A lot of big firms have criminal law practices, some with 5 or 10 lawyers. But at the end of the day the client is hiring an individual -- with specific skills and experience - rather than a law firm. When the jury is picked, it is you who will be there with the client. It's about having the right person at the defense table next to you. That's true of all high-stakes litigation. I do cherish my independence today. I have the freedom to accept some cases and to decline others - and that's a decision that's often in the best interests of the client. We take on a relatively small number of cases each year - but those that we commit to, we commit to completely and see through completely. Ours is not a cookie-cutter approach. We are always working on an eclectic mix of cases. I always felt I was a pretty good fit for criminal defense law, and defending white-collar crimes. For one thing, I've always had a contentious side, and I've always been a problem solver, able to break down a problem into logical parts. Then there is that larger idea, that I felt I could make a difference in the battle between the forces of government and the individual. I may be a battler - but I've never been a shouter. Shouting may work for other attorneys, but not for me. It's true, nowadays it helps to have money when facing criminal charges but it also helps to have some intestinal fortitude. That all puts a corresponding burden on the criminal-defense attorney. It's not about showmanship: For every hour representing a client in a courtroom there is ten hours of intense preparation. There's no way around it. That preparation has only benefited the client. My adversaries know this: I can try a case and I'm good at it. No one doubts my resolve. A lot of criminal attorneys are going to plead out a case. But today most people who know me know I am always ready to get in front of a jury. We do excellent work, but in this business no one gets any credit for doing excellent work - you either win or you lose.