Women Rising Stars of the Criminal Defense Bar

Throughout my career, I have been lucky to know preeminent women criminal defense attorneys with countless years of experience. As a practitioner with almost 25 years of experience, it is a pleasure to see younger women rising to the top of the nation’s criminal defense bar and to celebrate their successes. I love working with and mentoring younger women who are honing their skills, developing their practices, and striving to make a name for themselves in the field.

With that said, I’d like to introduce you to Cristina Laramee Souto. Cristina recently joined Bozorgi Law PLLC as an associate and will also be contributing to the Women Criminal Defense Attorneys blog. Before joining Bozorgi Law PLLC, Cristina was a felony trial attorney at The Bronx Defenders in New York City. She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and was an editor of the Cornell Law Review. Cristina also defended clients accused of capital crimes in trial and appellate proceedings in the Cornell Law Capital Punishment Clinic.

Cristina’s addition to the firm seems a fitting time to start to highlight and regularly feature some of the rising women stars in criminal defense. Two up-and-coming women attorneys were recently named Law360 Rising Stars in White Collar Criminal Defense for 2018: Phara Guberman and Meghan Spillane. Next week, we are featuring Meghan Spillane’s interview by Cristina. Spillane and Guberman, both under 40, represent another generation of powerhouse female criminal defense attorneys.

Phara Guberman is Of Counsel in Paul Hastings’ Litigation Department and is also a member of the Investigations and White Collar Defense, Securities Enforcement, and Securities Litigation groups. She represents clients in regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations; conducts internal investigations for companies, their boards and committees; and handles civil and class action securities matters related to government and internal investigations. In addition to being named a Rising Star by Law360, Guberman was selected as among "The Top Women Attorneys in New York" by Super Lawyers for the past five years and was named a Super Lawyer for 2018 in Criminal Defense: White Collar, New York Super Lawyers.

Spillane is a partner in Goodwin’s Securities, White Collar Defense & Business Litigation Group and its Digital Currency & Blockchain Technology Practice. In less than a decade, she has built a dynamic white collar practice that includes conducting internal investigations on behalf of corporations and representing companies and individuals in connection with government investigations and prosecutions. She also maintains an active civil practice, representing companies in complex business and financial litigation matters as well as advising digital currency and blockchain companies in token sales and responding to government inquiries. Spillane has also been recognized consistently by Super Lawyers as a leading White Collar Defense practitioner from 2015-2018.

With rising stars like Phara Guberman and Meghan Spillane, the future of the criminal defense bar is bright. Congratulations to both. Look out for Meghan Spillane’s interview next week.