Criminal Law and Consumer Protection Practice
Criminal law attorney Richard Lawson has spent his career in the courtroom—serving as lead trial counsel in well over 300 cases. He handles complex litigation for fraud victims working with law enforcement or pursuing a civil claim, and criminal cases in which defendants are seeking to reduce or dismiss charges.
Serving as a prosecutor and lead trial lawyer in the investigations division of the Bronx District Attorney’s office, Richard Lawson has developed the industry contacts, legal skills, and investigative ability necessary to try complex cases. He offers you the confidence of knowing that your case will receive the care and attention it deserves.
His practice scope encompasses:
Criminal Defense
Consumer Protection
| Criminal Defense |
Consumer Protection |
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|---|---|---|---|
| White-collar crimes | Felonies and misdemeanors | Consumer fraud | Identity theft |
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In New York City, Speak to Richard Lawson for Legal Representation
To schedule a free initial consultation with attorney Richard Lawson, contact our offices today. The firm assists clients throughout New York, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the surrounding metropolitan areas.
White-collar crimes
White-collar crimes are often the most complicated criminal matters, and demand not just the advocacy skills required in any criminal law case, but a thorough understanding of both sophisticated business practices and the intricate laws that govern them. Richard Lawson has spent most of his career handling white-collar criminal cases. He has served as the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crime Unit of the State Attorney's Office located in Tampa, Florida. He continued to work these cases as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, where he was assigned to the criminal investigations division and appointed a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York.
Richard Lawson tried complex criminal cases involving RICO, conspiracy to commit RICO, mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, and accountant embezzlement cases. He has extensive experience with the procedures that frequently occur during criminal law cases, such as grand jury proceedings and subpoenas, proffers and pre-indictment investigations, extradition matters, search warrants, and electronic surveillance.
Felony and Misdemeanor Offenses
Over the course of his career, Richard Lawson has handled almost every type of criminal case. He has worked on drug cases, including with the complex expert witness and search-and-seizure issues that are always elements of these cases. While working as a domestic violence prosecutor, he handled countless violent offenses. He has also handled general larceny, auto theft, firearm, identity theft, and forged document cases.
In addition to the specific types of crimes above, Richard Lawson has also handled matters and procedures unique to criminal law. He has worked on international extradition matters, grand jury proceedings, search warrants, and electronic surveillance matters.
Identity Theft
Your life, your livelihood, and your reputation are on the line when you have been victimized by identity theft. Richard Lawson takes action to protect your good name and credit rating. His experience as a prosecutor allows him to explore every option available to you while investigating identity theft. He helps clients dispute fraudulent charges on their credit reports, report criminal activity to the police, and pursue all possible legal remedies to go after those responsible. He works on a range of cases related to:
• Helping victims remove default judgments entered against them for debts run up by identity thieves
• Helping victims deal with debt collectors collecting on debts run up by the identity thief
• Helping victims correct errors in their credit report
The Fair Debt Collections Practice Act protects you from unfair, deceptive, and abusive debt collection practices. If creditors illegally threaten to seize your personal assets or collections agents have illegally contacted your friends, children, or parents to seek repayment, Richard Lawson can help you take action to protect yourself. For each violation of the Fair Debt Collections Act, you may be entitled to $1000 plus any actual damages (including for emotional distress), and recovery of attorney fees.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in consumer credit reports. According to this act, you have a right to review your credit report and to have incorrect information corrected.
Employers, insurers, and creditors base their hiring decisions, insurance premiums, and interest rates on your credit report. Speak to attorney Richard Lawson to seek compensation for any losses you have had to endure as a result of credit report errors.
Legal Resources
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Government-authorized Annual Free Credit Report
• Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
Consumer Fraud
Little can be as frustrating as realizing you are a victim, and then not getting the assistance needed to report the fraud, recover assets and your good name, and go after those responsible. Richard Lawson has the experience needed to make sure that when you have been victimized, you can get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.
Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
As a prosecutor, Richard Lawson saw the coming real estate crisis years ago, while working on cases where homes had been purchased through identity theft and where the information on mortgage applications was fabricated. He uses his experience investigating and trying these cases to focus on the facts to craft a response and plan of attack best suited to you. He can help you get your life back when your career, livelihood, and home are at stake.
Computer Crimes
Richard Lawson has handled numerous internet-related and computer criminal law cases in New York City, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the surrounding metropolitan areas. As an attorney, he has seen changes in this area of the law, not just from seminars and research, but from within the courtroom. He has worked on cyber crimes as diverse as theft of trade secrets, internet gambling, and the unlawful possession of pornography.
Business Litigation and Investigations
Richard Lawson also assists companies with internal investigations and compliance matters. He has years of experience working closely with New York City businesses—either in court or in an internal investigation—to uncover fraud. Having worked for years as a white-collar prosecutor, he assists companies attempting to stem losses caused by employee theft and guides them through the process of reporting crimes in a manner which assures a quick and effective response from law enforcement. He also helps businesses avoid litigation by working with them to make sure they are in compliance with all pertinent rules and regulations.
Crime Victim Litigation
Whether an individual or a business, Richard Lawson can assist victims not only with making reports to New York City law enforcement, but with pursuing options for using the court system to get a recovery as quick as possible. In his years as a white-collar prosecutor, Richard Lawson learned how to quickly understand how a business works, how the crime was committed, and begin the process of getting the case put together. Richard Lawson can use these same skills for victims as they try to quickly put their lives or their businesses back together.
Whether you are in New York City, the Bronx or the surrounding metro area, contact criminal law office of Richard Lawson to discuss the particulars of your case and find out what he can do to help you. Call The Law Offices of Richard P. Lawson for information on criminal defense litigation at 866-224-0380 (toll free), or in New York at 212-608-2391. Also, feel free to contact us by completing our web form.
