Brian Gurwitz

Brian Gurwitz’s experience as a criminal defense lawyer is rivaled by few other attorneys in California. A former Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County, Mr. Gurwitz played a key role in some of the most contentious, high-profile cases during his 13-year service. He tried dozens of cases and served as a supervisor in the office’s largest felony trial unit. He also gained a reputation as an exceptional appellate lawyer who was called upon when the stakes were highest. He argued four cases before the California Supreme Court (prevailing in each) and dozens more in the Court of Appeal, including seven that resulted in published decisions. Of all his accomplishments in the DA’s office, Mr. Gurwitz takes particular pride in his work investigating and prosecuting corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement, and obtaining the release of inmates after investigating their cases and determining they were wrongly convicted. These experiences shaped his belief that government power is easily abused, and that a strong criminal defense is a critical check against it. Mr. Gurwitz entered private practice in 2007. What can be a hard transition for some proved seamless for him, as he brought the same relentless work ethic and standard for excellence that has marked his entire career. He has tried and won many serious cases, and negotiated outstanding resolutions in countless more. Mr. Gurwitz is one of a small fraction of criminal law lawyers in the state to be recognized as a Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Bar. He has trained hundreds of lawyers statewide, testified before both houses of our Legislature, and served as a consultant to the California Law Revision Commission. Mr. Gurwitz was recently honored by his peers when they elected him as a member of the Board of Governors of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the state’s largest and most prestigious organization of criminal defense lawyers.