About DM Cantor

DM Cantor’s Criminal Law Practice Defense Team has over 7,000+ case victories, including 170 Complete Jury Trial Acquittals, and three (3) Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (No Law Firm in Arizona Has More! – Read why this is important).

3 Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists – No Law Firm in Arizona Has More!

Since becoming a lawyer in 1989, Arizona Criminal Attorney and Arizona Vehicular Homicide & DUI Lawyer David Cantor has handled many high-profile cases which have been covered by the local and national news media. He has been interviewed and has appeared on Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Live, CNN, Inside Edition, the CBS Morning Show, Hannity and Colmes, and every local Arizona news channel including Univision. David Cantor also has provided media Legal Commentary on various national news outlets regarding trials, such as the Jody Arias Murder case, the James Ray Sedona “Sweat Lodge” Negligent Homicide case, and the potential Donald Trump Self-Pardoning issue. In addition, David’s own cases have been covered by CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, Daily Mail, Rolling Stone Magazine, and even Howard Stern.

Both the firm, DM Cantor, and David Cantor individually, have received numerous prestigious awards and Top-Ratings by reviewing websites as the Best Criminal Defense Attorney and Best DUI Attorney in Arizona. Read through hundreds of Real Client Reviews HERE.

Additional Information about Top Rated Arizona Criminal Defense Attorney David Cantor and his Law Firm:

Some of DM Cantor’s high-profile cases include:

Lisa Randall: The Dismissal (with Prejudice) of Capital Murder Charges (on the eve of Jury Trial) against grandmother and daycare provider falsely accused of killing a baby in her care.
Mr. H: The high-profile “Turn-Down” of Second-Degree Murder Charges against a freshman in high school who stabbed another high school student in self-defense, resulting in death.
Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman: Mark “The Smashing Machine” Kerr, and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman (both former UFC Heavyweight Champions) were successfully defended against a Civil Lawsuit instigated by their former manager, thereby releasing them from a very unreasonable contract.
Jason Mayes: The Complete Acquittal at Jury Trial of a Phoenix man who shot and killed his girlfriend’s estranged husband in self-defense.
Brittney Griner: WNBA Basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury regarding a high-profile criminal allegation and a subsequent Divorce case.
Michael Gherman: The high-profile East Valley Wal-Mart double Capital Murder Jury Trial.
Michael Beasley: NBA Basketball player for the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat who, in an internationally covered media case, was Falsely Accused of Sexual Assault and Weapon/Drug Possession.
Valinda Jo Elliott: The Rejection of Criminal Charges (in an Internationally covered media case) against the woman who became lost in an Arizona forest and set a signal fire which ultimately became the Rodeo-Chediski fire – burning more than five hundred thousand (500,000) acres and four hundred and forty (440) homes.
Richard Simmons: The Dismissal of Charges against the famed fitness expert who was accused of slapping a rather large “cage fighter” that was taunting him at the Sky Harbor Airport.
Dr. Nancy Lee: The high-profile “Turn-Down” of First Degree Murder charges against a Scottsdale woman falsely accused of shooting her husband 3 times while he lay in bed, and instead having the death ruled as a suicide.
David Ellefson: Rejection of Criminal Charges against the bass-player in the band Megadeth regarding false sex crime allegations.
Jason Beck: The high-profile “Turn-Down” of Homicide Charges against a Peoria man who was being falsely accused of pushing his estranged wife out of a moving vehicle, which resulted in her death.
Sgt. Patrick Haab: The Declining of Filing Charges (in a nationally covered media case) against an off-duty Army Reservist who took seven (7) illegal immigrants into custody at gunpoint because they had charged at him from the desert, at night, near a local highway rest stop.
Thomas Beatie: The successful Reversal of a Ruling regarding the internationally famous “Pregnant Man”, who was being denied a Divorce and equitable Child Custody by a Judge who had erroneously held that a Transgender male’s marriage to a woman was an Illegal Same-Sex Marriage.
Pedro Quintana-Lujan: The Rejection of Felony Vehicular Homicide Charges against a Goodyear man who hit 14 bicyclists with his truck, resulting in 2 fatalities.

★ **David Michael Cantor**
Founding Partner

**Manny Alemany**
Criminal Defense Attorney

**Dominic Callese**
Criminal Defense Attorney

**David Campbell**
Criminal Defense Attorney

**Daniel Kaffana**
Criminal Courtroom Coverage Attorney

**Eddie Nahhas**
Criminal Defense Attorney

**Tiffany Villegas**
Director of Paralegal Development

**Tyler Blohm, CPA**
Chief Financial Officer

**Janethe Seely**
Administrative Assistant

**Selene Villegas**
Administrative Assistant

**Tom Robinson**
Senior Legal Research Specialist/Juris Doctor

**Stephanie Ramos**
Front Desk Administrator

★ Certified Criminal Law Specialist – Arizona Board of Legal Specialization

Notable Attributes of Arizona Criminal Attorney David Michael Cantor

Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist since 1999 – per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization
AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers® – Criminal Trial Section
Voted as the only Arizona Lawyer listed in the inaugural 2007 Southwest Super Lawyers® Publication, and every year from 2019 through present for Criminal Defense/White Collar, and DUI Law
Voted a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by Phoenix Magazine® (2024-2026)
Voted #1 in DUI Defense and White Collar Defense (2020-2026) by Ranking Arizona®
Voted Nation’s Top 1% Attorney by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel® 2015-2026
Voted 10.0 Superb Rating for Criminal Defense by AVVO®
Voted Top 10 Attorney by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys®
Voted 10 Best Criminal Law Firm for Dedication to Client Satisfaction by the America Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys® (2026)
Voted Top 10 DUI/DWI Law Firm by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys®
Voted Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association®
Voted Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer by the American Society of Legal Advocates®
Voted Superior DUI Attorney by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense®
Received the Client Satisfaction Award by American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys®
Former City of Phoenix Assistant City Prosecutor
Instructor at the Fourth Annual DUI Conference for Judges
Former Trial Instructor at the Phoenix Police Academy
Former Instructor at the Arizona MVD Hearing Office Teaching Administrative Law Judges
Member: National College for DUI Defense® (NCDD)
Member: National Child Abuse Defense Resource Center® (NCADRC)
Member: Arizona Trial Lawyers Association® (ATLA)
Member: Maricopa County Bar Association
Member: American Bar Association® (ABA)
Member: American Bar Foundation® (ABF)
Life Member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers® (NACDL)
Life Member Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice (AACJ)
Lifetime Charter Member Best Attorneys of America®
Charter Member of Trial Masters®
Founding Member of American Association of Premier DUI Lawyers®
Past National Executive Committee Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America® (ATLA); Criminal Law Section (1999 – 2000)
Past Board Member ASU Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle (2016-2018)
Past Executive Board Member of Home Base Youth Services
Past Committee Member and Chairman, University of Southern California, Parents Leadership Circle Executive Committee (2016-2023)
Committee Member, State Bar of Arizona, Advancement and Improvement Committee (2024-Present)
Speaker: State Bar of Arizona’s “Ethics Issues for the 21st Century Lawyer” seminar (multiple years)
Speaker: Maricopa County Bar Association’s “Domestic Violence, Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Child Pornography Allegations in Family Law Cases” seminar (multiple years)
Speaker: National Child Abuse Defense Resource Center® (NCADRC), National Conference regarding Pre-Indictment Child Homicide Representation
Assistant Volunteer Wrestling Coach at Chaparral High School (2015-2019)
Assistant Volunteer Wrestling Coach at Brophy College Prep (2020-2022)
Co-Founder of Firebird Wrestling Club (2016)
Admitted to practice: State Bar of Arizona (1989)
Admitted to practice: United States District Court, District of Arizona (1997)
Admitted to practice: United States Supreme Court (2000)

Athletes, Sports Agents, and Athletic Organizations

Attention Athletes, Sports Agents, and Athletic Organizations: DM Cantor and Cantor Law Group have represented past and present professional and amateur athletes, coaches, referees, and/or their family members from the following teams and organizations:

MLB:

Arizona Diamondbacks
Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astors
Cleveland Indians
Minnesota Twins
Boston Red Sox
Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins
New York Mets
St. Louis Cardinals
Los Angeles Angels
Milwaukee Brewers
Kansas City Royals
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies
Detroit Tigers
Anaheim Angels
Chicago White Sox
Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
Texas Rangers

NFL:

Arizona Cardinals
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints
Detroit Lions
Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers

NBA:

Phoenix Suns
New Jersey Nets
New Orleans Pelicans

NHL:

Utah Mammoth

MLS:

Real Salt Lake
Atlanta United F.C.

CFL:

Toronto Argonauts

WNBA:

Atlanta Dream
Phoenix Mercury

MMA:

UFC
Bellator MMA
RIZIN
RUF
WSOF
LFA
WEC
MFC
Tachi Palace Fights
Combate Americas
SMASH Global

NCAA:

Arizona State University
University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University

USA Olympic Team Members:

Wrestling
Swimming
Basketball
Baseball

Canadian Olympic Team Members:

Wrestling
Swimming

PGA Members

Indy Car Series Driver

NASCAR Series Driver

David Michael Cantor’s Defense Team takes pride in being knowledgeable in all areas of forensic sciences. This includes DNA technology; Computer Forensics; Latent Fingerprint technology; Ballistics; Drug Recognition technology; Serology and Bodily Fluids testing; Blood, Breath and Urine Alcohol testing methods; Gas Chromatography and Infra-Red Mass-Spectrometry. In addition, the DM Cantor Criminal Law Practice Defense Team has an extensive law library with research materials regarding FBI, Department of Public Safety, State and Local Police investigation manuals.

We Pride Ourselves In Knowing More Than The Prosecution And Police Officers! If there is any defense to a criminal allegation (either factual or technical), the David Michael Cantor Criminal Defense Team will find it and utilize it to your benefit. The DM Cantor Criminal Law Practice Defense Team, along with the numerous expert witnesses at their disposal, can give you your best chance at a complete acquittal or reduction of the charges. For a free initial consultation, call us at 602-307-0808, or click here to contact us now. The David Michael Cantor Defense Team is the Pinnacle of Representation® We handle DUI/ DWI cases, vehicular crimes, homicide, drug and sex offenses, white collar crimes, property crimes and other violent crimes.

* Per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law – David Michael Cantor, Christine Whalin, & Jason Karpel

David Michael Cantor is also the Founding Member of DM Cantor Family Law Practice, and DM Cantor Estate and Probate Practice (separate and distinct entities which emphasize only Family Law, and Estate & Probate Law).

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 391 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   matt harrell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jason Karpel at DM assigned his team of David Campbell and Leah Dodd, which did an amazing job, being very attentive and making themselves available anytime we needed a conversation. This team worked out everything I needed and highly recommend this firm for anything !!! Thank you DM Cantor Team !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Paul Zellner 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great lawyers!!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Seb 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The legal team at DM Cantor is absolutely phenomenal. They helped me win my case and made me feel at home throughout the whole process. I am extremely grateful I chose DM Cantor for legal help, and I cannot recommend them enough!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Adam Flood 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic office, clean, and amazing artwork. Plus final boss sour!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kevin McDermott 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I worked with Nick Boca and Robyn McCraw. I felt I was in the best of hands from the beginning. They were clear and upfront at all times with their communication and instruction. Any divorce is a difficult time, and Nick and Robyn understand that. Their compassion for my situation and professionalism in how they handled my case stood out the most. I would highly recommend their services to anyone going through a difficult divorce. KM
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Peggy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cantor Law Group came as a recommendation from a family friend, and I am so grateful that this led me to speak with Nicholas Boca. Nik represented me in a complicated divorce which detailed a substantial claim of waste that spanned my 25-year marriage. He was very straightforward and honest and worked purposefully on my behalf at all times. He was empathetic to my situation and found ways to navigate difficult challenges unique to my case. Perhaps most importantly, he understood the importance of bringing closure to my situation and did his best to avoid unnecessary legal expenses. His methods to find resolution required wisdom and experienced practice of law. My heartfelt gratitude also extends to Robyn and Amanda. This was a team effort. Amanda’s knowledge of law, Robyn’s organizational skills and instinctive nature were invaluable. My “team” at Cantor Law Group cared. My case mattered, I mattered, my family mattered.  From the front desk to the billing department, everyone handled my inquiries and needs without delay. Each person I interacted with seemed to know me personally and I felt reassured they were all working together to achieve the best possible outcome. Cantor Law Group has an excellent reputation amongst the experts. It was extremely reassuring knowing that the work ethic and professionalism of Cantor Law Group is respected by both the experts and the court. I would HIGHLY recommend Cantor Law group.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ayoub Abouri 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Met with Jason for a consultation. He was very honest and upfront. I appreciate the advice and information. I’m very happy I came in and even though I did not hire them I highly recommend them.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mike LaForest 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. All the attorneys are exceptional and they all work collaboratively on your case. While I worked closely with David, the other attorney's where always up to date and provided unparalleled guidance. Bottom line, they are a cut above and they deliver. You get what you pay for. If it matters, talk to DM Cantor.