Former Prosecutor, Now Your Defender — Why It Matters in Your Case
Most criminal defense attorneys learned how the criminal justice system works from the defense side. They interned at defense offices, worked as public defenders, and built their understanding of the system by fighting against the prosecution.
I took a different path. Before I opened my firm, I spent years at the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, where I prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases. I stood where the prosecutors in your case are standing right now. I know how they think, how they decide what to charge, how they evaluate a defense, and when they're willing to deal — and when they think they have you.
That knowledge is not theoretical. It is practical and specific, and I use it every day on behalf of my clients — whether they are facing criminal charges, a civil rights violation, or a high-stakes cannabis licensing matter.
I Know What They're Looking For
When I review the facts of a case, I don't just think about how to defend you. I think about how a prosecutor sees the evidence.
What's the strongest part of their case? What are they going to lead with? What are they going to try to hide? Where are the weaknesses they're hoping your attorney won't find?
I know the discovery that matters and the discovery that doesn't. I know which motions get traction and which ones prosecutors have seen a thousand times and know how to defeat. I know when a case is actually strong and when it's paper-thin — because I've built cases on both sides.
I Know How Charging Decisions Are Made
Most people don't realize this: a prosecutor has enormous discretion in what charges to file. The same facts can support multiple different charges with vastly different consequences. How a case gets charged often has more to do with habit, workload, and the tone of early interactions than with the strict application of the law.
Because I've been in those charging meetings, I know how to intervene early and aggressively — before charges are even formally filed, in some cases — in ways that can meaningfully change what you're facing. That early intervention is only possible if your attorney understands how the prosecution makes those decisions.
I Know When and How to Negotiate
Every experienced criminal defense attorney negotiates. What distinguishes a former prosecutor is knowing exactly what you're negotiating against.
I know the internal pressures that affect plea offers. I know what a prosecutor's supervisor will approve and what they won't. I know the difference between a prosecutor who is genuinely flexible and one who is posturing. And I know that the best negotiations happen early — before positions harden and before the case builds momentum toward trial.
I Know the Courtroom From Both Sides
Trial experience as a prosecutor and trial experience as a defense attorney are different. I have both. I have cross-examined witnesses and I have prepared witnesses for cross. I have presented opening statements and I have deconstructed them. I have argued to suppress evidence and I have argued to admit it.
That dual experience makes me a better trial attorney. I can anticipate the prosecution's moves in a way that a defense-only attorney often cannot.
It Is Particularly Relevant in Civil Rights Cases
My background as a prosecutor is especially valuable in Section 1983 civil rights cases against police. The lawyers defending the City of New York and the NYPD understand how law enforcement thinks. In most cases, the plaintiff's attorney does not.
I do. I have been in rooms where police use-of-force decisions were evaluated. I have worked alongside the officers and prosecutors who are now on the other side of the table from my clients. I know how they justify force decisions, and I know exactly where those justifications fall apart.
It Also Applies to Cannabis Licensing
This may surprise you, but the former-prosecutor advantage extends directly into cannabis regulatory work.
The Office of Cannabis Management is a government agency staffed by people who think like regulators — which is to say, like prosecutors evaluating whether an applicant has crossed a line. They are looking for TPI disclosure problems, ownership red flags, location compliance issues, and application inconsistencies. They are trained to find the crack in the wall.
I know how to see an application the way a regulator sees it — because I spent years evaluating cases the way a government lawyer evaluates them. I know what raises a flag, what gets a file pulled for closer review, and what a clean, bulletproof submission looks like. That perspective is rare among attorneys doing OCM licensing work, and it makes a real difference.
A Final Note
I left the DA's office because I believed the system needed better defense attorneys — people who understood it from the inside and could use that knowledge to protect the accused. That belief drives every case I take.
If you are facing criminal charges in New York, believe your civil rights have been violated, or are trying to navigate New York's cannabis licensing process — I would like to hear your story.
Call (646) 450-9354 for a free consultation. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest assessment of what you're facing and what I can do about it.
