If you are facing criminal charges in state or federal court, the outcome of your case may depend on the expertise of the attorney you hire. Brian Gurwitz’s experience and success is rivaled by few other criminal defense lawyers in California.
A former Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County, Brian played a key role in some of the most contentious, high-profile cases during the 13 years he served in that office. (Read list of cases here.) He tried dozens of cases and served as a supervisor in the office’s largest felony trial unit.
In addition to trial work, he gained a reputation as an exceptional appellate lawyer who was repeatedly called upon when the stakes were highest. He argued four cases before the California Supreme Court (prevailing in each) and dozens more in the Court of Appeal, including many that resulted in published decisions.
Of all his accomplishments in the Orange County DA’s office, Brian takes particular pride in his work investigating and prosecuting corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement, and obtaining the release of inmates after investigating their cases and determining they were wrongly convicted. These experiences helped shape his belief that government power is easily abused, and that a strong criminal defense is a critical check against that misuse.
What can be a hard transition for some proved seamless for Brian, as he brought the same relentless work ethic and standard for excellence that has marked his entire career. He has tried and won many serious cases before juries, and he has negotiated outstanding resolutions in countless more.
Some of these were high-profile cases that resulted in significant media attention, but out of respect for his clients’ privacy and dignity, Brian does not list the clients’ names on this website.
Brian is one of a small fraction (less than 1 percent) of criminal law lawyers in the state to be recognized as a Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization.
He has trained hundreds of lawyers statewide, drafted legislation, testified before both houses of our Legislature, and served as a consultant to the California Law Revision Commission.
Brian's peers have repeatedly elected him to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the state’s largest and most prestigious organization of criminal defense lawyers.
Brian has earned the highest scores from his peers in surveys conducted by a variety of lawyer-rating organizations, including Martindale-Hubbell (“AV-Preeminent” rating for the highest level of professional excellence and integrity), Avvo (a perfect score of 10), and Super Lawyers.
But he is most proud of the dozens of outstanding reviews he has received from his clients at the conclusion of their cases. Brian understands the immense stress that accompanies you or a loved one becoming the target of a criminal investigation or prosecution.
Gabriela Ramirez joined The Law Office of Brian Gurwitz after working for five years as a deputy public defender with the Orange County Public Defender’s office.
Atenacious and respected advocate, she has zealously represented individuals charged with misdemeanors and felonies at all stages of criminal proceedings — including at trial and in post-conviction matters.
Before practicing criminal defense, Gabriela spent four years as an immigration attorney, representing clients before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, EOIR (immigration court), Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Gabriela earned her law degree from Loyola Law School. As a Certified Law Student at the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Gabriela represented minors charged with crimes. This exposure to the criminal justice system sparked Gabriela's passionate about criminal defense work.
Before attending law school, Gabriela earned her bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Long Beach and her master’s degree in Education from Loyola Marymount University. From 2005-2008, Gabriela was a member of the prestigious Teach for America program, where she taught social studies and language arts to students in mid-city Los Angeles.
Gabriela speaks fluent Spanish. Her professional memberships include:
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