Recent Criminal Defense Awards

Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney
Zak T. Goldstein

Countless Success Stories

Attorney Goldstein Arguing Before the PA Supreme Court

Zak T. Goldstein is a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer who will take ownership of your case and fight until he obtains the best possible result for you. Most importantly, Mr. Goldstein is a lawyer who is not afraid to take a difficult case to trial. He has tried hundreds of cases before judges and juries, and he has successfully defended thousands of clients in both state and federal court. He has won critical pre-trial motions including motions to suppress evidence such as drugs, guns, and confessions. He has also won full acquittals for his clients in both bench trials and jury trials in cases involving charges as serious as murder, aggravated assault, rape, fraud, and robbery.

When the circumstances of the case call for it, Mr. Goldstein is a skilled negotiator. On many occasions, he has been able to obtain favorable non-trial resolutions to his clients' cases, including the dismissal of charges, entry into diversionary programs like ARD, and negotiated pleas to significantly reduced charges and sentences.

“I will handle your case as if it were my own. It’s my problem now.”

— Zak T. Goldstein, Esq.

Mr. Goldstein is widely considered to be one of Pennsylvania’s top appellate litigators for criminal appeals. He has successfully represented clients in criminal appeals, post-conviction relief act litigation, and federal habeas corpus petitions under 18 U.S.C. § 2544. He has obtained new trials for clients who were convicted of charges as serious as first degree murder and sexual assault and convinced appellate courts to overturn life sentences on appeal. He has argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and litigated writs of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. He has also obtained relief for clients in numerous PCRA and federal habeas corpus matters, including winning an exoneration based on prosecutorial and police misconduct for a client who spent 33 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Passionate About Protecting Your Rights

Zak Goldstein started his own criminal defense practice because he is passionate about defending the constitutional rights of the accused and helping victims of police misconduct obtain justice. He is an experienced advocate who will fight hard for your rights in order to make sure that you have every possible advantage when dealing with the power of the police and the prosecutor. Attorney Goldstein has experience with all types of charges ranging from misdemeanors like DUI and Simple Possession to serious felonies such as Aggravated Assault, Robbery, gun charges, Possession with the Intent to Deliver, sex crimes, and criminal Homicide.

“Zak is amazing. Best lawyer we ever had. Answers every text, calls back every time, he is so professional. He is prompt, and on time, every time. Excellent service”

— Client D.G.

Extensive Experience

Prior to starting his own defense firm in Center City Philadelphia with attorney Demetra Mehta, Zak Goldstein was an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia; one of the most well regarded and highly trained public defender offices in the country. As a defender, he gained the trial experience needed to fight for his clients and get results. He represented thousands of clients charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors like DUI and Simple Assault to the very most serious and complex felonies. After leaving the Defender Association, Zak Goldstein worked for a time as an associate for a nationally recognized AmLaw 200 law firm specializing in complex civil litigation.

“Zak Goldstein is unstoppable in the courtroom. He takes charge and fights doggedly for his client’s rights. I have seen him win cases many attorneys would not have the courage to litigate. Please consider him for all your legal needs. He will not let you down, and he is worth every penny.”

— AVVO Endorsement From Fellow Criminal Defense Lawyer

Award-Winning

Mr. Goldstein has been recognized by other lawyers in the community for his unwavering advocacy on behalf of his clients and his ability to get results in the courtroom. He has won a number of prestigious awards. He is ranked as a Top Attorney in Criminal Defense with a perfect 10.0 "Superb" AVVO rating. He was also selected as one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys. His law firm, Goldstein Mehta LLC, is rated by Expertise as one of the Top 20 Best Criminal Defense Firms in Philadelphia. The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys recently recognized Mr. Goldstein as one of the Top 10 Criminal Defense Lawyers Under 40 in Pennsylvania. Finally, Super Lawyers repeatedly rated Mr. Goldstein as a Rising Star in criminal defense and appellate litigation.

Zak Goldstein graduated summa cum laude from Moravian College with a degree in Economics and a minor in Spanish. He graduated magna cum laude from Villanova University School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Villanova Law Review. During law school, Zak Goldstein gained valuable experience working for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and a boutique law firm specializing in federal white collar criminal defense. Zak Goldstein is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is an active member of the legal community, and he maintains memberships in the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Philadelphia Criminal Law Inn of Court, the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Call or text 267-225-2545 or fill out our contact form for a complimentary 15-minute criminal defense strategy session with Attorney Goldstein or one of our other top-rated criminal defense lawyers.

“Zak is a great lawyer in more ways than one. He is extremely knowledgeable in criminal defense and is a true professional in every aspect of the word. His demeanor in and out of the courtroom is calm, cool and collected even when his client isn’t. He returns calls, goes above and beyond for his clients. He had my significant others charges dismissed even though the DA was trying to railroad his client. Zak wrote a 16 page quash that was spot on the first time and the DA had nothing for it. It was like a punch in the face for the DA because he had nothing for it. The DA didn’t even attempt to go up against Zak in the courtroom...Charges Dismissed. If you want your rights protected by a knowledgeable, credible, experienced Criminal Defense Attorney with character call Zak Goldstein...you won’t be disappointed. In my opinion Zak is the best of the best.”

— Tom - April 14, 2017 - Review from AVVO