Side of Minneapolis and is proud to continue to call that community home. He attended high school at Minneapolis Washburn, where he played both basketball and football. On the gridiron is where he truly shined, earning a scholarship to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Leavitt was known for being both a smart and aggressive player, two traits he proudly carries into the courtroom.

A Prestigious Education:
Tommy Leavitt earned his Juris Doctor from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. U.S. News and World Reports...

A trial attorney for more than 30 years, Paul Otten practices in the areas of Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. He represents individuals and families who have suffered a personal injury or the loss of a loved one; including those involved in automobile collisions, medical malpractice claims, slip and fall cases, and dog attacks. Otten has achieved awards for his personal injury clients, both through negotiated settlements and jury trials. Since the establishment of the Otten firm, Criminal Defense was added to the foundation in Personal Injury.

A native of northern Minnesota, Otten received his Doctor of...

Attending the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Katherine was immediately drawn to the field of criminal justice. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Katherine set her mind on becoming an attorney. Wasting no time, Katherine obtained her law degree from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. While in law school, Katherine became intrigued with the various aspects of criminal law and the shortcomings of the criminal justice system. She gained valuable knowledge and experience as a certified student attorney at the Anoka Public Defender's Office where she represented clients with misdemeanor and gross...

Christa Groshek has excellent experience litigating cases to both judges and juries. She has an exceptional trial record, even getting some cases dismissed on constitutional grounds before trial. She has developed a solid reputation as a Minnesota trial attorney for successfully defending clients against a wide range of charges in criminal court. Christa Groshek graduated Cum Laude from William Mitchell College of Law. During law school, Christa was a law clerk for the Washington County Public Defender's Office where she received her first criminal defense experience. Christa later took a position as the law clerk for the Honorable Thomas Armstrong, Washington County...

ETHAN P. MEANEY has been practicing in the area of DWI defense since 2001. Prior to that he prosecuted hundreds of DWIs in Hennepin and Goodhue Counties. Meaney has represented thousands of DWI cases and his recent victories in the Minnesota Court of Appeals cases State of Minnesota v. Paul Scott Demars and Tracey Ernest Wiberg v. Commissioner of Public Safety are just examples of his commitment to quality DWI representation. Meaney graduated magna cum laude from Northern State University in 1996 and graduated in 1999 from the University of South Dakota School of Law in the top quarter...

Susanne Gad is a renowned advocate for vulnerable and marginalized groups. After a successful, decade-long career as an attorney for the United Nations, Susanne's sister decided to join forces with her sister Sarah and crusade for justice. Susanne is among the most sought-after immigration advocates in the country due to her exceptional track record of success when it comes to asylum status, identifying paths to citizenship, and appealing cases lost by other immigration and human rights attorneys. In fact, a large number of Susanne's immigration clients turned to her in order to fix mistakes caused by their previous immigration...

As a recognized trial attorney in the Twin Cities and across the State of Minnesota, Mr. Cotter achieves results for his clients. Focusing on criminal law and injury law, Mr. Cotter does whatever it takes to win these life-changing cases for his clients. As a former prosecuting attorney for the cities of Eagan, Burnsville and Mendota Heights, Mr. Cotter litigated hundreds of cases. Mr. Cotters peers have consistently nominated him as a "Rising Star" and "Super Lawyer" attorney, an honor bestowed on only 2.5% of attorneys. Mr. Cotter is certified as a specialist in criminal law...

Duffy Defense was founded with one thing in mind, the client. Founder Alec Duffy grew up in a small town where access to attorneys was limited. The number of cases outpaced the means of the public defender, and private attorneys were few and far between. This backlog served to impact one class of people — the criminal defendant. But this is not just a small town phenomena that happened years ago. It is a current issue to communities all around the country. With limited time, defendants are unable to make informed decisions about their cases, and attorneys are unable to...

I graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, honored Magna Cum Laude. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Duluth, honored Cum Laude. I specialize in DWI Defense and Criminal Defense, and have experience with these types of cases. I gained experience both in the Public Defender's offices and with a private law firm before opening my own solo practice.
I specialize in Criminal Defense and DWI. My guiding principles as an attorney include the following:
1) A client's interests come before my own convenience. It's your life and liberty on the line, and when you trust me...

Wanda Gierman is a criminal litigation attorney in St. Cloud, Minnesota where she has practiced law for more than a decade. She serves Stearns County and the surrounding counties throughout the state of Minnesota. Ms. Gierman grew up in Rugby, North Dakota and attended University of North Dakota where she graduated with a degree majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked as a summer intern for the North Dakota Supreme Court. She went on to attend William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 2004. While in law...

"I’m Josh Johnson. I provide first-rate Minnesota legal representation at reasonable rates. I have extensive experience in the 12 counties in and around the Twin Cities Metro area, and have represented hundreds of clients in criminal defense, personal injury and bankruptcy cases. If you have been injured in an auto accident, charged with a crime, or need advice about debt or bankruptcy, call me - initial consultations are always free. I received my Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and my bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I am admitted to the Minnesota Bar...

Jim attended William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell | Hamline) from August, 2012 until graduation in January, 2015. Jim focused on courses that teach practical skills of an attorney, including trial skills, negotiation, and mediation. While in law school, he tried three mock jury trials, numerous mock bench trials, and a juvenile certification trial. In his first year of law school, Jim received the Kirwin Award for Legal Professionalism. This award is given once per section each year to the student who most exemplifies what it means to be an attorney. Upon graduation, Jim received the prestigious Student...

Kelly J. Keegan has been lead defense counsel on hundreds of cases of all types and levels, ranging from serious felonies to minor traffic offenses. Additionally, Kelly handles post-conviction matters such as expungement, probation violations, Department of Human Services background study disqualifications, reinstatement of the right to possess firearms, and sentence modification motions. She has represented clients under investigation prior to being formally charged, as well as clients facing grand jury indictment. Kelly is admitted to practice in Minnesota State Court as well as Federal United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She enjoys working in the courtroom...

Criminal Defense Attorney Carolyn Agin Schmidt has over 20 years experience effectively and vigorously defending criminal cases. Combining this experience with a compassion for the client and a passion for justice, she has earned a reputation for being one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the state.

Brian has experience in divorce and family law matters. He has prosecuted and defended all types of contested issues, including the legal custody and physical custody of children; restrictions on parenting time and other placement related issues; current and past due child support; child care and day care expenses; education and employment-related issues; spousal support including initiating, limiting, modifying and terminating spousal maintenance; complex property division; digital currency and virtual accounts; concealed assets and dissipation of marital assets; allocating marital interests in closely-held businesses and professional firms; non-marital property claims; and distribution of property through negotiation or litigation. Brian can...

Criminal and DWI Defense; Car Accidents and Serious Bodily Injury cases

Meagan M. Guptill grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and attended Duluth East High School, where she competed in Student Congress, Speech and Debate, and performed in local theater. Meagan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, along with her paralegal certificate. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas Law School in 2019. While in law school, Meagan worked at the Kanabec County Attorney’s office, the Isanti County Attorney’s office and the Isanti City Attorney’s Office. While working for three different prosecuting authorities, she gained valuable experience appearing in the courtroom handling bail hearings, restitution...

Mr. Joseph J. Dudley, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. in 1945 and has practiced law in the state of Minnesota since 1978. Mr. Dudley served in the U.S Air Force (Vietnam) and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972. He received his law degree in 1977 from Hamline University, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Dudley is a member of the Ramsey County Bar, Minnesota State Bar, Federal Bar and American Bar Associations. Mr. Dudley’s main areas of practice include Corporate, Commercial Litigation, Franchising, Transportation and Environmental Law. Dudley and Smith, P.A. is a Minnesota law firm practicing in most...

Kurt J. Knuesel is a Winona, Minnesota native who has been practicing law in Southeast Minnesota for over twenty years. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School whose practice is focused on criminal defense, including all levels of offenses, from DWI to homicide. Knuesel Law Firm has represented thousands of clients, including several in high profile cases, with excellent results. The Firm strives to provide aggressive representation to achieve the best possible results for our clients. Serving clients in the counties of Winona, Houston, Wabasha, Fillmore, Olmsted, and throughout Minnesota, Kurt J. Knuesel has the experience...

Avery Appelman is a criminal defense attorney and founder of Appelman Law Firm. While his practice is primarily recognized for its work with DWI and related offenses, he has 15 years of experience working with clients facing drug, assault, theft, criminal sexual conduct, traffic, and prostitution charges. Avery's greatest strength is his ability to counsel in a way that assists clients in all aspects of their lives. His team works in partnership with clients to streamline the judicial process, thereby enabling individuals to assist in their own defense. He also recognizes the impact of criminal proceedings on those surrounding the accused,...

DAVID REYES voted 2012 and 2011 "BEST LAWYER" in Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka, Minnesota by the Reader's Choice Awards!! HAVE A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR and FBI AGENT ON YOUR SIDE! I am a criminal defense attorney with over twenty-eight years of criminal law experience. As a former FBI Agent and Federal and State prosecutor, my clients get strong representation from an experienced trial attorney. My background is truly unique. After graduating from law school, I became a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I worked in several states conducting a variety of criminal investigations. After my career as an...

Albert Usumanu is a 1989 graduate of the University of Minnesota and a 1994 graduate of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the following Courts: Minnesota Supreme Court. October 1994 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Minnesota Federal District Court

Omeed Berenjian is the co-founder of BK Law Group as well as a dedicated attorney for the firm. With more than twelve years of experience, Omeed helps clients with their legal needs by understanding every aspect of a case. He has helped hundreds of clients with an array of legal matters. He believes that every client should have pride, confidence, and trust in the lawyer helping them through their legal battle. According to Omeed, “by understanding clients and their unique legal situation, I believe I can be a better advisor and help them make the most of their case.” Omeed has continuously...

Kristian founded BK Law Group with the goal of assembling a team of aggressive defense attorneys committed to achieving the best possible results for their clients. At the firm, Kristian and his team represent clients in a wide array of cases ranging from: DWI, Gun Crimes, Drug Crimes, Sex Offenses, and Murder. Kristian and his team work relentlessly to achieve the best possible results in every matter they are involved in. Clients work with Kristian not just because of his legal knowledge, but for his guidance. Kristian strives not only to be your “go-to” attorney, but also an individual you can...

I practiced criminal law in California for 16 years and continue to practice criminal law in both the State and Federal Courts in Minnesota. I was honored as an attorney of the year from the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association in 2002. I have handled and tried cases to juries in everything from petty theft, DWI, and minor drug cases to very serious robberies, burglaries and homicides. I have won numerous cases and most recently won a felony sexual assault appeal and then won the jury retrial in the case in Washington County Minnesota in 2010. I...

Beau received his undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota State and the Winona County Bar Associations.

Beau represents clients in criminal defense, DUI/DWI cases, family law, landlord/tenant disputes, debt collection, and real estate matters.

Beau is married and has four wonderful children. He enjoys playing and watching sports and is very active in the community. Beau has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors at Ready Set School and has served as President...

I focus on probate law and criminal law. An unusual combination, true, but I've worked in both fields for a long time. I'm a 1973 Northwestern University Law School graduate (J.D.) and a 1970 graduate of Grinnell (Iowa) College (B.A.). I also have an M.S. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and developed a specialty in designing and implementing computer databases for lawyers, paralegal, investigators and others similarly situated. I've done that for nearly 30 years. I originally hail from Fremont, NE, and have lived and worked in Minnesota for over 40 years.

As one of Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm’s associate attorneys, Lis Carlson practices in the area of criminal defense. She previously spent time as a trial attorney at the Law Office of the Tenth Judicial District Public Defender, where she provided representation to thousands of clients. Ms. Carlson began her legal career as a law clerk for the Public Defender’s office in Anoka County. Attorney Carlson is a proud graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. Please contact her firm today to get more information.

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