Criminal Defense
Meet Our Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney Team
Personal Injury
Meet Our Dallas Personal Injury Team
Family Law & Divorce
Meet Our Dallas Family and Divorce Lawyer TeamDallas Criminal Defense Lawyers
Criminal charges in Dallas County can result in jail time, steep fines, and a permanent record. Our Dallas criminal defense attorneys fight aggressively to protect your rights, your freedom, and your future.
Criminal Cases We Handle
DWI & Intoxication Offenses
A DWI arrest can upend your life in a single night. Whether this is your first offense or you're facing felony charges due to prior convictions—or the devastating allegations of intoxication assault or manslaughter—the consequences extend far beyond the courtroom. Your license, your job, and your future are all at stake. We scrutinize field sobriety testing, challenge the reliability of breath and blood results, and examine whether law enforcement followed proper protocols. The state's evidence is often weaker than it appears, and we know where to look.
Drug Crimes
Drug charges in Texas carry penalties that can be devastatingly disproportionate to the circumstances. A small amount of marijuana can mean jail time. A prescription in the wrong bottle can become a felony. Distribution or trafficking allegations can mean decades in prison. We represent people accused of possessing, manufacturing, or distributing controlled substances—from marijuana to methamphetamine to prescription medications—including federal conspiracy cases. We examine every aspect of how the case was built: the stop, the search, the lab work. Constitutional violations happen more often than people realize.
Assault & Violent Crimes
Accusations of violence carry a particular weight. Beyond the legal consequences, there's a stigma that can damage your relationships and career before you ever see a courtroom. In domestic violence cases, you may find yourself locked out of your home and presumed guilty before anyone hears your side. We defend clients charged with assault in all its forms—from misdemeanors to aggravated assault, robbery, terroristic threats, and deadly conduct. Self-defense, false accusations, and mistaken identity are more common than the public realizes. We fight to make sure the truth comes out.
Theft & Property Crimes
Theft charges—whether a misdemeanor shoplifting accusation or a serious felony—can mark you in ways that make it harder to find work, rent an apartment, or move forward with your life. We represent clients facing theft, burglary, criminal trespass, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and organized retail theft allegations. Many of these cases turn on questions of intent, identification, or property value. A conviction isn't inevitable, and the consequences can often be minimized or avoided with the right defense.
White Collar Crimes
White collar investigations often begin long before you know you're a target. By the time charges are filed, prosecutors may have spent years building their case. These matters—fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, forgery, identity theft, tax violations—require a defense team that understands both the law and the financial context. We defend individuals and businesses facing state and federal white collar charges. Our approach is methodical: we analyze the government's evidence, identify weaknesses, and build a defense that accounts for the full picture.
Sex Crimes
There is no accusation more likely to destroy a person's life than allegations of a sexual offense. The stigma is immediate. The legal consequences—including potential sex offender registration—can follow you for decades. The pressure to accept a plea, even when innocent, can feel overwhelming. We defend clients accused of sexual assault, indecency, online solicitation, and possession of illegal images, and we handle registration requirements and appeals. These cases demand aggressive advocacy and careful sensitivity. We understand what's at stake.
Weapons Offenses
Texas has permissive gun laws, but weapons charges still carry serious consequences—particularly for anyone with a prior felony or in cases under federal jurisdiction. A mistake about where you can carry or your eligibility to possess a firearm can mean years in prison. We handle state and federal weapons charges, including unlawful carrying, felon in possession, prohibited weapons, and federal firearms violations. We work to protect your rights whether the case involves a technical violation or serious allegations.
Federal Criminal Defense
Federal cases are different. The resources of the federal government, the complexity of sentencing guidelines, and the formality of federal court all require different preparation. Conviction rates are high because prosecutors are selective—but that doesn't mean the outcome is predetermined. We represent clients in the Northern District of Texas facing drug trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud, conspiracy, immigration violations, and supervised release violations. We also handle federal appeals. If you're facing federal charges, you need attorneys who've been here before.
Juvenile Crimes
When a young person is accused of a crime, the stakes extend beyond immediate legal consequences. A juvenile case can affect their education, opportunities, and sense of themselves at a formative moment. The system is supposed to prioritize rehabilitation—but that doesn't always happen without a fight. We represent juveniles facing delinquency allegations including theft, assault, drug possession, and school-related offenses. We also handle certification hearings where prosecutors seek to try a young person as an adult. Our goal is to protect your child's future.
Learn More About Our Dallas Criminal Defense Practice
Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers
When someone else's negligence causes you harm, you deserve full and fair compensation. Our Dallas personal injury attorneys fight to hold negligent parties accountable. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
Car Accidents
A serious car accident changes everything in an instant. One moment you're driving to work or picking up your kids; the next you're dealing with injuries, medical bills, a totaled vehicle, and an insurance company that's already looking for ways to minimize what they owe you. We represent people injured in all types of collisions—rear-end crashes, intersection accidents, head-on collisions, hit-and-runs, and multi-vehicle pileups. Whether the other driver was distracted, drunk, or simply careless, our job is to build the strongest possible case for full compensation while you focus on recovery.
Truck Accidents
Collisions involving commercial trucks are different from ordinary car accidents. The injuries are often catastrophic. The trucking company and its insurers will have investigators on the scene before you leave the hospital. And the regulations governing the industry—hours of service, maintenance requirements, cargo loading—create opportunities to prove negligence that don't exist in other cases. We handle claims against trucking companies and their drivers for 18-wheeler crashes, jackknife accidents, and collisions caused by fatigue, improper maintenance, or violations of federal safety rules. These cases require immediate investigation and aggressive advocacy.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders know the risks of the road better than anyone. But when a driver fails to see you, turns into your path, or follows too closely, the consequences fall entirely on the rider. The injuries—road rash, broken bones, head trauma, spinal damage—can be life-altering. We represent motorcycle crash victims and their families, fighting to hold negligent drivers accountable. Insurance companies often try to blame the rider. We push back, building cases that establish what actually happened and pursuing the compensation our clients need to move forward.
Premises Liability
Property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail—through negligent maintenance, dangerous conditions, inadequate security, or simple indifference—people get hurt. We handle claims arising from slip and fall accidents, dangerous property conditions, swimming pool incidents, dog bites, and assaults that result from inadequate security. These cases require proving what the property owner knew or should have known. We investigate thoroughly and hold negligent owners accountable.
Wrongful Death
Losing someone you love because of another person's negligence is a devastation that no legal process can undo. But a wrongful death claim can provide financial stability for your family, hold the responsible parties accountable, and ensure that what happened to your loved one is acknowledged. We represent surviving family members in wrongful death cases arising from car and truck accidents, workplace incidents, medical negligence, dangerous products, and unsafe property conditions. We handle the legal burden so you can grieve and begin to heal.
Catastrophic Injuries
Some injuries change the entire trajectory of a life. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations—these aren't just medical events. They reshape everything: your ability to work, your relationships, your independence, your sense of who you are. We represent people who have suffered catastrophic injuries due to someone else's negligence. These cases require understanding not just what happened, but what the future holds—the ongoing medical care, the rehabilitation, the adaptations, the losses that compound over time. We fight for compensation that reflects the true scope of what our clients are facing.
Dallas Family Law and Divorce Lawyers
Family law matters affect what matters most: your children, your finances, and your future. Our Dallas family law attorneys combine legal expertise with the sensitivity these cases require.
Divorce
Divorce is rarely just a legal process. It's a dismantling of a life you built with someone else—your home, your finances, your daily routines, your future plans. Whether you've been considering this for years or the decision was made for you, the path forward can feel overwhelming. We represent clients in contested and uncontested divorces, including complex cases involving significant assets, business interests, or military benefits. Whatever the circumstances that brought you here—and whatever grounds apply under Texas law—our job is to protect your interests and help you emerge with a foundation for the next chapter.
Child Custody & Conservatorship
Nothing matters more in a divorce or separation than what happens with your children. Custody disputes are emotionally charged, and the legal framework—conservatorship, possession schedules, parenting plans—can feel clinical when what's at stake is your relationship with your kids. We help parents establish custody arrangements, modify existing orders when circumstances change, and enforce agreements when the other parent won't follow them. We also handle relocation disputes when one parent needs or wants to move. Our focus is on outcomes that serve your children's wellbeing while protecting your role in their lives.
Child Support
Child support exists to ensure that children's needs are met after their parents separate. But disputes over support—how much, for how long, and whether payments are actually being made—can become a source of ongoing conflict. We help parents establish fair support obligations, modify orders when financial circumstances genuinely change, and enforce payment through wage withholding or court intervention when necessary. We also defend parents facing demands that don't reflect the reality of their situation. The goal is an arrangement that works for your children and is sustainable for everyone involved.
Property Division
Texas is a community property state, which means most assets acquired during marriage belong to both spouses—but that doesn't mean division is simple. Real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, stock options, debts, and claims for reimbursement all complicate the picture. And when separate property is involved, tracing where assets came from becomes essential. We handle property division in divorces of all sizes, from straightforward cases to those involving substantial and complex estates. Our job is to ensure you receive a fair share of what you built during the marriage and that you understand what you're agreeing to.
Spousal Support
Spousal maintenance in Texas isn't automatic—it's available only in specific circumstances and subject to statutory limits on amount and duration. But when one spouse has sacrificed career opportunities for the marriage or lacks the ability to meet basic needs post-divorce, support can be essential to a fair resolution. We represent clients seeking spousal maintenance and those defending against claims. We handle eligibility questions, amount and duration calculations, and modification or termination of existing orders. Whatever side you're on, we work toward an outcome that reflects the reality of both parties' situations.
Adoption
Adoption is one of the most meaningful things a family can do—but the legal process can be complex, particularly when parental rights must be terminated or when the adoption is contested. Whether you're a stepparent formalizing a relationship that already exists, a relative providing a permanent home, or working with an agency, you need guidance through the legal requirements. We handle stepparent, relative, and agency adoptions, as well as contested matters and termination of parental rights proceedings. Our goal is to help you complete this process as smoothly as possible so you can focus on what matters: your family.
Why Choose Varghese Summersett in Dallas
Board Certified Specialists
Our team includes Anna Summersett, Benson Varghese, and Letty Martinez—Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists—and Mike Hanson and Lisa Herrick—Board Certified Juvenile Law Specialists. Board Certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is earned by fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys and requires rigorous testing, peer review, and demonstrated expertise.
Former State and Federal Prosecutors
Several of our attorneys previously served as prosecutors—the plaintiffs in criminal cases. That trial experience is invaluable across all our practice areas. It helps us bring civil cases as plaintiffs (where the burden of proof is lower than in criminal cases), defend criminal cases more effectively (because we know how prosecutors think and build cases), and represent clients in family court with the confidence that comes from courtroom experience. There's no better training than being in trial as a prosecutor.
Trial-Ready Attorneys
Whether defending against criminal charges or fighting for injury compensation, we prepare every case for trial. That leverage gets better outcomes.
Available 24/7
Legal emergencies don't wait for business hours. Our team is available around the clock to take your call and start working on your case immediately.
Our Dallas Office Location
Dallas Office
Address:
2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 950
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 903-4000
Hours:
Open 24/7
Areas We Serve
Our Dallas attorneys represent clients throughout Dallas County and the surrounding region. We regularly handle cases in Dallas, Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Plano, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, Farmers Branch, Addison, University Park, Highland Park, Rowlett, Sachse, Wylie, DeSoto, Duncanville, Lancaster, Cedar Hill, Balch Springs, Seagoville, Hutchins, and Cockrell Hill. We also serve clients in neighboring Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Rockwall, Kaufman, and Ellis counties when their cases are filed in Dallas County courts.
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cases do Varghese Summersett Dallas attorneys handle?
Our Dallas office handles criminal defense (DWI, drug charges, white-collar crimes, violent offenses, federal crimes), personal injury (car accidents, truck accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death), and family law (divorce, child custody, property division, adoption).
How much does a lawyer in Dallas cost?
Fees vary by case type and complexity. Criminal defense and family law typically involve flat fees or hourly billing. Personal injury cases are handled on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Do I really need a lawyer?
The stakes in criminal, injury, and family law cases are too high to go it alone. An experienced lawyer protects your rights, handles complex procedures, negotiates on your behalf, and fights for the best possible outcome.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Call us at (214) 903-4000 or schedule online. We're available 24/7 for criminal matters.
Get the Legal Help You Need Today
Our Dallas attorneys are ready to fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future.