10 Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Indianapolis, IN

This guide covers 10 criminal defense law firms serving Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, including firms with offices in neighboring Hamilton County that regularly appear in Indianapolis courts. Each firm was evaluated on four things: the professional background of its lead attorneys (former prosecutors, public defenders, or board-certified trial specialists), how much of the practice is dedicated to criminal defense rather than general practice, how often the attorneys appear in Marion Superior Court and the surrounding county courts, and the range of charges handled, from misdemeanor OWI to Level 1 felonies and federal cases.

When comparing options, three practical questions matter most. Does the attorney appear regularly before the judges and prosecutors who will handle your case? Has the attorney seen how the State builds a case, whether as a deputy prosecutor or as a defender of similar charges? And does the firm also handle the parallel matters that follow an arrest, such as driver’s license suspensions after an OWI arrest or expungement once a case is over?

Here is the complete list of Indianapolis criminal defense attorneys:

1. The Criminal Defense Team (Baldwin, Perry & Wiley, P.C.)

• Attorney/Key Figure: Andrew J. Baldwin, Founding Partner; Kathie A. Perry, Managing Partner
• Headquarters: 1060 Villa Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203 (additional offices at 150 N. Main St., Franklin, IN 46131 and 23 S. 8th St., Suite 50, Noblesville, IN 46060)
• Phone: (317) 687-8326 (24/7)
• Website: criminaldefenseteam.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense exclusively, including DUI/OWI, murder and manslaughter, sex crimes, domestic violence, drug crimes, gun crimes, robbery, battery, theft, white-collar crimes, and federal crimes
• Firm Size: Mid-size, nine attorneys listed, with more than 110 years of combined experience
• Practice Area Page: Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube

About the Firm: Andrew Baldwin founded the firm, and Kathie Perry leads it as managing partner after nearly 15 years litigating against Marion County prosecutors before she joined. Five of its attorneys (Baldwin, Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael Cunningham) are certified Criminal Trial Specialists by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The team also includes former prosecutors, and its lawyers have tried cases across the state since the firm began defending clients in 2007.

What sets the firm apart in Indianapolis is logistics and staffing. Its Indianapolis office sits less than a mile from the Marion County Criminal Justice Campus, a short drive from the jail and the criminal courtrooms, which makes jail visits and same-day hearings easier. On federal cases, the firm assigns two lawyers to each matter. Its defense of Alison Davis in State of Indiana v. Alison Davis was featured on CBS’s “48 Hours.”

2. The Renner Law Office

• Attorney/Key Figure: Stephanie Renner, Founding Attorney; Mark Renner, Attorney
• Headquarters: 1512 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
• Phone: (317) 771-8535
• Website: therennerlawoffice.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (state and federal), expungement, protective orders, divorce, prenuptial agreements, family law
• Firm Size: Boutique

About the Firm: Stephanie Renner’s experience includes complex white collar litigation at the state and federal levels, with cases ranging from federal securities fraud to murder, and a working knowledge of the federal Sentencing Guidelines. She is also known for her command of Indiana’s expungement law. Before opening her practice she worked under a judge in Marion Superior Court.

Attorney Mark Renner adds a different vantage point: a former Indianapolis judicial officer with more than 44 years since his 1981 admission to the bar, nearly 150 jury trials, and prior roles that include founding the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, supervising prosecutor, and felony drunk driving prosecutor. The office offers payment plans. Because divorce and family law sit alongside criminal defense in the practice, clients who want a criminal-only firm should ask how the caseload is divided.

3. Keffer Hirschauer LLP

• Attorney/Key Figure: Bradley Keffer, Founding Partner; Tom F. Hirschauer III, Partner
• Headquarters: 8440 Allison Pointe Blvd., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46250
• Phone: (317) 648-9560
• Website: indyjustice.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (battery, drug crimes, DUI, gun crimes, sex crimes, theft, violent crimes, white collar crimes), expungement, Title IX defense, traffic violations, handgun license appeals, protective orders, family law
• Firm Size: Boutique

About the Firm: Keffer Hirschauer describes its foundation as criminal defense and civil rights in criminal and related proceedings. Its attorneys have worked as Indiana deputy prosecutors and public defenders, and the firm’s own description lists experience in the Marion County DUI Prosecution Unit, leadership on the Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, and supervision of the Marion County Asset Forfeiture Unit. That is unusually specific prosecution-side experience for a DUI or forfeiture-related case.

The firm handles the full lifecycle of a case, from pre-charge investigation through trial, sentencing modification, probation violations, appeals, and post-conviction relief. Its adjacent services, including expungement, Title IX defense, and handgun license appeals, make it a practical fit for clients whose problems extend beyond the criminal charge itself, such as students, professionals, and gun owners.

4. Banks & Brower, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Brad Banks and Adam Brower, Founding Attorneys
• Headquarters: 8710 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
• Phone: (317) 870-0019 (24/7)
• Website: banksbrower.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (OWI/DUI, drug crimes, violent crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, robbery and burglary, theft and fraud, gun offenses, probation violations, expungement), immigration, family law, personal injury
• Firm Size: Mid-size, more than ten attorneys, with more than 80 years of combined experience

About the Firm: Brad Banks and Adam Brower founded the firm in 2012, and both previously served as prosecutors in two Indiana counties. The firm publishes a list of case results that includes not guilty verdicts after jury trial on homicide, dealing, and Level 6 felony pointing-a-firearm charges, and dismissals after evidence was suppressed in a narcotics case. Its attorneys are available around the clock and will meet clients at the hospital or the jail.

The firm’s footprint is wide, covering Marion County and Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Shelby, Hancock, and Boone counties, among others. Because Banks & Brower also practices immigration, family, and personal injury law, criminal defense is one of several practice areas rather than the sole focus, a trade-off worth weighing against criminal-only firms.

5. Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers

• Attorney/Key Figure: Joe Suhre, Managing Attorney
• Headquarters: 101 W. Ohio St., Suite 2000, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Phone: (317) 759-2599 (24/7)
• Website: suhrelawindianapolis.com
• Practice Areas: DUI/OWI defense, criminal defense, federal criminal defense, sex crimes, drug crimes, theft crimes, domestic violence, violent crimes
• Firm Size: Mid-size, with more than 100 years of combined experience

About the Firm: Joe Suhre, a former police officer, leads a downtown firm that sits in the 101 West Ohio building, steps from the State Capitol and close to the Marion County courts. That law enforcement background carries into the firm’s team, which includes several former law enforcement professionals trained in breathalyzers and other DUI detection methods.

The firm’s attorneys report being familiar with the courts and judges of Marion County and surrounding counties, and they handle everything from first-offense OWI to felony and federal charges. Round-the-clock intake means an arrest at night or on a weekend can be addressed immediately rather than at the next business day.

6. Marc Lopez Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Marc Lopez, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 120 E. Market St., Suite 710, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (additional office at 8435 Keystone Crossing, Suite 250, Indianapolis, IN 46240)
• Phone: (317) 632-3642
• Website: marclopezlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (OWI/DUI, drug, violent, and sex offenses), personal injury
• Firm Size: Boutique, multiple attorneys including Zachary Bailey and Naun Benitez

About the Firm: Marc Lopez worked as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County, where he handled thousands of criminal cases, many of them tried to a verdict. His firm’s marketing says that time taught him to spot weaknesses in the State’s case, and he now applies that to defense work. He is a member of the National College for DUI Defense, a credential relevant to OWI cases involving chemical testing and field sobriety procedures.

The firm keeps a downtown office near the courthouse and a northside office at Keystone Crossing, giving clients in either part of the city a short trip. It also handles personal injury matters, which can be useful when a criminal incident, such as a crash, also produces a civil claim.

7. Jackson Legal Services, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Katie Jackson-Lindsay, Founder and Managing Attorney
• Headquarters: 3676 N. Washington Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46205
• Phone: (317) 974-9779
• Website: jacksonlegalindy.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, with a focus on major felonies including drug, gun, and homicide cases
• Firm Size: Boutique

About the Firm: Katie Jackson-Lindsay founded Jackson Legal Services in 2013 after serving as a Marion County deputy prosecutor, and her site reports that she has tried more than 150 cases before Indiana’s criminal courts. She has said her practice evolved into mainly major felony work, including drug, gun, and homicide cases across Indianapolis and the surrounding cities.

Her credentials are notable for a small firm. She was named to Super Lawyers for 2024 through 2026 and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in March 2025, a distinction reserved for experienced trial advocates. For clients facing a serious felony in Marion County, that combination of prosecutor-side history and heavy trial experience is the central draw.

8. Eskew Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Christopher Eskew, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 255 Alabama St., Floor 3, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Phone: (317) 974-0177
• Website: eskewlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (DUI, drug charges, sex and violent crimes, weapons charges, property crimes), personal injury, family law
• Firm Size: Mid-size, with a stated 75 years of combined legal experience

About the Firm: Christopher Eskew is the attorney behind Eskew Law, and he took part in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the IU McKinney School of Law, where students represent real clients. He is listed by Super Lawyers and holds memberships in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense, along with the Indianapolis and Indiana bar associations.

The firm handles a broad range of felony and misdemeanor cases and says its attorneys try cases when resolution outside court is not in a client’s interest. Because criminal defense sits alongside personal injury and family law in a full-service practice, clients who want a criminal-only firm should ask how much of the trial team’s caseload is devoted to defense work.

9. Stark DUI Lawyers (Stark Law Offices, P.C.)

• Attorney/Key Figure: Gregg J. Stark, Attorney
• Headquarters: 450 E. 96th St., Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46240
• Phone: (317) 846-7777
• Website: indianaduiattorney.org
• Practice Areas: DUI/OWI defense, criminal defense, juvenile defense
• Firm Size: Solo practice, with more than 30 years of experience

About the Firm: Gregg Stark has focused on Indiana OWI defense for more than 30 years and says he has defended OWI cases in every county in the state. His Carmel-area office at Parkwood Crossing, just off the 465 and Meridian Street exit, puts him close to the Hamilton County courts, where he reports about 25 years of courtroom experience.

The firm’s pitch is personal handling: Stark states that he handles every case entrusted to him himself. That makes him a strong fit for a DUI or OWI case where a client wants one senior lawyer throughout. The trade-off of a solo practice is a smaller bench, so a case that needs several lawyers at trial, or a complex non-DUI felony, may be better served by a larger team.

10. Rigney Law LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jacob T. Rigney and A. Kassi Rigney, Founding Partners
• Headquarters: 250 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205
• Phone: (317) 623-0989
• Website: rigneylawindy.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (OWI/DUI, drug crimes, homicide, gun and weapons crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, white collar crimes), expungement, driver license rehabilitation
• Firm Size: Boutique, with more than 30 years of combined criminal law experience

About the Firm: Jacob Rigney began his career in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office as a misdemeanor deputy prosecutor and rose to major felony supervisor over more than ten years. He opened a solo defense practice in 2015, and in 2017 he joined with A. Kassi Rigney, who spent nearly twelve years as a deputy prosecuting attorney, to form Rigney Law LLC. Both attorneys therefore know how Marion County felony cases are charged and negotiated from the inside.

The firm practices criminal defense and closely related matters such as expungements and driver license rehabilitation, and it emphasizes extensive jury trial experience. That focus makes it a practical choice for clients who want a two-lawyer team with prosecutor-side backgrounds and a trial-ready posture.

Indianapolis, IN Criminal Defense Resources

• Marion Superior Court: Handles local criminal dockets, traffic violations, and municipal infractions.
• Marion County Public Defender Agency: Provides court-appointed legal representation for qualifying indigent defendants facing misdemeanor or felony charges.
• Indianapolis Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: Connects individuals seeking private counsel with vetted local criminal defense attorneys.
• Marion County Clerk’s Office: Offers public access to active case dockets, court records, and warrant information.
• Indiana Legal Services: Provides civil and low-income legal assistance, along with guidance on navigating the state justice system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between OWI and DUI in Indiana?

Indiana’s statutes use the term operating while intoxicated (OWI), while most people and many firm websites still say DUI. The two mean the same thing in practice. Firms such as Stark DUI Lawyers and Suhre & Associates use both terms because clients search for both. What matters is that an OWI arrest starts two tracks at once: the criminal case in court and a separate driver’s license process, so early contact with a lawyer protects both.

How serious are the potential penalties for a criminal charge in Indiana?

Indiana grades felonies by level, from Level 6 (the lowest) to Level 1 (the most serious), and misdemeanors by class. A Level 6 felony carries a sentence of six months to two and a half years and a fine of up to $10,000, while a Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Serious charges such as those Jackson Legal Services and The Criminal Defense Team handle, including homicide and Level 1 to Level 4 felonies, carry substantially longer terms, so the level of the charge is the first thing to ask an attorney about.

Should I hire a former prosecutor as my defense attorney?

A former prosecutor knows how the State evaluates evidence, decides on charges, and negotiates pleas. Several firms on this list are built around that experience, including Blankenship Law, Banks & Brower, and Marc Lopez Law Firm, whose lead attorneys served as deputy prosecutors. That background helps, but it is not a substitute for actual trial work, so ask how many cases the attorney has taken to a jury and how recently.

Do I need a lawyer for a federal case or only for a state case?

Federal cases in Indianapolis are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and they follow different rules and sentencing procedures than Marion County cases. If you are under investigation, have received a grand jury subpoena, or have been charged federally, look for a firm that lists federal defense as a practice area. The Criminal Defense Team, which assigns two lawyers to each federal matter, and Suhre & Associates both handle federal cases alongside state charges.

Can a criminal record be cleared in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana’s Second Chance Law lets many people petition to seal arrest and conviction records through expungement, but eligibility depends on the offense and the time that has passed, and a petition must be filed in every county where a record exists. Keffer Hirschauer, Banks & Brower, and Blankenship Law all handle expungement, which is helpful if you want the same firm that resolved your case to help clear it afterward.

How do I choose between a large firm and a solo attorney?

A larger firm, such as The Criminal Defense Team or Banks & Brower, offers more attorneys to prepare for trial, cover hearings, and consult on strategy. A solo attorney, such as Gregg Stark or David Hennessy, offers direct access to one senior lawyer for the life of the case. Neither model is better in every situation. A multi-defendant felony or a case with heavy forensic evidence often favors a larger bench, while a single-count OWI or a case where one long-standing relationship with local prosecutors matters may favor a solo lawyer. Ask any firm who will actually appear in court on your case.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an endorsement. Attorney qualifications change over time. Verify all credentials and details independently before hiring counsel.