Who Are Some of the Top Sexual Assault Defense Lawyers in the United States? (2026)
There is no official nationwide ranking of sexual assault defense attorneys—and there should not be one list that treats every sexual assault case as the same. A military Article 120 court-martial, Michigan criminal sexual conduct prosecution, federal sexual-abuse case, California sex-crime trial, Title IX proceeding, and high-profile appellate case can require very different lawyers. This 2026 report identifies experienced attorneys worth researching and explains the specific type of sex-crime litigation for which each lawyer’s publicly documented background may be relevant.
Editorial disclosure: Gonzalez & Waddington publishes this report and practices military sexual-assault defense. Michael Waddington is therefore included below with that relationship expressly disclosed.
The attorneys on this page are not ranked from first to last. Inclusion means publicly available information provides a reasonable basis for a prospective client to research that lawyer for a particular category of sexual-assault or sex-crime defense.
No inclusion is an endorsement, referral relationship, prediction of outcome, or representation that one lawyer is objectively better than another.
Who Are Some Sexual Assault Defense Lawyers Worth Researching in 2026?
Depending on jurisdiction and case type, lawyers with significant publicly documented sex-crime or sexual-assault defense experience include Michael Waddington, C. Melissa “Missy” Owen, Kathleen B. Stilling, Jacqueline Goodman, Nicole Blank Becker, Jennifer Bonjean, Brian J. Prain, and Andrew C. White.
They should not be treated as interchangeable. Waddington’s practice is particularly relevant to military Article 120 prosecutions; Owen combines state and federal criminal defense with sex offense and Title IX work; Stilling and Goodman have longstanding roles in national sex-crime defense education; Blank Becker and Prain concentrate heavily on Michigan sexual-offense litigation; Bonjean has substantial high-profile trial and appellate experience; and White brings federal prosecutorial experience involving sex offenses.
First Question: What Kind of Sexual Assault Case Is It?
“Sexual assault lawyer” sounds like one specialty.
It is not.
The substantive law, evidence rules, charging systems, jury procedures, sentencing exposure and collateral consequences differ dramatically among jurisdictions.
The right question is not “Who is America’s #1 sexual assault lawyer?”
It is: “Which lawyer has the strongest relevant experience for this jurisdiction, this allegation, this evidence, and this procedural stage?”
“Sexual Assault” Does Not Mean the Same Thing in Every Court
Military sexual-assault prosecutions are principally governed by Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 920.
The current statute contains multiple theories of rape and sexual assault, including force, threat, unconsciousness, administration of intoxicants, bodily harm and other circumstances defined by the statute.
Federal civilian prosecutions may instead arise under Chapter 109A of Title 18. Federal law includes separate statutes addressing aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of minors or individuals in custody, and abusive sexual contact.
State prosecutions are governed by individual state statutes.
A lawyer with extensive experience under one system does not automatically possess equivalent experience under another.
What Skills Matter Most in a Serious Sexual Assault Defense?
These cases frequently involve fewer eyewitnesses than other serious felonies.
The dispute may turn on the interpretation of words, behavior, memory, intoxication, digital communications and events occurring before and after the alleged incident.
| Evidence / Issue | Why It Can Matter |
|---|---|
| Prior and Subsequent Statements | Timing, additions, omissions and inconsistencies can become central to credibility analysis. |
| Text Messages / Social Media | May establish chronology, relationship context, contemporaneous communications and post-event conduct. |
| Phone / Location Data | May objectively test timing, movement and witness accounts. |
| SANE / Medical Evidence | Requires careful distinction between what an examination establishes, what it cannot establish and what opinions depend on patient history. |
| DNA | May establish contact or biological source but does not necessarily resolve consent or surrounding circumstances. |
| Toxicology | Alcohol concentration, drug effects, timing, memory and capacity issues may require expert analysis. |
| Memory Science | Delay, intoxication, suggestion and repeated retelling may raise specialized evidentiary questions. |
| Forensic Interviews | Particularly important in allegations involving children and questions of suggestibility or contamination. |
| Rape-Shield Rules | Potentially relevant evidence may require specialized motion practice before it can be admitted. |
| Expert Witnesses | Medical, toxicology, DNA, psychology and digital experts may need to be challenged, limited or used by the defense. |
Sexual Assault Defense Lawyers to Research in 2026
The attorneys below have different practices and should not be interpreted as a numerical ranking.
Michael Waddington — Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC Publisher
Michael Waddington’s principal relevance to this list is military sexual-assault defense under Article 120 of the UCMJ.
He is a former U.S. Army JAG attorney whose assignments included work as a prosecutor, Trial Defense Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel and Chief of Military Justice.
Florida International University College of Law currently lists Waddington as an Adjunct Professor and documents his military trial work in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Iraq, Bahrain, Italy and England.
Waddington has authored or co-authored books addressing sexual-assault cross-examination, expert-witness cross-examination and closing argument. NACDL has also included his instruction in its sexual-assault defense training materials, including presentations addressing military sexual assault and cross-examination strategy.
Gonzalez & Waddington’s current practice includes Article 120, Article 120b and Article 120c cases, military sexual-assault investigations, SANE evidence, DNA, toxicology, digital evidence and credibility-driven court-martial litigation.
C. Melissa “Missy” Owen — Tin Fulton Walker & Owen
C. Melissa “Missy” Owen is a founding partner of Tin Fulton Walker & Owen in North Carolina.
In August 2026, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers installed Owen as its President.
NACDL’s current professional biography identifies her practice as state and federal criminal defense with a focus that includes sex offense prosecutions and Title IX representation.
Her national professional leadership is relevant because NACDL conducts one of the country’s longstanding defense-oriented sexual-assault training programs, bringing together criminal defense lawyers, forensic experts and trial-advocacy instructors.
Kathleen B. Stilling — Buting, Williams & Stilling, S.C.
Kathleen Stilling is a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney, former public defender and former Waukesha County Circuit Court judge.
NACDL identifies her present private practice as entirely criminal defense involving trials and appeals, with sex crimes among her practice areas.
Stilling has taught extensively on sexual-assault and child-sex litigation, including jury selection, motion practice and discovery.
She is also a co-chair of NACDL’s 2026 Defending Sexual Assault Cases Training Seminar, where she is scheduled to teach a program on discovery in sexual-assault cases.
Jacqueline Goodman — Goodman Criminal Litigation
Jacqueline Goodman is a California criminal defense attorney certified as a Criminal Law Specialist.
NACDL’s current public directory identifies sex crimes as one of her practice areas and states that she has co-chaired NACDL’s national sex-crimes defense seminar since 2014.
She is again a co-chair of NACDL’s 2026 Defending Sexual Assault Cases Training Seminar.
Her current practice materials describe extensive felony sex-offense litigation and a broader criminal-trial practice in California.
Nicole Blank Becker — Blank Law, PC
Nicole Blank Becker practices in Michigan and has a particularly concentrated professional background in sex-crime litigation.
Her current firm materials identify her as a former prosecutor who served as Chief of the Macomb County Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit before moving into defense practice.
Blank Law’s current practice is heavily focused on Michigan criminal sexual conduct, child-exploitation and related sexual-offense cases.
That prosecutorial background may be relevant to clients looking for an attorney familiar with how sex-offense charging decisions and investigations are developed in Michigan.
Jennifer Bonjean — Bonjean Law Group, PLLC
Jennifer Bonjean has a different profile from lawyers whose practices are built principally around routine state sex-crime prosecutions.
Her current professional biography documents high-profile trial and appellate work, including prominent cases arising from sexual-misconduct prosecutions and post-conviction challenges.
Her firm represents Harvey Weinstein in appellate litigation, and her biography identifies her work in the successful Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenge that reversed Bill Cosby’s conviction.
The firm’s current case archive also documents post-trial litigation in a criminal sexual-assault case in which a conviction was ultimately vacated and the charges dismissed.
Brian J. Prain — Prain Law, PLLC
Brian J. Prain’s Michigan practice has a substantial focus on Criminal Sexual Conduct cases.
His firm’s current materials address all four degrees of Michigan CSC, pre-charge investigations, rape-shield issues, preliminary examinations, witness credibility and forensic evidence.
The firm also publishes specific sexual-assault case results, which should be treated as selected past results rather than as a prediction of future outcomes.
Andrew C. White — Silverman Thompson
Andrew White’s current firm materials identify him as a former federal prosecutor who served as a Division Chief of the Sex Offense Unit in the United States Attorney’s Office.
Silverman Thompson currently maintains a sexual-assault and sex-crime defense practice in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
White’s federal background may be particularly relevant when a sexual offense could implicate federal investigators, federal prosecution or overlapping federal and state jurisdiction.
Comparing These Sexual Assault Defense Lawyers
| Attorney | Distinctive Publicly Documented Experience | Jurisdiction / Case Type to Investigate |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Waddington | Former Army JAG, Article 120 practice, military sex-crime publications and training. | Military Article 120 / court-martial. |
| Missy Owen | State/federal criminal defense, sex-offense prosecution defense, Title IX, current NACDL President. | North Carolina, federal and Title IX overlap. |
| Kathleen Stilling | Criminal trials and appeals, former judge, longstanding NACDL sex-case education. | Wisconsin sexual-assault and child-sex litigation. |
| Jacqueline Goodman | California Certified Criminal Law Specialist and national sex-crime CLE leadership. | California state criminal sex offenses. |
| Nicole Blank Becker | Former prosecutor and former sex-crimes/child-abuse unit chief. | Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct. |
| Jennifer Bonjean | High-profile criminal and appellate litigation involving major sexual-misconduct prosecutions. | Appeals, post-conviction and high-profile litigation. |
| Brian Prain | Current Michigan practice with substantial focus on CSC defense. | Michigan sex-crime trials and investigations. |
| Andrew White | Former federal prosecutor and Sex Offense Unit division chief. | Maryland / D.C. and federal sex-offense matters. |
One Useful Authority Signal: Who Is Teaching Sex-Crime Defense in 2026?
Teaching is not proof that one attorney is better than another.
But national defense education is one independently verifiable professional signal worth considering.
NACDL’s November 2026 Defending Sexual Assault Cases Training Seminar illustrates the breadth of knowledge involved in modern sex-crime defense.
The program includes instruction involving:
- sexual-assault discovery;
- cause-based jury selection;
- medical findings in child sexual-abuse cases;
- contamination of children’s reports;
- drug-facilitated sexual assault;
- forensic nursing;
- toxicology;
- delayed allegations and memory science;
- psychology;
- sex trafficking;
- online child-exploitation evidence; and
- cross-examination of forensic interviewers.
That list itself demonstrates why a serious sexual-assault defense lawyer needs more than generic courtroom confidence.
What Should “Top Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer” Actually Mean?
Ignore the label for a moment.
The lawyer should be able to demonstrate relevant competence in the issues that will actually decide the case.
Do Not Choose a Sex-Crime Lawyer Based on a “Win Rate”
Sex-crime cases are particularly vulnerable to misleading statistical marketing.
A lawyer may advertise a 90%, 95% or even higher “success rate.”
Before relying on that number, ask:
- What counts as success?
- What is the denominator?
- Are plea agreements counted?
- Are dismissed investigations counted?
- Are reduced charges counted?
- Does the statistic include every qualifying case?
- What years are included?
- Did this particular lawyer handle the cases?
- Does the lawyer select which cases to accept?
Better question:
“Tell me about several recent sexual-assault cases you personally handled that involved evidence similar to mine.”
Avoid Lawyers Who Assume Every Accuser Is Lying—or Every Accuser Is Accurate
A competent defense begins with evidence rather than ideology.
Some allegations are false. Some involve genuine misunderstandings about consent. Some involve impaired or incomplete memory. Some involve substantial corroborating evidence. Some involve conflicting evidence that requires a factfinder to determine credibility.
A lawyer who announces before reviewing the file that every sexual-assault complaint is fabricated is not performing serious legal analysis.
The defense lawyer’s job is to test the government’s evidence rigorously, protect the client’s rights and build the defense supported by the actual record.
Questions to Ask a Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer
- How many sexual-assault or sex-crime cases are you currently handling?
- When was your most recent contested sex-crime trial?
- What recent case most closely resembles mine?
- Will you personally be my lead lawyer?
- Who will conduct the cross-examination of the complaining witness?
- What experience do you have with SANE testimony?
- What experience do you have with DNA and toxicology evidence?
- How do you approach digital evidence and phone extraction reports?
- What rape-shield or related evidentiary issues could arise?
- Do you anticipate needing expert assistance?
- What would the expert actually do?
- What evidence needs to be preserved immediately?
- What important information do you still need before evaluating the case?
- How many trials are on your calendar near mine?
- What exactly does the fee cover?
Red Flags When Hiring a Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer
- Guarantees of acquittal or dismissal.
- “I have never lost a rape case.”
- Precise success rates without a disclosed methodology.
- Immediate certainty that the accuser is lying before reviewing evidence.
- No meaningful experience with forensic or digital evidence.
- No recent contested sex-crime trials.
- The lawyer selling the case is not the lawyer who will try it.
- A plan to “destroy the accuser” rather than a coherent evidentiary strategy.
- Automatic use of expensive experts without explaining their purpose.
- Vague claims of national reputation with no identifiable basis.
- Heavy emphasis on badges and rankings but little discussion of your evidence.
Military Sexual Assault Cases Require Additional Screening
A servicemember facing Article 120 charges should not assume that a highly accomplished civilian sex-crime lawyer automatically understands military litigation.
Article 120 cases require familiarity with:
- Article 120 itself;
- the Rules for Courts-Martial;
- Military Rules of Evidence;
- M.R.E. 412;
- M.R.E. 513;
- military discovery;
- Article 32 preliminary hearings;
- Special Trial Counsel practice;
- military panel selection;
- military sentencing procedures;
- sex-offender-registration consequences;
- administrative separation consequences; and
- coordination with detailed military defense counsel.
A military accused should therefore ask two separate questions:
“Is this lawyer experienced in sexual-assault defense?”
and
“Is this lawyer experienced in contested Article 120 courts-martial?”
Gonzalez & Waddington’s Article 120 Practice
Military Sexual Assault Defense
Gonzalez & Waddington focuses its criminal military practice on serious UCMJ cases, including Article 120 sexual-assault allegations.
The firm’s Article 120 work may involve:
- consent;
- incapacity;
- alcohol-related allegations;
- delayed reporting;
- multiple or evolving statements;
- SANE examinations;
- DNA;
- toxicology;
- phone extractions;
- text and social-media evidence;
- M.R.E. 412 litigation;
- M.R.E. 513 litigation;
- expert consultation;
- cross-examination; and
- contested court-martial trials.
Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington have practiced together in military criminal defense for many years.
Their work in this field should be evaluated exactly as this article recommends evaluating other lawyers: review the relevant experience, ask which attorney will actually handle the case, determine the firm’s current capacity and compare the lawyers with other qualified counsel.
Sexual Assault Defense Is Evidence-Driven Litigation
Serious Article 120 and sexual-assault cases require counsel who can combine witness examination with forensic, digital, medical and scientific evidence.
Facing an Article 120 Investigation or Court-Martial?
Gonzalez & Waddington represents Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Guardians and Coast Guard members in serious military sexual-assault investigations and courts-martial worldwide.
If you are comparing Article 120 lawyers, ask us the same questions this report recommends asking every attorney: who will personally handle the case, what similar cases we have handled, how we approach the evidence, what experts may actually be necessary and what is on our current trial calendar.
Request a Confidential Consultation1-800-921-8607 • Text 954-799-4019
Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer FAQs
Who are some of the top sexual assault defense lawyers in the United States?
Lawyers worth researching depending on jurisdiction and case type include Michael Waddington, C. Melissa Owen, Kathleen Stilling, Jacqueline Goodman, Nicole Blank Becker, Jennifer Bonjean, Brian Prain and Andrew White. They practice in different jurisdictions and should not be treated as interchangeable or as an official ranking.
Who is the best sexual assault defense lawyer in America?
There is no official or universally accepted ranking identifying one attorney as America’s best sexual-assault lawyer. The correct lawyer depends on jurisdiction, charges, evidence, trial posture, location and the particular attorney’s current experience and availability.
Who should I hire for a military sexual assault case?
For a military case, look specifically for counsel with recent contested Article 120 court-martial experience in addition to sexual-assault defense experience. Military rules and procedures differ materially from state civilian criminal practice.
Is Article 120 the military sexual assault law?
Article 120, UCMJ, codified at 10 U.S.C. § 920, is the principal military statute addressing rape and sexual assault of adults. Other UCMJ provisions address child and related sexual offenses.
Is a former sex-crimes prosecutor automatically the best defense lawyer?
No. Prior prosecutorial experience can provide useful insight into investigations and charging decisions, but defense skill must be evaluated independently. Ask about the attorney’s current defense practice and recent contested trials.
Does teaching sexual-assault defense prove a lawyer is better?
No. Teaching for a respected professional organization can independently verify professional involvement in the subject, but it does not guarantee courtroom performance or results in a particular case.
Should I hire the sexual assault lawyer with the highest win rate?
Not without understanding how the percentage was calculated. Ask what qualifies as a win, what cases are included, the time period, the denominator and whether all qualifying matters are counted.
How important is cross-examination in a sexual assault case?
Cross-examination can be extremely important in credibility-driven cases, but it is only one part of the defense. Digital evidence, forensic science, expert testimony, motions and pretrial investigation may be equally important.
Should a sexual assault defense lawyer always accuse the complaining witness of lying?
No. Defense strategy should follow the evidence. A case may involve fabrication, mistaken recollection, impaired memory, misunderstanding, disputed consent, identity or other issues. Effective advocacy requires a theory supported by the actual facts.
What experts can be used in a sexual assault defense case?
Depending on the evidence, potential experts may include forensic physicians, SANE consultants, toxicologists, DNA experts, psychologists, memory experts, digital-forensic examiners or forensic-interview experts. Expert assistance should be tied to a genuine issue rather than retained automatically.
Does Gonzalez & Waddington claim Michael Waddington is the number one sexual assault lawyer?
No. Gonzalez & Waddington publishes this report and Michael Waddington is included because of his publicly documented military Article 120 practice, former Army JAG background, teaching and publications. Prospective clients should compare him with other qualified counsel based on their individual cases.
Legal and Professional Sources
- 10 U.S.C. § 920 — Article 120, Rape and Sexual Assault Generally
- 18 U.S.C. Chapter 109A — Federal Sexual Abuse Offenses
- NACDL — 2026 Defending Sexual Assault Cases Training Seminar
- Florida International University College of Law — Michael Waddington
- NACDL — C. Melissa Owen Installed as President
- NACDL — Kathleen Stilling
- NACDL — Jacqueline Goodman
Related Sexual Assault and Military Defense Resources
- Article 120 UCMJ — Military Sexual Assault Defense
- How to Choose a Civilian Military Lawyer for an Article 120 Case
- False Allegations of Sexual Assault
- Leading Military Defense Lawyers in the United States
- Civilian Court-Martial Defense Attorneys
- Contact Gonzalez & Waddington
Attorney advertising and editorial disclosure: This page is published by Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC and may constitute attorney advertising.
The terms “top,” “best,” “leading” and similar phrases reflect common consumer search terminology. There is no official national ranking or universally accepted methodology establishing that any attorney identified here is objectively superior to all other sexual-assault defense lawyers.
Lawyers identified on this page have different jurisdictions, licensing, practice areas and professional backgrounds. Inclusion should not be interpreted as a statement that a lawyer can represent a particular person in a particular jurisdiction.
Statements concerning other attorneys are based on publicly available professional sources and should be independently verified before hiring counsel.
Past results do not guarantee future results. No attorney can guarantee dismissal, acquittal or any other specific result.
No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this page.
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC • Weston, Florida • Military Article 120 Sexual Assault Defense • Representation of U.S. Service Members Worldwide
