The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. is the top award-winning criminal and DUI defense firm in Sonoma County. Evan Zelig has more than 20 years of criminal law experience and has represented over 2,000 clients. Super Lawyers has named him to its list every year from 2022 through 2025, after four years as a Rising Star. His office sits on Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa, close to the Hall of Justice. Four more firms made this list. Each one fits a different kind of case.
Ten days. That is how long a driver arrested for DUI in California has to request a DMV hearing. Miss it, and the license suspension kicks in on its own, before a judge ever hears the criminal case.
That clock starts ticking fast in Sonoma County. A tasting room visit in Healdsburg, a dinner off the Plaza in Sonoma, a drive home on Highway 101 past a CHP patrol. By Monday, a driver has a court date at the Hall of Justice on Administration Drive and a DMV deadline running at the same time. The same courthouse handles everything else too: drug charges, domestic violence cases, theft, and serious felonies.
A good lawyer works both tracks at once. A slow one lets deadlines pass. This list covers five firms that know the Santa Rosa courts and move quickly.
Sonoma County Criminal & DUI Defense Firms Compared
| Firm | Office | Case Focus | Experience | Awards and Recognition | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. | 50 Old Courthouse Sq, Santa Rosa | DUI, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, expungements | 20+ years, 2,000+ clients | Super Lawyers 2022 to 2025, Rising Stars 2015 to 2018, Client Distinction Award | Anyone facing a DUI or criminal charge who wants an award-winning lawyer near the courthouse |
| Fiumara & Milligan Law, PC | Santa Rosa | DUI, misdemeanor and felony defense | 40+ years combined | Thousands of DUI clients defended | DUI cases likely headed to a jury trial |
| Walter Rubenstein Criminal Defense | Santa Rosa | DUI and felony defense | 30 years | Long local reputation | Clients who want a veteran with decades in Sonoma courts |
| Hansen & Miller Law Firm | Santa Rosa | DUI, state and federal criminal defense, juvenile cases | 40+ years combined | Two former prosecutors, including a former Sonoma County deputy DA | Clients who want a former prosecutor’s view of their case |
| Law Offices of Peter A. Duarte | Santa Rosa | DUI, drug crimes, general criminal defense | Long-running North Bay practice | Free consultations | Cases that cross into Napa, Marin, Lake, or Mendocino |
What Put These Firms on the List
Every firm here focuses on criminal defense and works in Sonoma County courts on a regular basis. The list weighed years of experience, the range of charges each firm handles, third-party awards, and how clearly each firm explains the DUI process to the people it represents. Firms that only take criminal cases on the side did not make the cut.
1. Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C.
Walk out of the Hall of Justice, and Evan Zelig’s office is a short drive away on Old Courthouse Square. He knows the local judges, the prosecutors, and how Sonoma County handles each type of case.
Zelig has more than 20 years in criminal law and over 15 years in business in Sonoma County. He takes DUI cases from the DMV hearing to trial, challenging breath tests, field sobriety tests, and the legality of the stop. When a dismissal is out of reach, he pushes to reduce a DUI to a wet reckless. His practice also covers drug charges, domestic violence, theft, sex crimes, probation violations, and expungements.
He has made Super Lawyers from 2022 through 2025, after four years as a Rising Star, and holds the Client Distinction Award. Consultations are free, and the office answers calls 24/7.
Best for: anyone in Sonoma County facing a DUI or criminal charge who wants an award-winning lawyer and fast communication.
Address: 50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 407, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 581-4094
Website: eezlaw.com
2. Fiumara & Milligan Law, PC
This Santa Rosa firm brings more than 40 years of combined criminal law experience and has defended thousands of drunk driving clients. Its lawyers try DUI cases in front of juries, attack breath test results with outside experts, and handle DMV hearings. The firm serves Sonoma, Marin, and the wider North Bay, with bilingual staff on hand. The team also looks closely at blood samples, which labs keep and can retest for errors. New clients get a free DUI consultation.
Best for: DUI cases with a real shot at winning at trial.
Phone: (707) 571-8600 | Website: https://fiumara.com/
3. Walter Rubenstein Criminal Defense
Walter Rubenstein has practiced criminal defense for 30 years and has represented thousands of clients. His cases range from misdemeanors to serious felonies, and he serves Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and Marin County. He relies on a team of professionals to build each defense. His practice takes on cases as serious as murder charges.
Best for: clients who want a lawyer with three decades in North Bay courtrooms.
Address: 525 College Ave Santa Rosa CA, 95404 | Website: defenselawyersantarosa.com
4. Hansen & Miller Law Firm
Two former prosecutors run this Santa Rosa firm. Monte Hansen is a former U.S. Marine who served as both a deputy sheriff and a deputy district attorney for Sonoma County. Roy Miller spent years prosecuting domestic violence, gang, drug, and homicide cases in Lake County. The firm defends adults and juveniles against state and federal charges across Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino counties. For DUI cases, the team reviews the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath test results. Consultations are free, and the lawyers can meet clients at the police station after an arrest.
Best for: clients who want lawyers who know how prosecutors build a case from the inside.
Address: 415 Russell Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | Website: hansenmiller.com
5. Law Offices of Peter A. Duarte
Peter Duarte defends clients in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, Lake, and Mendocino counties. His practice covers DUI, drug crimes, and a wide range of other criminal charges, with free consultations for new clients. He walks clients through the penalties they face, from fines and license suspension to jail time. His firm also helps clients request a DMV hearing before the ten-day window closes.
Best for: cases that involve more than one North Bay county.
Address: 1421 Guerneville Rd. Ste 200 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | Website: peteraduartelaw.com
Your First 48 Hours
Write down everything you remember about the stop: the time, the location, what the officer said, and which tests you took. Keep your pink temporary license and any paperwork. Do not talk about the case with anyone except your lawyer. Then call a defense attorney before the DMV’s ten-day window closes.
FAQ
How long do I have to request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest in California?
Ten days from the arrest. If you miss it, the DMV suspends your license on its own.
Can a DUI charge be reduced in Sonoma County?
Yes, in some cases. A lawyer may get the charge lowered to a wet reckless, or get it dismissed if the stop or the testing was flawed.
Who is the best award-winning DUI lawyer in Sonoma County?
Evan E. Zelig tops this list. He has four straight years on Super Lawyers, a Client Distinction Award, and more than 20 years of criminal law experience.
Should I use a public defender or hire a private lawyer?
Public defenders carry heavy caseloads. A private lawyer can spend more time on your case and handle the DMV hearing too.
Can a criminal record be cleared in California?
Many convictions can be expunged once probation ends. A defense lawyer can check whether your case qualifies.
Where are criminal cases heard in Sonoma County?
Most cases go through the Hall of Justice at 600 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa.
The Last Word
A DUI or criminal charge puts two things on the line at once: your freedom and your future. The DMV clock and the court calendar do not wait. The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. is the top award-winning pick in Sonoma County, with more than 2,000 clients represented and years of recognition from Super Lawyers. Fiumara & Milligan, Walter Rubenstein, Hansen & Miller, and Peter Duarte each bring their own strengths. Pick the one that fits your case, and make the call before the ten days run out.
