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Landsman Law provides criminal defense representation for people who have been arrested, charged with a crime, accused of violating probation, or contacted by law enforcement during a criminal investigation. Based in Gainesville, Florida, attorney Matt Landsman represents clients in Alachua County and throughout North Florida in misdemeanor and felony cases ranging from DUI and drug offenses to domestic violence, theft, burglary, firearm allegations, sex offenses, and serious violent crimes.
Criminal cases are rarely decided by the name of the charge alone. A defense may require examining how police initiated an encounter, whether a search or seizure was lawful, what witnesses actually observed, whether statements were obtained legally, how digital or scientific evidence was collected, and whether the State can prove every element of the alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Learn more about Landsman Law’s broader Gainesville criminal defense practice.
Experienced criminal trial representation. Matt Landsman is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer with more than 20 years of criminal-law experience. Landsman Law represents clients from the investigative stage through pretrial litigation, negotiations, evidentiary hearings, and trial.
Criminal Defense Practice Areas
The appropriate defense strategy depends upon the particular facts, the evidence available to prosecutors, the applicable Florida law, and any constitutional or evidentiary issues affecting the case. Landsman Law handles a broad range of criminal matters, including the following.
DUI & Traffic Offenses
DUI cases may involve the legality of the traffic stop, field sobriety exercises, breath or blood testing, refusal evidence, body-camera or dash-camera video, and the State’s evidence of impairment. A DUI arrest may also create a separate driver’s-license issue with deadlines that arise before the criminal case is resolved.
Drug Crimes
Drug prosecutions can involve possession, sale, delivery, trafficking, prescription drugs, marijuana, cocaine, and other controlled substances. Important issues may include constructive possession, knowledge, confidential informants, traffic stops, search warrants, vehicle searches, and motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence.
Domestic Violence & Battery
Domestic violence accusations can immediately affect release conditions, contact with family members, access to a residence, firearm rights, and related proceedings. Defenses may involve self-defense, conflicting accounts, witness credibility, video or electronic evidence, lack of injury, and insufficient proof.
Theft, Fraud & Property Crimes
Theft and fraud cases range from misdemeanor allegations to serious felony prosecutions involving substantial property or financial loss. The defense may examine intent, ownership, authorization, identification, valuation, financial records, electronic communications, and whether the evidence actually establishes knowing criminal conduct.
Burglary
Florida burglary charges can involve a dwelling, structure, or conveyance and can become substantially more serious when the State alleges a weapon, assault, or battery. Consent to enter, criminal intent, identification, possession of property, and the legality of police searches may be central to the defense.
Sex Crimes
Sex-offense allegations can expose a person to severe criminal penalties and, in qualifying cases, registration requirements and long-term collateral consequences. These cases may depend heavily on witness credibility, digital evidence, forensic testing, DNA evidence, statements, identification, and the circumstances surrounding the accusation.
Violations of Probation
A violation of probation can expose a defendant to resentencing on the original offense. Alleged violations may be technical or may involve a new criminal allegation. Important questions can include whether the alleged violation was willful and substantial, whether competent evidence supports it, and whether the court retains jurisdiction.
Weapons, Firearms & Violent Crimes
Firearm, assault, battery, and other violent-crime allegations require careful analysis of the State’s evidence and the circumstances of the encounter. Depending on the case, defenses may involve self-defense, defense of others, identification, witness credibility, possession, search-and-seizure issues, forensic evidence, or the State’s ability to prove intent.
Criminal Investigations Before an Arrest
You do not have to wait until an arrest to speak with a criminal defense lawyer. Investigations often begin with a detective’s telephone call, a request to “come in and talk,” a knock at the door, a search warrant, a subpoena, or law-enforcement efforts to obtain a phone or other electronic evidence. Decisions made during this stage can affect the entire case.
Landsman Law represents people who are under investigation before formal charges are filed. Counsel can evaluate whether a person appears to be a witness, suspect, or target; communicate with investigators when appropriate; help preserve favorable evidence; and advise the client before deciding whether to make any statement to law enforcement.
Criminal Defense in Gainesville, Alachua County & North Florida
Landsman Law is based in Gainesville and represents people accused of crimes in Alachua County and throughout North Florida. Gainesville-area cases may involve the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, University of Florida Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, or other state and local law-enforcement agencies.
The firm also represents clients in surrounding North Florida communities and counties, including Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Union, Columbia, Marion, and Putnam Counties. The court system and local procedures can differ by county and judicial circuit, but the fundamental defense questions remain the same: What evidence does the State possess? How was that evidence obtained? Is it admissible? Are the witnesses reliable? And can prosecutors prove every required element of the charged offense?
For more location-specific information, visit the Alachua County criminal defense page →
Why Choose Landsman Law?
Criminal defense requires more than identifying the statute listed on an arrest report. Effective representation can require reconstructing the investigation, reviewing recordings and physical evidence, researching Florida criminal law, challenging unconstitutional police conduct, confronting unreliable testimony, litigating pretrial motions, negotiating when appropriate, and preparing the case for trial.
Matt Landsman is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer and has practiced criminal law for more than 20 years. Landsman Law focuses on individualized representation and detailed review of the facts and law applicable to each client’s case. An arrest or accusation is not a conviction, and the defense should be based on the actual evidence rather than assumptions about the charge.
Board Certified
Criminal Trial Lawyer
20+ Years
Criminal Law Experience
Thousands
of Cases Handled
North Florida
Criminal Defense Representation
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense Services
What types of criminal cases does Landsman Law handle?
Landsman Law handles misdemeanor and felony criminal matters including DUI and criminal traffic offenses, drug charges, domestic violence and battery, theft and fraud, burglary, sex offenses, weapons and firearm allegations, violent crimes, violations of probation, and criminal investigations.
Can a criminal defense lawyer help before charges are filed?
Yes. A lawyer may become involved while police or detectives are still investigating. Early representation can be particularly important when law enforcement requests an interview, seeks consent to search, executes a warrant, or attempts to obtain electronic evidence.
What should I do if a detective wants to speak with me?
Before deciding whether to answer investigative questions, you can consult with a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can evaluate the circumstances, communicate with law enforcement when appropriate, and advise you about the potential consequences of making a statement.
Can illegally obtained evidence be challenged?
Potentially. The Fourth Amendment and Article I, section 12 of the Florida Constitution limit unreasonable searches and seizures. Depending on the facts, unlawfully obtained evidence may be challenged through a motion to suppress. Whether suppression is available depends on the circumstances of the particular case.
Does Landsman Law represent University of Florida students?
Yes. Criminal accusations involving UF students may create both criminal-court concerns and separate university or academic consequences. The defense should account for the criminal case while recognizing that collateral proceedings or consequences may also be important.
What areas does Landsman Law serve?
Landsman Law is based in Gainesville and represents clients in Alachua County and throughout North Florida, including surrounding counties such as Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Union, Columbia, Marion, and Putnam.