Jeffrey Lichtman has been a criminal defense attorney for over 34 years, practicing primarily in the federal and state courts of New York. Beyond New York, Mr. Lichtman handles federal cases, appeals and investigations throughout the country, recently in Alabama, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. His clients include those charged with white collar and non-white collar offenses, such as RICO violations, narcotics offenses, money laundering, securities fraud, health care fraud, tax evasion and murder and murder conspiracy. Many of his cases and clients are internationally known and have been featured prominently in the media.
A 1990 graduate of Duke University School of Law, Mr. Lichtman opened his own law firm in 1999 and since then has had extraordinary success on some of the country’s largest stages. Recent clients include Thomas Rachko, a retired New York Police detective accused of robbing drug dealers; Jacob Orgad, described by the government as the “largest MDMA (ecstasy) trafficker” ever arrested in the United States; various stars of the music industry including The Game and Fat Joe; AIG executives named in the New York Attorney General’s probe of the insurance industry; John A. Gotti, the son of the infamous mob boss; and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in which during the 3 ½ month trial Mr. Lichtman’s work was described by the media as “an astonishing performance” and “so wildly entertaining.”
The Gotti trial ended with the dismissal of three murder conspiracy charges, an acquittal on a $25 million securities fraud charge and a deadlocked jury on every remaining count. The media described the verdict as an “unbelievable courtroom upset” and Mr. Lichtman’s work as “brilliant.” His cross-examinations of the government’s witnesses were described in the media as a “relentless pounding” in which witnesses were “put through the blender” and “shredded.” In sum, Mr. Lichtman’s high-profile clients don’t just make the news – they win their cases.
Cases and Results
Mr. Lichtman’s appellate practice has also had great success. In September of 2010, he won the freedom for a client who had been convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison for multiple counts of sexual assault of four alleged victims. After his appeal to the New Jersey Appellate Division forced the trial court to grant a hearing on trial counsel’s possible ineffectiveness, Mr. Lichtman’s scathing examination of trial counsel was halted by the judge – who indicated she was prepared to vacate the conviction on the spot. With his conviction vacated, Mr. Lichtman’s client was released days later – never to return to prison. The judge thanked Mr. Lichtman for his “terrific preparation.”
Mr. Lichtman has also successfully won the pretrial dismissal of dozens of New York state and federal criminal cases based on motion practice and his own intensive investigations. In late 2015, his motion to dismiss a $6 million Medicaid Fraud case in which his client was facing 25 years in prison was granted.
Awards and Accolades
Mr. Lichtman has received the highest rating (AV) from the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory – and is one of just a handful of Manhattan criminal defense attorneys to be recognized in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Lichtman has also been selected as a New York City Super Lawyer for being a leader in his field of criminal defense. Finally, Mr. Lichtman has received a rating of 10.0/10.0 Superb rating from Avvo Lawyer Directory. These ratings reflect the confidential opinions of bar members and the judiciary. A member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mr. Lichtman is a frequent lecturer at law schools throughout the country on topics relating to criminal law. He has also been a regular guest commentator on Court TV, the Fox News Channel, Hannity & Colmes, Deborah Norville Tonight, Scarborough Country and The O’Reilly Factor and has recently been profiled in New York Magazine, the New York Daily News and in The New York Times as part of the “Public Lives” series.
