Florida Criminal Lawyer Blog

Welcome to the new blog from Balliro, Galasso, Leskovich & Seltzer LLP. We are a law firm focused exclusively on providing assertive, thorough criminal defense to clients throughout South Florida, with offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Our blog will focus on topics and news stories about all kinds of criminal justice issues throughout the state, but especially here in South Florida. We also plan to post whenever the firm is in the news, and when we have our own big news to share.

On our Florida Criminal Lawyer Blog, we intend to pay special attention to firearms crimes and Second Amendment issues. BGLS has an active practice in gun issues, including assistance with permit applications, defending violations and restoring clients’ right to bear arms. Several of our attorneys here at BGLS are gun owners ourselves, and all of us believe in protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Founding partner Jean Paul Galasso also has special experience handling firearms crimes -- as a prosecutor, he served as Firearms Coordinator for the State’s Attorney’s office in Naples, and later as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, where he was charged with fighting gun violence.

In addition to Mr. Galasso, our firm includes founding partners Sebastian Balliro and Steven Leskovich; partner David Seltzer; and attorneys Neil Kerch and Douglas Spiegel. Aside from Mr. Galasso and Mr. Seltzer, both former prosecutors, all of our other attorneys are former public defenders. We believe that having experience on both sides of the criminal defense world helps improve the representation we offer clients. As former public defenders and now as Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers, we have combined decades of experience in criminal defense, trying hundreds of cases and representing thousands of clients. And with former prosecutors on our team, we have valuable insight into how the other side builds its cases.

We believe we also stand out because of our commitment to customer service. At BGLS, our goal is to form a partnership with clients -- not just dictate advice to them. We start every case by making sure the client fully understands the charges, the potential penalties, the process of a criminal case and his or her role in the defense. As the case moves on, we maintain clear communication with clients. And we are committed to defending the entire case -- including potential consequences for the client outside the justice system, such as public embarrassment, loss of a driver’s license and problems with work. Our Fort Myers criminal defense attorneys believe these are more than just minor details -- they can have a profound effect on our clients’ futures.

Finally, BGLS maintains truly constant availability -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Arrests and legal emergencies happen at all times of day, not just during business hours, so we consider it part of our job to be reachable at all times. In fact, we prefer to get involved as early as possible in the case, so that we can argue against high bail, guide clients in their interactions with police and protect them from violations of their civil rights.

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in South Florida, BGLS offers confidential, face-to-face consultations entirely free of charge. There is no pressure and no risk to you from speaking to us about your case. To set up this meeting, please contact us through our Web site or call us toll-free at 1-866-ARRESTED from anywhere in Florida.