Amato T. Sanita
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SKA Law Group, LLC
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Pennsylvania since: 1996
Education: Western New England University School of Law
Languages Spoken: English, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2010 - 2011 Call today:
267-513-8916
SKA Law Group, LLC
1518 Walnut StreetSuite 807/808
Philadelphia, PA 19102 Visit website
Details
A highly regarded criminal defense attorney with over 25 years of legal experience, Amato T. Sanita is a partner at the law firm, SKA Law Group. He devises the most effective criminal defense strategies for those accused in and around Philadelphia, including Chester, Lancaster, Dauphin, Montgomery, Northampton, Leigh and Bucks counties. His criminal defense client base is made up of people who are accused of charges such as:
- Assault, battery and murder
- Juvenile offenses
- Theft and burglary
- Sex crimes
- Domestic violence
- Probation violations
- Drug and alcohol offenses
- DUI/DWI and traffic charges
Mr. Sanita graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in History from Fordham University in 1993. He then attended the Western New England University School of Law and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1996. He became licensed to practice in Pennsylvania the same year. Additionally, he is qualified to practice in Connecticut and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Fluent in English, Italian, Russian and Spanish, Mr. Sanita has a reputation for his thoroughness, commitment and excellent client services. He has obtained many favorable verdicts for his clients through charge dismissals, plea bargains or bench/jury acquittals. Before partnering with SKA Law Group, he worked at other well-known law firms and gained extensive experience handling complex criminal and immigration detention cases.
Outside of his law practice, Mr. Sanita stays involved in his legal community, maintaining active memberships in legal organizations. He is a part of Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and X Philly Defenders, an association of former members of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. He is the founding member of the Philadelphia Criminal Law American Inn of Court and has also been featured by numerous media outlets for his expert knowledge and achievements in and out of court.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White CollarFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Parole, Probation, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crime
First Admitted: 1996, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.pennsylvaniacriminallawyer.com/amato-t-sanita-es...
- Elected Chair, by the Board of Judges for the Philadelphia Bar Association Court Appointment Selection Committee, 2022
- Member of Philadelphia Bar Association, Chair, Court Appointment Committee of The Philadelphia Bar Association, National Trial Lawyers Association, Justinian Society, Criminal Justice Bar, Sons and Daughters of Italy (Professional Organization), OSDIA District 1 Treasurer (Legal Society), Pennsylvania State Arbitrator (Legal Disputes OSDIA), Treasurer (founding year) Philadelphia Criminal Inn of Court, 2022
- 1) Not Guilty all charges (Philadelphia, 1/2019 Court of Common Pleas); 2) Jury Acquittal all charges (Philadelphia, 2/2019 Trial Court Division), 2015
- National News and You-Tube video depicting Amato Sanita's defense of Raisheen Rochwell. This was a highly profile alleged school shooting in a West Philadelphia Charter School., Amato Sanita defends Philadelphia School Shooter, 2016
- Amato Sanita has represented thousands of individuals arrested for criminal offenses in his career in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically including Adult, Juvenile and Federal Courts. He has successfully represented many high profile clients charged with various crimes including YouTube Police Threats, School Shootings and the Prosecution of Judges and elected officials. (Specific individuals are kept confidential to protect their reputations which is his firm strict policy) He personally handles all aspects of defending individuals facing criminal investigations and criminal charges in every area of criminal defense, 2000
- Representing individual clients charged with crimes as well as various labor unions on a private basis, 2022
- Obtained highest level of education and teaching in the areas of DUI and DWI defense, 2022
- AVVO Rated 10/10 for Criminal Defense Representation , AVVO Rated 10/10 for Client Representation, AVVO Client Choice Award, 2022
- Rated 10/10 AVVO for Criminal Defense Representation , AVVO Client Top Choice Award, AVVO Client Choice, 2019
- Law School Trial Advocay Honors and full recognition of National Trial Award., Panel Head and Advisor, Law School Journal, 1996
- AVVO RATED 10/10 Client Representation, AVVO Rated 10 For Client Representation, AVVO Client Selection, 2018
- Amato Sanita has earned the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Client's Choice Award for Excellence in Representing Clients charged with Criminal matters, Clients Choice Award for Criminal Representation, Avvo, 2015
- Super Lawyers , Selected Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2010
- Amato T. Sanita, Esquire has been Selected as a National Top 100 Trial Lawyer for 4 consecutive years. This is one of the highest awards given to any trial lawyer nationwide, Selected as a National Top 100 Trial Lawyer, National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015
- Amato T. Sanita was elected in 2016, 2017 and 2018 by the Court of Common Pleas Board of Judges to serve as Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Court Appointment Selection Committee, Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association, 2016
- Super Lawyers, Selected to Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers magazine Pennsylvania, 2011
- AVVO RATED 10/10 Client Representation, AVVO Rated, Client Choice Award, 2013
- Amato T. Sanita has received the Top One Percent of Trial Lawyers award for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 for representing his clients in Criminal Defense matters, Nations top one percent of Trial Lawyers, National Association of Distinguished Counsel, 2015
- Discussions and analysis of Ethics issues in Criminal Defense (OSIA) , Ethics and Criminal Defense, Legal Defense, 2019
- Keynote Speaker at Philadelphia Community College Criminal Justice Seminar. Topics included Criminal background Checks and security clearances with an expungement, Keynote speaker, Criminal Offenses and Expungements, 2017
- Mr. Sanita often lectures at independent criminal seminars associated with the Sons and Daughters of Italy Organization and serves yearly as a Moot Court Judge for The National Moot Court Trial Competition., Lecture, 2020
- Mr. Sanita lectured at numerous colleges focusing on Criminal Defense and the consequences upon an individual's immigration status, Lead Speaker, Criminal Convictions and Immigration Consequences, 2018
- Involved in training Fedral Agents and State drug enforcement in handling criminal prosecutions involving cross examination by defense counsel., Training Agents, Lecture, 2018
- Pro-Bono Coordinator service Award Philadelphia County, 2017
- Selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense , 2022
- Founder of the Amato T. Sanita Brighter Future Scholarship. Awarding High School and College students scholarships based upon merit and future goals. Two scholarships were given with over 1200 applicants, 2017
- Chair Court Appointment Selection Committee
- Justinian Society
- National Trial Lawyers
- PACDL
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Sons And Daughters Of Italy State And National Association
- State Orator
- Trial Lawyers Institute
- X-Philly Defenders Executive Board Member
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Excellent Lawyer”
Office location for Amato T. Sanita
1518 Walnut Street
Suite 807/808
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 267-513-8916
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2010 - 2011
