Criminal Defense
Meet Our Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers →
Personal Injury
Meet Our Houston Personal Injury Attorneys →
Juvenile Defense
Meet Our Houston Juvenile Defense Lawyers →Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers
Criminal charges in Harris County can result in jail time, steep fines, and a permanent record. Our Houston 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 Southern 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 lawyers who've been here before.
Probation Violations
A probation violation can feel like the ground is shifting beneath you. Whether it's a missed check-in, a failed drug test, a new arrest, or an allegation that you didn't complete required conditions, the consequences can be severe—including revocation and the imposition of your original sentence. We represent clients facing motions to revoke or adjudicate in Harris County and surrounding jurisdictions. Our job is to present the full picture to the court: the circumstances, the context, and the reasons why continued supervision—not incarceration—serves everyone's interest.
Houston Personal Injury Attorneys
When someone else's negligence causes you harm, you deserve full and fair compensation. Our Houston personal injury lawyers 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.
Houston Juvenile Defense Lawyers
When a young person faces criminal allegations, the stakes extend far beyond the courtroom. Our Houston juvenile defense attorneys fight to protect your child's rights, their record, and their future.
Delinquency Allegations
A delinquency petition can follow a young person for years. Whether the allegation involves theft, assault, drug possession, criminal mischief, or another offense, the juvenile system is supposed to prioritize rehabilitation—but that doesn't always happen without a fight. We represent juveniles at every stage of the process, from detention hearings through adjudication and disposition. Our goal is to keep your child out of the system where possible and to ensure that any outcome focuses on their development and future rather than punishment alone.
Certification & Determinate Sentencing
When prosecutors seek to try a juvenile as an adult—through certification or determinate sentencing—the consequences become dramatically more severe. A child facing adult prosecution could be sentenced to decades in prison. These hearings require an aggressive defense that demonstrates why the juvenile system, not the adult system, is the appropriate venue. We handle certification hearings and determinate sentencing cases in Harris County, presenting evidence about our client's background, mental health, and rehabilitative potential. The stakes in these cases are as high as they get.
School-Related Offenses
An incident at school can quickly become a criminal matter. Zero-tolerance policies mean that behavior that might once have been handled by the principal's office now results in arrests, citations, and formal charges. We represent students accused of offenses on school property—including fights, threats, drug possession, weapons violations, and sexting—as well as those facing disciplinary alternative education placement or expulsion. Our approach addresses both the criminal case and the school consequences, because both can affect your child's trajectory.
Drug & Alcohol Offenses
Drug and alcohol charges against minors carry consequences that go beyond the immediate legal penalties. A conviction or adjudication can affect college admissions, scholarship eligibility, financial aid, and future employment opportunities. We defend juveniles accused of possession of marijuana, controlled substances, alcohol-related offenses, and paraphernalia charges. Many of these cases present strong defense opportunities—illegal searches, lack of knowledge, constructive possession issues—and diversion programs may be available to keep the matter off your child's record entirely.
Assault & Violent Offenses
When a young person is accused of assault, robbery, or another violent offense, the instinct of the system is often to respond with severity. But context matters. Adolescent brain development, peer pressure, self-defense, and the circumstances surrounding the incident all play a role—and the juvenile system exists precisely because we recognize that young people are different from adults. We defend juveniles facing allegations of assault, aggravated assault, robbery, and other violent offenses, working to achieve outcomes that account for our client's age, circumstances, and potential for growth.
Sealing Juvenile Records
A juvenile record doesn't have to follow your child forever. Texas law provides mechanisms to seal juvenile records, but the process requires meeting specific eligibility criteria and navigating court procedures. We help families understand when and how records can be sealed—and we handle the petitions and hearings necessary to make it happen. Sealing a record can remove a barrier to education, employment, and housing that would otherwise persist for years. If your child has completed their obligations, they deserve a fresh start.
Why Choose Varghese Summersett in Houston
Board Certified Specialists
Our team includes attorneys who hold Board Certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law and Juvenile Law—a distinction earned by fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys. Board Certification requires rigorous testing, peer review, and demonstrated expertise. When you hire our firm, you're working with lawyers who have proven their qualifications at the highest level.
Former State and Federal Prosecutors
Several of our lawyers 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 and juvenile cases more effectively (because we know how prosecutors think and build cases), and represent clients with the confidence that comes from years of courtroom experience.
Trial-Ready Attorneys
Whether defending against criminal charges, protecting a juvenile's future, or fighting for injury compensation, we prepare every case for trial. That leverage gets better outcomes—insurance companies and prosecutors know when they're up against lawyers who aren't afraid of the courtroom.
Experienced in Harris County Courts
Our Houston attorneys are experienced in navigating the Harris County court system—one of the largest and busiest in the country. We understand the local procedures, the judges, and the prosecutors. That familiarity translates into more effective advocacy for our clients in both criminal and civil matters.
Our Houston Office Location
Houston Office
Address:
2925 Briarpark Drive, Suite 850
Houston, TX 77042
Phone: (281) 805-2220
Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Weekends: By Appointment
Areas We Serve
Our Houston lawyers represent clients throughout Harris County, Fort Bend County, and the surrounding region. We regularly handle cases in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, League City, Friendswood, Humble, Kingwood, Spring, The Woodlands, Cypress, Tomball, Richmond, Rosenberg, and Galveston. We also serve clients in neighboring Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, and Liberty counties when their cases are filed in Harris County or Fort Bend County courts.
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cases do Varghese Summersett Houston lawyers handle?
Our Houston office handles criminal defense (DWI, drug charges, white-collar crimes, violent offenses, federal crimes), personal injury (car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, wrongful death), and juvenile defense (delinquency allegations, certification hearings, school-related offenses, record sealing).
How much does an attorney in Houston cost?
Fees vary by case type and complexity. Criminal defense and juvenile defense 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 for my case?
The stakes in criminal, injury, and juvenile cases are too high to go it alone. An experienced attorney 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 (281) 805-2220 or schedule online. We're available 24/7 for criminal matters. For personal injury consultations, use our online scheduling tool.
My child was arrested. What should I do?
Call us immediately. Juvenile cases move quickly, and early intervention matters. We can advise you on your child's rights, attend detention hearings, and begin building a defense strategy right away. The sooner we're involved, the more options we have to protect your child's future.
Get the Legal Help You Need Today
Our Houston attorneys and lawyers are ready to fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future.