Our Legal Team
Michael Stewart Waddington
Military Defense Attorney
Elite Military Defense Lawyer
Michael Waddington (click here for full bio) is one of the most respected military criminal defense attorneys in the world. He is an author, trial strategist, and internationally recognized advocate who has spent more than two decades defending U.S. service members in the toughest and most high-stakes cases. His work has taken him from Afghanistan and Iraq to Europe, Asia, and the Pentagon, fighting—and winning—against the full strength of the military justice system.In addition to running a nationally known law firm, Michael serves as an adjunct professor at Florida International University College of Law, where he currently teaches a graduate-level course on the Law of Armed Conflict. His teaching blends real-world operational experience with the legal principles that govern modern warfare, shaping the next generation of lawyers who will advise and defend those in uniform.
Michael and his wife, law partner Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, have built a life centered on service, advocacy, and protecting those who serve the nation. Michael enlisted in the Army at eighteen, just as both of his brothers did. All three eventually became officers. That commitment to military service continues through their children.
Their son, Alexander, enlisted in the Army at seventeen, deployed to Afghanistan, and later earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Their daughter is now completing her final year of law school. For the Gonzalez-Waddington family, defending others—whether on the battlefield or in the courtroom—is not just a career. It is a legacy.
Michael has defended every type of serious military case: war crimes, sexual assault, SHARP and SAPR allegations, murder, violent offenses, domestic violence, classified intelligence cases, and complex operational investigations. When fighter pilots, Special Forces commanders, Marine Raiders, or Navy SEALs are accused of rape or misconduct, they call Michael Waddington. Known for taking cases that others consider unwinnable, Michael keeps his caseload intentionally small so he can personally lead every defense. He does not rely on templates. He builds each strategy from scratch, combining relentless preparation with precision instincts in the courtroom. Michael Waddington is not just a lawyer. He is a battlefield-tested courtroom warrior. When your future, your freedom, and your name are on the line, he is the advocate you want standing beside you.
Michael Stewart Waddington
Best Selling Author
Outside the courtroom, Michael is the co-author of The Art of Trial Warfare series and Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing of Your Life,. He’s also the creator of the widely used Pattern Cross-Examination books for sexual assault, forensic, DNA, and expert witness cases. His books are used by military and civilian lawyers around the world. When he’s not teaching lawyers how to win, he’s training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, preparing for the next battle.
He is the co-author of numerous groundbreaking legal books, including:
- The Art of Trial Warfare: Winning at Trial Using Sun Tzu’s The Art of War
- The Art of Trial Warfare Volume II
- Kick-Ass Closings
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Digital Forensics
- Pattern Cross-Examination for DNA & Biological Evidence
- Pattern Cross-Examination for DWI Cases
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Expert Witnesses
- Exposing Toxic Manipulators
- Battlemind: A Military Legal Thriller
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington
Military Defense Attorney
Top-Rated Military Defense Lawyer
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington (click here for full bio) is a nationally respected trial lawyer, author, and military justice expert.
As co-founder of Gonzalez & Waddington, she has spent over two decades defending service members across the globe—from Privates to Special Operations Command. Fluent in Spanish, trained in mediation, and licensed in multiple jurisdictions, Alexandra brings fierce intellect, courtroom experience, and tactical creativity to every case she handles.
Her legal career began in Georgia’s Augusta Judicial Circuit as a public defender, where she cut her teeth on serious criminal cases. She has since gone on to defend military personnel accused of sexual assault, war crimes, murder, classified violations, and domestic violence across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Alexandra is known for her meticulous preparation, her ability to break down hostile witnesses on cross-examination, and her calm but commanding presence in court. She co-tries all cases with her husband, Michael Waddington, forming one of the most powerful defense teams in the military legal world. Together, they’ve built a reputation for taking on impossible cases—and winning them.
Alexandra González-Waddington
Best Selling Author
She is the co-author of numerous groundbreaking legal books, including:
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Digital Forensics
- Pattern Cross-Examination for DNA & Biological Evidence
- Pattern Cross-Examination for DWI Cases
- Pattern Cross-Examination for Expert Witnesses
- Exposing Toxic Manipulators
Alexandra trains military and civilian lawyers how to win difficult trials through her books, lectures, and private coaching. When she’s not in court, she’s sharpening her edge through fitness and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—living with the same discipline she defends her clients.
In a system built to convict, Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is a defender by instinct, training, and design. She fights for the accused with brains, backbone, and battlefield-tested resolve.