Barry L. Flegenheimer

A dedicated advocate with an unwavering commitment to justice, Barry Flegenheimer has spent his entire career defending the accused in federal and state courts. He began his legal journey at The Defender Association (TDA), where he quickly distinguished himself as a skillful and inventive attorney. Early in his career, Mr. Flegenheimer worked on landmark appeals, including State v. Thorkelsen (1980), where the Court of Appeals ruled against in-custody photographic identifications under most circumstances, and State v. McCullum (1983), a pivotal Washington Supreme Court case that mandated the State prove the absence of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. During his tenure at TDA, he fervently represented individuals across felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil commitment cases, eventually serving as supervisor of the 30-attorney misdemeanor division.

In 1987, Mr. Flegenheimer transitioned to private practice, continuing his advocacy as a partner at Bell Flegenheimer, where he achieved great success across a diverse spectrum of criminal cases, from complex fraud and regulatory matters to high-stakes aggravated homicide defenses. His notable cases include a not-guilty verdict in the high-profile United States v. Federov (a 1990s “Russian Mafia” extortion trial), a successful reversal of conviction and death sentence in In Re the PRP of James Brett, and a strategic hung jury outcome in the United States v. Jenks racketeering prosecution involving the Hell’s Angels. Further, in Stein, et al v. Wood, et al, he succeeded in a writ of habeas corpus to reinstate an appeal on attempted murder convictions, while in State v. Louis Chen, he negotiated reduced charges in a complex case involving multiple homicides. Most recently, Mr. Flegenheimer represented the lead defendant in a massive Idaho fraud prosecution concerning trademark violations, earning the Gargoyle Award from the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for his outstanding work.

In 2024, Mr. Flegenheimer was honored with the President’s Award by the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL) in recognition of his distinguished service; he has also served as President of WACDL. Throughout his career, Mr. Flegenheimer has been driven by a steadfast commitment to liberty and due process, a devotion reflected in his tireless pursuit of justice for his clients.