Ottawa's criminal bar covers everything from impaired driving stops on the Queensway to complex murder appeals, and the lawyers who handle that work range from solo practitioners to multi-partner firms with decades of combined experience. This list was compiled from law firm websites, Google-linked review aggregators (TrustAnalytica, Birdeye, Yelp), and legal recognition bodies like Best Lawyers and ThreeBestRated. We could verify nine businesses with real detail; rather than pad the list to ten, we're presenting the nine.
1. AGP LLP (Howard Krongold)
Area: Ottawa, with appeals argued across Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada · Specialty: criminal appeals and complex trials
Howard Krongold is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and a partner at AGP LLP, and was named Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defence in Ottawa for 2025, the only Ottawa lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in both criminal defence and appellate practice. He has argued more than 150 appeals, including seven before the Supreme Court of Canada, and at trial has defended clients charged with murder, large-scale drug trafficking, and sexual assault. AGP LLP itself is ranked by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of the top five criminal law boutiques in Ottawa and Montreal, which makes this firm a fit for clients facing the most serious charges or considering an appeal.
2. Céline Dostaler Criminal Defence Lawyer
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: criminal defence across all charge types, including domestic assault, impaired driving, and drug offences · Rating: 4.9 (46 reviews, Birdeye) · Since: called to the bar in 2010
Céline Dostaler is Ottawa-born and has practised exclusively in criminal law since 2010, with a bilingual background in criminology and psychology from the University of Ottawa. Clients consistently describe her as honest, patient, and able to explain complicated legal problems in plain terms, and reviewers note she personally handles calls, texts, and emails outside normal office hours. She's a strong fit for clients who want direct, hands-on access to the lawyer running their file rather than a large firm structure.
3. Edelson Foord Law
Area: Ottawa and the greater Eastern Ontario region · Specialty: criminal defence, ranked Tier 1 in Ottawa · Rating: 4.6 (113 reviews, Birdeye)
Edelson Foord Law brings more than 75 years of combined criminal defence experience and is listed in Canadian Lawyer's 2024-25 Top Criminal Law Boutiques. Clients cite the firm's professionalism, honesty, and communication in complex cases, and it offers free initial consultations for anyone facing charges in the Ottawa area. This is a firm worth considering for cases that need the depth of a multi-lawyer team rather than a solo practitioner.
4. Affordable Defence (Friedman Mansour LLP)
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: criminal defence built around flat, non-hourly billing · Rating: 4.8 (TrustAnalytica)
Affordable Defence, run by lawyers Fady Mansour and Solomon Friedman, moved away from the traditional billable hour to make representation more predictable for clients. Reviewers describe Mansour as a "consummate professional" who is empathetic with clients unfamiliar with the justice system, while Friedman has acted at every level of court up to the Supreme Court of Canada. The firm suits clients who want cost clarity going in, alongside senior-level criminal law experience.
5. David Anber's Law Office
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: impaired driving, DUI, theft, fraud, and violent offences · Rating: 4.8 (TrustAnalytica)
David Anber is Principal Counsel at his own Ottawa firm and has represented more than 1,000 clients, with a practice weighted toward impaired driving and driving-related charges. Reviewers highlight his attention to detail, constant communication, and willingness to handle matters without requiring the client to appear in person when possible. The firm offers a free initial consultation and 24-hour phone and email intake, which makes it a practical option for clients who need to reach someone quickly after a charge.
6. DUVADIE Law
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: criminal, family, and immigration law, with a criminal defence focus · Rating: 4.9 (TrustAnalytica)
DUVADIE Law has practised criminal defence in Ottawa for over a decade and markets itself on affordability alongside expertise. Client reviews describe the lawyer as hard-working, attentive, and thorough, with particular praise for availability and a reassuring presence through the process. It's a reasonable option for clients who also have overlapping family or immigration issues tied to a criminal matter.
7. Auger Hollingsworth
Area: Ottawa (1443 Woodroffe Avenue) · Specialty: criminal and civil litigation
Auger Hollingsworth has handled high-profile matters, including representing Karlheinz Schreiber in the 2009 Mulroney-Schreiber Oliphant Public Inquiry. Client reviews describe cases resolved efficiently without a court appearance and praise the firm's command of the law in court. The firm's mix of criminal and civil litigation experience suits clients whose criminal matter overlaps with a civil dispute.
8. Virginia Dolinska Criminal Defence
Area: Ottawa (116 Lisgar Street) · Specialty: driving offences, including impaired operation and Over 80 charges · Rating: 5.0 (TrustAnalytica) · Since: 2017
Virginia Dolinska's practice specializes in vehicular criminal law and defends all criminal charges, with particular focus on impaired driving matters. The firm accepts legal aid and offers payment plans, and reviewers describe her as professional, caring, and straightforward through serious criminal trials. She's a solid option for clients dealing specifically with a driving-related charge or who need legal aid or payment flexibility.
9. Shore Johnston Hyslop Day LLP (Michael Johnston)
Area: Ottawa · Specialty: criminal defence across nearly all Criminal Code and drug offences
Michael Johnston practises with Shore Johnston Hyslop Day LLP, a firm with roughly 45 years of history defending clients through every type of criminal charge in Ontario, and was named one of ThreeBestRated's "3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Ottawa" in 2021. Clients describe him as responsive and able to explain the process in plain terms from the first meeting. The firm's long track record makes it a fit for clients who want an established, multi-lawyer practice behind their case.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including law firm websites, third-party review aggregators (TrustAnalytica, Birdeye, Yelp), and legal recognition bodies such as Best Lawyers and ThreeBestRated. It is not a paid placement, and ottown has not tested, hired, or personally verified the work of any lawyer or firm listed here; this is a starting point for research, not legal advice. We could verify nine firms with enough real, sourced detail to include; where a detail like a rating or founding year couldn't be confirmed, we left it out rather than guess. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Sources: Best Lawyers - Ottawa Criminal Defence, AGP LLP, Céline Dostaler, Edelson Foord Law, Affordable Defence, David Anber's Law Office, DUVADIE Law, Auger Hollingsworth, Virginia Dolinska Criminal Defence, Shore Johnston Hyslop Day LLP
