It is 2:40 a.m. on Flamingo Road. The lights behind you are red and blue, and the officer wants you to follow a pen with your eyes. Ten minutes later you are in the back of a patrol car headed to the Clark County Detention Center. That is how most Las Vegas DUI cases start. Locals get caught on the way home from a shift. Visitors get caught leaving a show on the Strip. Either way, the clock starts right then.
Nevada gives you only a few days to fight for your license. The lawyer you call this week shapes everything that follows. Below are five Las Vegas firms that take DUI defense seriously, compared side by side.
Cut to the Chase
Joel M. Mann – Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer is the best choice for a Las Vegas DUI if you want one experienced attorney handling your case from the first call to the final hearing. Mann has run his own criminal defense practice since 2006. Before that, he worked in the Appellate Division of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. Super Lawyers has listed him every year since 2011. Avvo gave him a 10.0 Superb rating and named him a Clients’ Choice in DUI defense. He is a member of the National College for DUI Defense. You will not get passed to a case manager. You work with Joel.
Five Las Vegas DUI Firms, Head to Head
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Credentials | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel M. Mann – Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer | Top overall pick, first-offense and felony DUI | Solo practice since 2006, former Clark County DA appellate attorney | Super Lawyers every year since 2011, Avvo 10.0 | Clients work directly with Joel, appeals handled in-house |
| Chesnoff & Schonfeld | High-stakes DUI cases with public attention | Firm roots date to 1987 | Super Lawyers (Chesnoff, 2007 to 2023), Martindale-Hubbell 5.0 peer rating | Partners try cases in courtrooms across the country |
| Pitaro & Fumo, Chtd. | Clients who want a multi-lawyer team | 20+ years in practice | Super Lawyers-listed attorneys | Handles DUI and related injury claims under one roof |
| LV Criminal Defense | DUI cases with federal or out-of-state angles | Practicing since 2004 | Super Lawyers Rising Star, NCDD member | Licensed in Nevada and New York, 24/7 phones |
| Lipp Law LLC | 24/7 access, DUI and record sealing | 15+ years combined | Free case evaluations | Phones answered around the clock, Spanish-speaking staff |
How We Sorted Them
Every firm here handles DUI as regular work, not a side service. We checked years in practice, trial history, independent ratings, and whether the lawyer you meet is the lawyer who shows up in court. Firms with no clear DUI track record in Clark County did not make the cut.
1. Joel M. Mann – Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer
Joel Mann earned his law degree from the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law in 2002. He then spent several years in the appellate unit of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, reading how DUI cases hold up or fall apart on review. That view from the other side still shapes how he picks apart a stop, a breath test, or a blood draw.
His downtown office sits on South 7th Street, a short walk from the courthouses. He handles first-time DUI, repeat DUI, and felony DUI, including third offenses within seven years. His practice also covers drug charges, domestic violence, and casino markers. Unlike many firms, he keeps working on your case after trial if an appeal makes sense. Clients get free consultations and direct access to the attorney.
Best for: drivers who want one seasoned lawyer on their case the whole way through.
Address: 601 S 7th St #9, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | Website: legalmann.com
2. Chesnoff & Schonfeld
David Chesnoff has practiced law since 1979. He built his career as the law partner of Oscar Goodman, the former three-term mayor of Las Vegas, starting in 1987. When Goodman left for City Hall, Richard Schonfeld joined as a named partner. Super Lawyers selected Chesnoff every year from 2007 through 2023, and he holds a 5.0 peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The firm takes on hard cases, including DUI charges tied to serious crashes, and its partners regularly appear in courts outside Nevada.
Best for: DUI cases with high stakes, serious injuries, or media interest.
Address: 520 S 4th St, Ste 200, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | Phone: (702) 384-5563
3. Pitaro & Fumo, Chtd.
Pitaro & Fumo has defended clients in Nevada for more than two decades. The downtown firm has several attorneys, so a client gets a full team rather than one busy lawyer. Thomas Pitaro appears on Super Lawyers lists with DUI defense as a practice focus. Ozzie Fumo, a founding partner, once served in the Nevada Assembly. The firm also handles personal injury, which helps when a DUI arrest follows a crash with its own claims.
Best for: clients who want a team approach and help with related civil issues.
Address: 601 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | Phone: (702) 474-7554
4. LV Criminal Defense
Nick Wooldridge grew up in Las Vegas and graduated with honors from the Boyd School of Law in 2003. He spent close to a decade at a New York firm before coming home to open his own practice. He holds licenses in both Nevada and New York, belongs to the National College for DUI Defense, and has the same field sobriety certification police receive. Super Lawyers named him a Rising Star. His phones stay on 24 hours a day.
Best for: clients with a DUI that crosses state lines or ties into a federal matter.
Address: 300 S 4th St, Ste 950, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Website: https://www.lvcriminaldefense.com/
5. Lipp Law LLC
Daniel Lippmann leads Lipp Law LLC, a criminal defense firm on the west side of Las Vegas. The firm handles DUI cases, including DUI tied to prescription drugs, along with drug crimes, domestic violence, fraud, and federal charges. It also offers record sealing, which matters for anyone hoping to clear an old DUI later. Staff answer phones 24 hours a day, and new clients get a free case review. Spanish-speaking staff are on hand for clients who prefer it.
Best for: drivers who want 24/7 access and help with record sealing down the road.
Address: 2580 Sorrel St, Las Vegas, NV 89146 | Website: criminallawyerslasvegas.com
What to Ask on That First Call
Ask who will stand next to you in court. Ask how many DUI cases like yours the lawyer handled in Las Vegas Justice Court or Municipal Court last year. Ask whether the fee covers the DMV hearing or only the criminal case. A straight answer to all three tells you a lot.
FAQ
How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Las Vegas?
A first-offense case often runs a flat fee in the low thousands. Felony DUI costs more because of the extra court time. Get the fee in writing before you sign.
Is a DUI a felony in Nevada?
A first or second DUI within seven years is usually a misdemeanor. A third within seven years is a felony. A DUI that causes serious injury or death is a felony on the first offense.
What happens to my license after a DUI arrest in Las Vegas?
Nevada starts a separate DMV process right away. You have only a short window, generally about seven days, to request a hearing. A lawyer can file that request for you.
I was visiting Las Vegas. Do I have to come back for court?
Not always. Many Las Vegas DUI lawyers can appear for you on misdemeanor cases. Your home state will likely learn of the conviction, so it still pays to fight it.
Should I hire a lawyer for a first DUI?
Yes. A first offense can bring jail or community service, fines, DUI school, and a license revocation. A lawyer can challenge the stop and the test results, and push for a reduced charge.
One Last Thing
A DUI arrest in Las Vegas does not have to define your future, but waiting too long can cost you your license before your case even starts. Call a lawyer from this list today, ask the hard questions, and pick the one who will fight for you in court.