Police want to talk
Do not guess about your status or try to explain the situation on the spot. A lawyer can find out whether you are a witness, a target, or already facing a charge.
Fort Lauderdale · State & Federal Courts
Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyer
Michael A. Gottlieb, P.A. represents people facing criminal charges, DUI allegations, and life-changing injuries. The first step is a direct, confidential conversation about what happened and what comes next.
Professional recognition
Recognized by peers. Built in the courtroom.
AV PreeminentMartindale-Hubbell
Florida Super LawyersSelected 2016–2025
Former Public DefendersBoth attorneys
State & Federal DefenseFlorida representation
The first hours matter
What to do when a criminal case starts moving.
An investigation, arrest, warrant, or DUI creates different deadlines. Start by identifying what has happened, what the government is asking for, and which evidence or court condition needs attention first.
An arrest has occurred
Locate the booking information, charging document, next court date, and every release condition. Avoid recorded conversations about the facts.
A DUI creates two tracks
The criminal case and driving-privilege process can move on separate schedules. Preserve the citation, testing paperwork, and any video or witness information.
Agents served a warrant
Keep the warrant, property receipt, and related documents. Do not consent to additional searches or delete, alter, or discuss potential evidence.
Focused legal representation
Clear priorities when the pressure is real.
An arrest, investigation, or serious injury creates immediate decisions. The firm begins by identifying the deadline, evidence, and risk that matter most—then builds a strategy around the facts of your case.
Michael Gottlieb and Clark Alan Strandell draw on their public-defender backgrounds and experience in Florida courts. When appropriate, the attorneys collaborate so a case benefits from more than one perspective.
01
Criminal Defense
Representation for state and federal investigations, felony and misdemeanor charges, and cases headed toward trial.
View defense services → 02DUI Defense
Focused attention to the stop, testing, video, license consequences, and the prosecution’s proof.
View DUI defense → 03Personal Injury
Guidance after a serious collision or catastrophic injury, with careful attention to fault, evidence, and available recovery.
View injury services →Focused defense services
Find the page that matches the immediate problem.
These guides explain the evidence, deadlines, and practical decisions that often shape a specific allegation.
A disciplined approach
From uncertainty to a working plan.
Every matter is different. The work begins with listening, preserving what can be preserved, and separating assumptions from evidence.
- 01
Understand the immediate risk
Review the charge, investigation, injury, deadlines, and practical concerns affecting your family, work, or freedom.
- 02
Secure and test the evidence
Identify reports, recordings, witnesses, records, and legal issues that could change the direction of the matter.
- 03
Choose the right path
Prepare for negotiation, motions, trial, or an injury claim based on the available facts—not a one-size-fits-all script.
Broward and federal court focus
A local plan starts with the correct court, deadline, and record.
A Fort Lauderdale matter may proceed in Broward County’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The defense plan changes with the charging authority, assigned court, release conditions, and evidence already collected.
The legal team
Two experienced advocates. One focused strategy.
Meet the attorneys behind the firm and learn how their experience shapes the way they prepare and present a case.
Meet the Team
Michael A. Gottlieb
Founder and trial attorney representing clients in criminal matters in Florida state and federal courts.
Read Michael’s profile
Clark Alan Strandell
Criminal defense attorney with prior public-defender experience and a collaborative approach to case preparation.
Read Clark’s profileSelected reported outcomes
Preparation tested in serious cases.
The firm has published outcomes from significant state and federal prosecutions. These summaries provide context about prior work; they do not predict what will happen in another case.
Review case resultsDUI manslaughter trial
The firm reports developing weaknesses in the crash investigation through expert and investigator testimony.
Federal sexual-assault prosecution
The firm reports an acquittal after cross-examination of government witnesses and the accuser.
First-degree murder trial
The firm reports an acquittal in a case involving contested identification and evidence developed during trial.
Past results do not guarantee a similar result. Every case depends on its own facts and law.
Before the consultation
Questions people ask when time feels short.
General information cannot replace advice about a specific case, but it can help you prepare for a focused first conversation.
Can a defense lawyer help before an arrest or formal charge?
Yes. When an investigation is active, counsel may be able to communicate with investigators, clarify your status, preserve evidence, and help you avoid an unnecessary statement. What is possible depends on the agency and stage of the matter.
What should I do if a detective asks me to come in?
Ask for the detective’s name, agency, and contact information, then speak with counsel before agreeing to an interview. Do not assume that being invited rather than arrested means the conversation is risk-free.
How is a federal criminal case different from a Florida state case?
Federal matters often involve longer investigations, multiple agencies, grand-jury process, federal sentencing rules, and evidence collected well before an arrest. The first review should identify the investigating agency and any subpoena, warrant, or target communication.
What information is useful for an initial case review?
Bring the case number or citation, court date, release paperwork, agency names, and any records you can preserve lawfully. A short timeline is useful. Do not send original evidence or confidential details until the firm confirms how it should be received.
Will every criminal case go to trial?
No. A case may involve negotiation, diversion, motion practice, dismissal, or trial. The appropriate path depends on the admissible evidence, legal issues, exposure, available resolutions, and the client’s informed goals.
Does contacting the firm automatically create an attorney-client relationship?
No. A call or online inquiry is a request to discuss the matter. Representation begins only after the firm confirms it can accept the case and both sides complete the required agreement.
Fort Lauderdale office
Defense counsel for Broward County and appropriate matters across Florida.
The firm’s office is in Fort Lauderdale. Broward-area representation includes Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Plantation, Davie, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Weston, Miramar, and nearby communities.
Start with a conversation
Tell us what is happening.
A confidential case review can help you identify the immediate decisions, documents, and deadlines that deserve attention.