Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in New York, NY

The founder of his own firm, James M. Branden provides representation to clients throughout the New York City metropolitan area. His practice is focused exclusively on criminal defense at both the trial and appellate levels, including fraud and other white collar crimes, murder, drug trafficking and other serious felonies.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in 1985, Mr. Branden pursued his legal studies at the Georgetown University Law Center and was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1988. While he was in law school, he served as a notes and articles editor on the American Criminal Law Review. Admitted to practice in New York, Mr. Branden is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

Mr. Branden began his legal career representing clients in their criminal appeals before later broadening his practice to include trial work, which is the reverse of the usual path. This has provided him with a unique perspective that is thoroughly grounded in a keen understanding of legal issues and the framing of arguments, allowing him to better represent his clients.

Always striving to keep abreast of current developments in his practice area, Mr. Branden is an active participant in several professional organizations. He serves on the board of trustees of The Center for Appellate Litigation and on the Criminal Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Branden is frequently appointed by courts to represent defendants who cannot afford private counsel.