Bret Lee is the founder of Bret Lee Legal Solutions, a criminal defense firm serving clients throughout Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and surrounding communities. Known for his tireless advocacy and client-focused approach, Bret works to protect his clients’ rights while providing clear, well-informed guidance tailored to the facts of each case. He represents clients facing a wide range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including DUI, reckless driving, drug possession, conspiracy, assault, fraud, sex crimes, and other serious criminal offenses. Bret brings more than a decade of criminal defense experience to his practice, along with a strong background in federal and state litigation. His approach often includes a vigorous motions practice designed to seek early advantages for clients before trial, including motions to suppress evidence, motions for bond, motions for discovery, and other requests for relief. Before entering private practice, Bret served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Chief Judge Watkins in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. He has also handled extensive appellate brief writing, including matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Virginia Court of Appeals. A magna cum laude graduate of George Mason University School of Law, Bret served as Managing Editor of the George Mason Law Review and participated on the Moot Court Board with a focus on national appellate advocacy competitions. He earned his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, lives in Reston, Virginia, and remains deeply connected to the Commonwealth. Bret focuses his practice in courts across Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, Prince William County, Herndon, Vienna, Fairfax City, Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun County, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria. To speak with Bret Lee Legal Solutions about a criminal defense matter, call 703-936-0580 today or complete our online contact form.

Attorney Seth Peritz practices criminal defense in Virginia and federal courts. He has been practicing since 2016, starting as a graduate fellow at the Loudoun County Public Defender’s Office. Seth worked at two firms prior to starting Crowley Peritz Law with his partner Matthew Crowley in 2020. Seth completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Law at Northern Illinois University in 2013. After receiving a graduate research fellowship, he moved to Virginia to study law at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, graduating in 2016. Seth met his wife in law school and decided to move to Northern Virginia, his wife’s home area. They have one beautiful baby girl. Upon graduating from law school and taking the bar, Seth immediately started a fellowship at the Loudoun County Public Defender’s Office where he learned to handle a significant caseload and experienced all levels of trial courts in Virginia. Seth was recruited by a friend and former colleague to join a small criminal and immigration law firm where Seth managed the traffic and most criminal cases for the firm. In 2018 Matthew Crowley, Seth’s future partner, and then Managing Partner of a small criminal defense firm, recruited him as their youngest associate attorney. Seth quickly rose to Senior Attorney and had a robust criminal defense practice. In 2020, Matthew and Seth started Crowley Peritz Law and they have not looked back. Seth has represented clients in all forms of traffic cases from simple infractions and reckless driving cases to vehicular manslaughter. He particularly enjoys DWI/DUI cases for their intellectual challenges. On the criminal side, Seth has represented clients in cases such as trespass and disorderly conduct, to violent crimes, including Assault, Malicious Wounding, and Strangulation cases, sexual assault cases, including Object Sexual Penetration and Aggravated Sexual Battery, and every level of crime involving a controlled substance. Seth’s work ethic and availability shows not just how much he enjoys his work, but also how much he cares about his clients. This can be seen by his dozens of reviews on AVVO, the number of personal referrals he receives, and shows through in his trial work.

Matthew Crowley is a respected criminal and traffic defense attorney. With more than 17 years of experience, and having practiced throughout every jurisdiction in Northern Virginia, Matthew is a seasoned legal professional. Upon graduation from American University’s Washington College of Law, Matthew practiced with such distinguished regional firms as Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn, and Edwards PLC, and Price Benowtiz, LLP. In 2015 and 2016 Matthew was distinguished as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States. In 2017 Matthew was recruited by the prestigious criminal defense firm, Robinson Law, PLLC, in Fairfax, Virginia, to act as the firm’s managing partner. Under Matthew’s oversight at Robinson Law, the firm’s criminal practice became one of the most successful and well-respected criminal defense firms in Northern Virginia. In 2020, Matthew and Seth Peritz, also previously an attorney at Robinson Law, opened their own criminal and traffic law practice, Crowley Peritz PLLC, in Fairfax, Virginia. Matthew and Seth’s continued alliance allows them to provide highly focused representation to their clients, as well as outstanding customer service. Matthew and Seth often work cases in tandem, which brings a synergy to their practice where the sum is greater than the parts. Matthew’s substantial legal experience, his professional demeanor, and his involved and detailed approach in every case make him a great option for anyone charged with a criminal offense. Matthew is peer-reviewed on Martindale Hubble, and holds a 10.0/10.0 rating on Avvo. Matthew has received Avvo’s Client Choice Award from Avvo every year from 2015 through the present. Matthew has successfully tried as well as settled hundreds of criminal and traffic cases, at all levels of Virginia’s trial courts. Matthew has also trained and mentored dozens of young attorneys throughout his career, including having both recruited and mentored his current partner, Seth Peritz.

los Wall is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Mason University School of Law. Carlos has extensive experience in Virginia courts including representation of clients before the Virginia Supreme Court. During his 17 years of trial experience has represented more than 3000 individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. In addition to representing clients from throughout Northern Virginia, Carlos is one of the few attorneys in the area who has been chosen to represent police officers by the Police Benevolent Association. In that capacity, Carlos has represented numerous police officers in various criminal investigations as well as active criminal cases throughout Northern Virginia. Carlos’s effective representation of people in the community, as well as local police officers, has given him the respect of the local prosecutor’s offices and the local bench. Carlos looks forward to using that experience to help you with your case. Prior to becoming a partner at The Gordon Law Firm P.C., Carlos was an associate with Devine, Connell, and Sheldon LLC and served the community as an Assistant Public Defender in Fairfax County. In his previous employment, Mr. Wall was part of a team that defended several high-profile individuals, including Paul Powell, Larry Gooch, and John Allen Muhammad. Carlos is also experienced in immigration law and post-conviction remedies, including appeals, habeas corpus, pardons, restoration of rights petitions, and other extraordinary writs. Carlos also handles the firm’s civil caseload, which includes Personal Injury cases, Medical Malpractice cases, Domestic matters, and Expungements. Carlos was born in El Salvador and he has lived in various countries including Peru, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Ivory Coast. Carlos is fluent in Spanish.

Joseph H. Beale is an experienced Virginia and Washington, D.C. attorney who has represented individuals and families for more than three decades. A graduate of Boston University and the American University Washington College of Law, Mr. Beale has built a broad litigation practice while developing particular experience in family law and divorce. He represents clients in contested and high-conflict matters involving child custody, child support, parenting time, property division, spousal support, and domestic violence protective orders. His background also includes extensive experience in criminal defense, juvenile law, personal injury, and other complex legal matters. Throughout his career, Mr. Beale has earned recognition for his legal ability and professionalism, including an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and selection to Virginia Super Lawyers. Mr. Beale takes a personalized approach to representation, working closely with clients to understand their circumstances, priorities, and long-term goals before developing an appropriate legal strategy. In addition to handling family law disputes, he assists clients with estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship matters, as well as criminal defense and personal injury cases. From his offices in Aldie and Herndon, he serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and is committed to providing practical guidance, attentive service, and determined advocacy. To discuss your legal matter with Joseph H. Beale, call 571-335-3735 or contact the firm online.

Stephanie Himel-Nelson has been practicing law for more than 25 years and serves as the firm’s principal estate planning attorney. She believes firmly that everyone needs an estate plan and is dedicated to helping Virginia families safeguard their assets and protect their financial future at every stage of life. Stephanie is licensed in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and is also a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in complex commercial contract litigation, government contracts, construction law, and negotiating and drafting commercial agreements. After more than a decade practicing as a litigator, she co-founded Blue Star Families, an influential nonprofit organization supporting military families nationwide. Originally from Louisiana, Stephanie grew up around the world in a military family. After attending the University of Miami and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she met her husband, a proud Navy servicemember, before relocating to Virginia. She earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as Executive Notes Editor of the International Law Review. Now based in the Hampton Roads area, Stephanie is expanding the firm’s estate planning practice across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is deeply committed to community service and has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the board of directors for her children’s swim clubs, PTA board member, band booster board member, and contracts chair for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach. She currently serves as Secretary of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and as a member of the Programming Committee for the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council. Outside the office, Stephanie serves as a stroke and turn official for USA Swimming, the Virginia High School League, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, and the Virginia Beach Swim League. On weekends, you will often find her on the pool deck at swim meets or cheering on Virginia Tech football, though she still roots for the Miami Hurricanes when the two teams face off.

Dennis Somech is a highly experienced trial attorney with over twenty years of experience in litigation, including family law, criminal defense, and complex criminal and civil litigation. With over 20 years of litigation experience, he uses his knowledge and experience to negotiate and leverage the best outcomes for his clients, with the confidence to take cases to trial if necessary. Dennis believes in thoroughly explaining the legal process to his clients, informing them of the factors that will be significant in a particular case, and the pros and cons of all potential courses of action. His clients can be confident that he will look out for their best interests, ensure that they them make well-informed decisions, extensively negotiate on their behalf, take their cases to trial if necessary, and always take a long-view approach for his clients during what is usually the most difficult time of their lives Dennis handles contested and uncontested divorces, custody and visitation cases, child support and spousal support matters, equitable distribution, and protective orders. He is also experienced in drafting and negotiating separation and property settlement agreements, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and consent custody and support orders. He also handles criminal cases ranging from traffic offenses to serious felonies, primarily in the Northern Virginia area. Dennis is a graduate of Emory University and received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 1999. He is licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia, and served as a state prosecutor for both the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County. He is a former President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.