About the Firm
Who We Are
Your Trusted Legal Advocates
Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC is a San Francisco County, Alameda County, and San Mateo County-based law firm representing clients throughout the state of California, specializing in the defense of state and federal criminal cases. The firm handles cases at the trial and appellate levels. The firm also defends individuals before administrative and regulatory agencies.
The firm has handled criminal matters involving narcotics, violent crimes, sex offenses, weapons offenses, driving under the influence, domestic violence defense, juvenile law, criminal tax violations, violations of the federal food and drug laws, Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE), mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, federal securities violations, insider trading, and computer crimes. Our clients have included doctors, bank vice presidents, small business owners, corporate executives, college professors, engineers, attorneys, and teachers.
The founder of Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC is David J. Cohen, Esq., an experienced trial attorney with over 30 years of criminal litigation experience. Mr. Cohen is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and a former federal public defender. He has extensive experience both in the government and with major law firms.
Mr. Cohen has tried over 45 federal and state criminal cases to juries, and briefed and argued more than 60 federal and state criminal appeals. He has defended criminal cases, state and federal, large and small, first as a federal public defender in San Diego, California, then as a partner in firms he has founded and managed. He has won cases and appeals in courts throughout California.
The firm has a team of attorneys at your disposal working collaboratively in the zealous advocacy of your defense. Senior Associate attorney Clint C. Christoffersen graduated from the University of Hastings, College of Law, cum laude, and brings experience from his judicial fellowship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, as well as his work externing at the California Supreme Court. Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC’s newest associate, Kayla Sparks, is new to her position, but not new to the firm as she previously served as a Summer Clerk, and then as a post-bar law clerk where she assisted attorneys in drafting motions, reviewing discovery, and attending court proceedings.
Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC is committed to providing its clients with the highest quality of legal representation while maintaining close client contact and emphasizing a strong sensitivity to containing legal costs. The firm has a proven record of success and is dedicated to achieving the best possible result for every client.
Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC Team
Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC is committed to providing its clients with the highest quality of legal representation while maintaining close client contact and emphasizing a strong sensitivity to containing legal costs. The firm has a proven record of success and is dedicated to achieving the best possible result for every client.
The firm has a team of attorneys at your disposal working collaboratively in the zealous advocacy of your defense.
David J. Cohen
David J. Cohen
Firm Owner / Senior Attorney
Firm owner David J. Cohen is an experienced Bay Area criminal defense attorney. He has tried over 75 federal and state criminal cases to juries, and briefed and argued more than 60 federal and state direct appeals, more than 25 habeas corpus petitions, and well over 100 writs. He has experience working with both major law firms and with the government.
Clint C. Christoffersen
Senior Associate Attorney
Kayla N. Sparks
Associate Attorney
Jessica P. Perez
Office Manager
Yesenia L. Ruiz
Receptionist
Mylan A. Gerbeyesus
HR/Administrative
Clint C. Christoffersen
Senior Associate Attorney
Kayla N. Sparks
Associate Attorney
Jessica P. Perez
Office Manager
Yesenia L. Ruiz
Receptionist
Mylan A. Gerbeyesus
HR/Administrative
Firm Philosophy
David J. Cohen, Esq., the firm’s owner and senior attorney, personally handles and supervises your case. He brings decades of experience in criminal defense, including his knowledge from handling numerous state and federal jury trials and appeals.
At the same time, in most circumstances, your case will also be assigned to one of the firm’s energetic, experienced associate attorneys while being supervised by firm owner and senior attorney, David J. Cohen, Esq.. Both Mr. Cohen and the associate attorney will be available at the office, by e-mail, and by cell phone whenever you need them. This assures you that, unlike single lawyer criminal defense practices, where the attorney may frequently be out of communication, in court, or involved with another matter, or client, there is virtually always an attorney assigned and available to speak to you about your case 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of integrity, ensuring transparency and honesty in our interactions while fiercely advocating for our clients' rights.
Excellence
Our pursuit of excellence drives us to constantly refine our skills and knowledge, delivering the highest quality legal services tailored to each client's needs.
Compassion
We approach every case with compassion, understanding the emotional and financial stress of facing criminal charges, and we support our clients through every step.
Criminal cases are major life-changing events. Constant availability, compassionate communication and listening, and knowledgeable advice from a seasoned and experienced legal team are a must. You deserve appropriate, helpful, and successful representation that gets you the results you want and need.
Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC believes that a criminal defense case cannot be properly handled without being prepared and available to consistently take on every pre-trial legal motion and to fully investigate and present – through expert testimony if necessary – every important fact in your matter.
Our capable, compassionate, and experienced administrative staff, and our knowledge and partnership with the top investigators and forensic experts ensure that your case, once we are hired, will be attended to at all times and that nothing will fall through the cracks.
A criminal case is a war, with a series of battles comprised of bail hearings, pre-trial motions hearings relating to potential constitutional and other legal violations by the prosecutor, pre-trial preparation and investigation, trial motions, hard and tough negotiation toward a favorable plea agreement if possible, and willingness, readiness, and experience to take the case to trial if appropriate. These battles themselves include, if necessary, sentencing hearings, appeals, post-conviction habeas corpus, and other writ relief.
Only an experienced and trusted criminal defense firm, like Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC, whose owner, with more than three decades of experience and who is certified by the California State Bar as a specialist in criminal law, exclusively practices criminal defense, and is armed with experienced, energetic, understanding, compassionate associate attorneys and staff, available 24/7, and who partners with top-notch investigators and forensic experts is able to most successfully represent criminal defense clients facing the deprivation of liberty and rights for extended periods of their lives.