Benjamin Brafman

Benjamin Brafman is the principal of Brafman & Associates, P.C., a Manhattan-based criminal defence firm with more than forty years of experience. The firm concentrates on criminal law with an emphasis on white-collar criminal defence, representing clients facing serious federal and state charges. Its standing in this field is recognised in its naming as Business Crime Law Firm of the Year in New York at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 – a distinction that reflects both the firm's long track record and Benjamin Brafman's reputation as one of the leading criminal defence lawyers in the United States.

A leading white-collar defence practice

Business crime, or white-collar crime, encompasses offences such as fraud and other financially motivated wrongdoing, and cases in this area are typically complex, document-heavy and high-stakes, often involving parallel scrutiny from prosecutors and regulators. Brafman & Associates focuses squarely on this kind of work, defending individuals and organisations against white-collar, federal and state criminal charges and representing them in complex criminal trials. The firm operates from offices on Fifth Avenue in New York, at the heart of the city that is both a global financial centre and a jurisdiction with some of the most active federal and state prosecutors in the country.

The firm emphasises its record of landmark acquittals and case dismissals, and Benjamin Brafman is noted for having one of the highest acquittal records in complex criminal trials in New York City. In criminal defence, where the consequences for a client's liberty, livelihood and reputation are profound, a demonstrated ability to secure acquittals and dismissals at trial is the ultimate measure of a lawyer's effectiveness. That trial capability is central to the firm's identity and to the confidence clients place in it.

Trial advocacy at the highest level

What distinguishes a firm of this kind is its readiness and ability to take a case all the way to trial and prevail before a jury. Many criminal matters are resolved before trial, but the credibility of a defence – and the strength of a client's negotiating position – often depends on the prosecution's knowledge that the lawyer on the other side is a formidable trial advocate. Benjamin Brafman's reputation for courtroom skill, built over four decades, gives his clients exactly that advantage, whether their case is ultimately resolved at trial or through other means.

The firm's concentration on serious federal and state charges means it is equipped to handle matters at every level of the American criminal justice system, from investigations and charging decisions through to trial and, where necessary, appeal. For businesspeople, professionals and organisations confronting the prospect of criminal liability, access to counsel with this depth of experience is critical.

Recognition and honours

Benjamin Brafman's standing in the profession is reflected in an extensive list of honours. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has been described as the best criminal defence lawyer in New York by a leading city publication, and has received recognition from the New York State Bar Association as an outstanding private criminal defence practitioner. His awards include distinctions named for prominent figures in American law and public life, honouring his contributions to white-collar criminal defence and to the wider legal and civic community.

Recognition of this kind, accumulated over a long career, marks Benjamin Brafman as a lawyer of exceptional reputation among his peers, prosecutors and the courts. For clients in New York facing business-crime or other serious criminal allegations, Brafman & Associates, P.C. offers defence of the highest calibre. The firm's naming as Business Crime Law Firm of the Year in New York at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 confirms its position at the forefront of white-collar criminal defence.