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Elite Military Defense. Proven in the World’s Toughest Courts-Martial.

Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington have built their legal practice on a foundation of service, advocacy, and military experience. From enlisted beginnings to commanding roles, their personal and professional lives are rooted in defending those who serve the nation. With decades of experience handling the most complex and high-stakes military cases worldwide, from the Pentagon to deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, Europe, and Asia, they bring battlefield-tested strategy and courtroom precision to every client. Beyond the courtroom, they shape the next generation of military lawyers through teaching, writing, and mentorship, ensuring that their legacy of service and excellence continues.

“You defend the Constitution on the battlefield.
We defend it in the courtroom.”

Michael Waddington Military Defense Lawyer

Elite Military Defense Lawyer

Michael S. Waddington

Michael Waddington (click here for full bio) is one of the world’s most respected military criminal defense attorneys. With over two decades defending U.S. service members in the toughest and most high-stakes cases, Michael has fought—and won—across the globe, from Afghanistan and Iraq to Europe, Asia, and the Pentagon. An author, trial strategist, and internationally recognized advocate, he brings battlefield-tested expertise to every courtroom.

View Michael’s full profile

Operational & Legal Expertise

Michael’s career combines real-world military experience with exceptional legal skill. He has defended service members in war crimes, sexual assault, SHARP and SAPR allegations, murder, violent offenses, domestic violence, classified intelligence cases, and complex operational investigations. Known for taking on cases others consider unwinnable, Michael personally leads each defense, crafting strategies from scratch with relentless preparation and precise courtroom instincts.

Cases Michael Defends

Professor & National Lecturer

Beyond the courtroom, Michael is a professor at Florida International University College of Law, where he teaches law school courses in UCMJ military law and the Law of Armed Conflict. His instruction blends operational experience with legal principles, shaping the next generation of lawyers who advise and defend those in uniform.

Michael also teaches criminal defense lawyers at National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) seminars and other legal education programs around the country. His topics include:

  • Cross-examination
  • Impeaching witnesses
  • Defending sexual assault cases
  • Defending military cases and courts-martial
  • Using AI to dominate the prosecution
  • Using forensic science to create reasonable doubt
  • Closing arguments

Family Legacy of Service:

Service runs in Michael’s family. He enlisted in the Army at eighteen, following the path of his brothers, all of whom became officers. His law partner and wife, Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, shares a commitment to defending service members. Their children continue the tradition—Alexander served in Afghanistan before earning a law degree, and their daughter is completing her final year of law school. For the Gonzalez-Waddingtons, defending others is not just a career; it is a legacy.

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 ground-breaking legal books, including:

  • The AI Playbook for Defenders: Practical Prompts for Criminal Trials (NACDL Press)
  • 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 Expert Witnesses
  • Exposing Toxic Manipulators
  • Battlemind: A Military Legal Thriller
  • The First 72 Hours of a Military Criminal Investigation
  • UCMJ Survival Guide: The Complete Military Justice Manual for Service Members & Families
  • Defending Sexual Assault Cases: A Comprehensive Trial Manual (NACDL)
  • Trial Warrior’s Book of Wisdom

See all of Michael’s books

Agw face Alexandra Gonzalez Waddington Court Martial Lawyer

Top-Rated Military Defense Lawyer

Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

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 worldwide—from Privates to Special Operations Command—combining tactical courtroom strategy with relentless preparation

View Alexandra’s full profile

Operational & Legal Expertise

Alexandra began her legal career as a public defender in Georgia’s Augusta Judicial Circuit, honing her skills on serious criminal cases. She now defends military personnel accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, murder, violent crimes, financial crimes, online predator stings, war crimes, classified-information violations, and domestic violence, and represents them in GOMOR rebuttals, NJP, administrative separation boards, and Boards of Inquiry across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Known for breaking down hostile witnesses on cross-examination and her calm but commanding courtroom presence, she personally co-tries all cases with Michael Waddington, forming one of the most powerful defense teams in military law.

Cases Alexandra Defends

Skills & Credentials

  • Founding partner of Gonzalez & Waddington
  • Former public defender, Augusta Judicial Circuit (Georgia)
  • Licensed in Florida and Georgia
  • Graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she completed the Integrated Trial Advocacy Program; alumna of Duquesne University
  • Certified mediator, trained in advanced courtroom strategy
  • Fluent in Spanish
  • Recognized for meticulous preparation and tactical creativity
  • Extensive global experience handling high-stakes military cases in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia

Speaker & Instructor

Alexandra is a sought-after speaker and legal educator. She has presented at national conferences, including the National Trial Lawyers Summit in Miami Beach, where she lectured on “Appealing to Diverse Juries Without Building Walls.” She teaches lawyers voir dire and jury selection, cross-examination, and how to defend sexual assault and military cases, and she is co-author of the NACDL trial manual Defending Sexual Assault Cases: A Comprehensive Trial Manual.

Team & Legacy

Together with her husband, Michael Waddington, Alexandra has built a reputation for taking on impossible cases—and winning. Their partnership combines operational experience, legal mastery, and strategic precision, providing elite defense for those who serve the nation

Best Selling Author

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.

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 Expert Witnesses
  • Defending Sexual Assault Cases: A Comprehensive Trial Manual (NACDL)
  • UCMJ Survival Guide: The Complete Military Justice Manual for Service Members & Families
  • Exposing Toxic Manipulators

See all of Alexandra’s books

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