Sami Z. Azhari
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL 60602
- Criminal Defense (60%),
- Criminal Defense: White Collar (20%),
- Civil Rights (10%),
- Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI (10%)
- English,
- Arabic
Experienced attorney Sami Azhari established his law firm, Azhari LLC, in 2013. Mr. Azhari focuses his private practice exclusively on state and federal criminal defense. With offices in Chicago, Rolling Meadows, and Northbrook, Mr. Azhari focuses primarily on providing high-quality criminal defense services to the residents of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Illinois residents accused of criminal offenses have continuously turned to Mr. Azhari for help when faced with a variety of charges, including:
STATE CHARGES
• Child Pornography
• Drug possession and trafficking
• Murder and attempted murder
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Battery
• Retail theft
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Robbery
FEDERAL CHARGES
• Wire fraud
• Sexual exploitation
• Child pornography
• Failure to file tax returns
• Conspiracy to distribute controlled substance
• Bank fraud
• Bank robbery
Mr. Azhari began his legal career in 2007 after earning his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law and his approval to practice law in the state of Illinois. He also became licensed to practice law in the state of California. Before founding his own firm, he gained valuable experience working as an associate attorney for a number of law firms. Since beginning his private practice, he has argued a number of representative cases, securing freedom for his clients.
Because of his experience, knowledge and skill in the courtroom and involvement in the legal community, he has earned the respect of his peers. The National Trial Lawyers lists him among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and among the Top 40 under 40. He also holds a "Superb" Avvo rating. He is a member of a number of legal organizations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Association.
In addition to his day-to-day work, Mr. Azhari has presented several lectures on criminal law and procedure. He also regularly volunteers his services to those in need through a number of programs in the Chicago area, and his ability to speak Arabic fluently makes him a lawyer who is much in demand in the Arabic-speaking communities in the Chicago area.
- 60%Criminal Defense
- 20%Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10%Civil Rights
- 10%Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Felony, Misdemeanor, Murder, Probation, Sex Offenses, Theft, Traffic Violations, Criminal Domestic Violence, White Collar Crime, DUI/DWI
Selections
Rising Stars: 2015 - 2021
To: Sami Z. Azhari
Super Lawyers: Potential Client Inquiry
Additional Sources of Information About Sami Z. Azhari
About Sami Azhari
Admitted: 2007, Illinois
Professional Webpage: http://www.azharillc.com
Honors/Awards:
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2015
- Certificate of Appreciation, Northwest Suburban Bar Association
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Michigan State University College of Law
Bar/Professional Activity:
- California (Inactive), 2009
- Northern District of California
- Illinois Federal Trial Bar
- Chicago Bar Association, Member, 2011–present
- McHenry County Bar Association, Member, 2008–2010
- Illinois, 2007
- Central District of California
- Eastern District of California
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 2007–2009
- Arab American Bar Association
- Northern District of Indiana
- Northern District of Illinois
- Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals – 7th Circuit
- Northwest Suburban Bar Association, Member, 2011–present
- NWSBA In Court Bar Program, Attorney Member, 2011–present
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Expungements and Sealings, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL, November 2014
- Traffic Court: Do I Need a Lawyer?, Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Arlington Heights, IL, October 2014
- Statutory Summary Suspension Hearings: Limited Grounds, But Unlimited Uses, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education – Chicago, IL, October 2014
- Hot Air & Bodily Fluids: Breath, Blood, and Urine Testing, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education – Chicago, IL, October 2014
- How to Get and Keep Good Clients in a Competitive Market, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education – Chicago, IL, April 2014
- Recognzing a "Bad" Client, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education - Chicago, IL, April 2014
Verdicts/Settlements:
- State of Illinois v. Keelan – Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Elmusa v. Lake County Indiana Sheriff's Department – Currently representing client in civil action against Lake County Sheriff for excessive force and false arrest
- United States of America v. Estrada – Bank Fraud
- State of Illinois v. Novak - Circuit Court of Lake County - Waukegan - Lake County prosecutors charged Novak, an Illinois Tollway operator, with two felony counts of theft over $500 and official misconduct. The theft count was a class 4 felony punishable by up to 3 years in jail, and the official misconduct was a class 2 felony punishable by up to 7 years in jail. After investigating the case and reviewing the discovery, Sami was able to secure an offer from the prosecution to dismiss the class 2 felony and reduce the class 4 felony to a class A misdemeanor. As a result of the offer, Novak was not faced with a single day in prison. , 2011
- State of Illinois v. Lester - Circuit Court of Cook County - 26th and California – Represented a client facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. After a 4 day jury trial, Lester was found NOT GUILTY of attempted murder. , 2014
- State of Illinois v. Bravo - Circuit Court of Boone County, Belvidere - Bravo was charged with his second driving under the influence of alcohol, and improper lane usage. After a two day jury trial, Bravo was found NOT GUILTY. , 2014
- State of Illinois v. Chavez – Obstruction of justice
- State of Illinois v. Meshil – Felony retail theft
- State of Illinois v. Glass – Circuit Court of Cook County - Skokie - Glass was charged with a DUI and improper lane usage. Sami asked for discovery on the initial court appearance and the police officer demanded the case settle or go to trial the same day. Despite having the right to a continuance, Sami read the police report in preparation and alerted the prosecutor that the officer’s report had numerous deficiencies, as well as only 9 minutes of observations of intoxication prior to the arrest. As a result, the DUI was dismissed and Glassl was left with a traffic violation. , 2011
- United States of America v. Chychula – Northern District of Illinois - Nine counts of wire fraud, 2012
- State of Illinois v. Walker - Circuit Court of Cook County - Rolling Meadows - Walker was charged with a non-probationable class X felony for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. This charge carried with it a sentencing range from 6-30 years in jail. Walker had allegedly made a deal for the sale of cocaine in a school zone with an undercover narcotics cop. After investigating the case and reviewing the discovery, Sami was able to secure a plea agreement that led to 4 months of boot camp., 2009
- State of Illinois v. Salsman – Circuit Court of Cook County - 26th and California - Represented a client charged with two counts of aggravated battery against a police officer. After a 4 day jury trial, Salsman was found NOT GUILTY of all charges. , 2014
- State of Illinois v. Frasier - Circuit Court of Cook County - Rolling Meadows - Represented a client facing a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol as well as a statutory summary suspension of his driving privileges. After a thorough cross examination of the arresting officer, Frasier was found NOT GUILTY on all counts and his driving privileges were reinstated. , 2014
- State of Illinois v. Litwin – Drug trafficking 67 pounds of narcotics
- City of Mundelein v. Walker – Circuit Court of Lake County - Waukegan - Walker was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. After a jury trial, Walker was found NOT GUILTY. , 2014
- State of Illinoi v. Avila – Domestic Battery
- Lindsay v. Cyberpower Computers – Superior Court of the State of California - County of Los Angeles - Sami took to trial a case against a computer company, Cyberpower, as the computer kept shutting down on his client. After three attempts at repair and getting nowhere, the client retained counsel. Sami proceeded to a jury trial for a violation of the California Song Beverly Act. After a four day jury trial and five hour deliberation, the jury reached a verdict in favor of Lindsay. The victory allowed Sami to proceed to a motion for attorney fees, to recoup legal fees from Cyberpower. Prior to the hearing, a tentative ruling was issued denying the fee motion. However, at the hearing, Sami convinced the judge to completely reverse his tentative ruling and allowed plaintiff to recover a portion of her attorney fees. , 2010
- United States of America v. Amaya – RICO and distribution of narcotics
- State of Illinois v. Nolan - Circuit Court of Cook County - Markham - Represented a client facing 9 counts of attempted murder, armed robbery, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Facing a minimum of 31 years in jail, Nolan was found NOT GUILTY of all charges, 2015
- State of Illinois v. Hood – Circuit Court of Cook County - Rolling Meadows - Hood was charged with battery against a 5 year old autistic child. Two witnesses testified on behalf of the State to the incident. After a thorough cross examination of the witnesses, Hood was found NOT GUILTY of battery after a jury trial. , 2013
- State of Illinois v. Pernice – Driving under the influence of alcohol
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- "Superb" rating on Avvo.com, 2014
Educational Background:
- Purdue University, B.S., Electrical Engineering, specializing in Digital Signal Processing and Field and Wave Electromagnetics, Honors: Deans List, Semester Honors, 2004
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- K-9 Unit Bust? See If Your Rights Were Violated https://t.co/w4KJ7Yfzjg #K9 #Police #Dogs #Arrest #Busted #Violation #Law #Illinois
- It's Not Too Late to Pursue Justice Against Predatory Clergy Members https://t.co/RpLejnETxR #Sexual #Abuse #Clergy… https://t.co/TupiYxhdpd
- Illinois FOID Card Debate Heats Up: What You Need to Know https://t.co/vf4Ry6v9Ic #Guns #Law #Illinois #FOID #2A
- Common Reasons Chicagoans Shoplift (and How They Can Help Your Case) https://t.co/Dhrl7UkgAz #Shoplifting #Theft #Stealing #Chicago #Law
Sami Z. Azhari:
Last Updated: 9/10/2020