ZMO Law PLLC is a group of New York criminal and civil rights attorneys. We have decades of experience representing people in state and federal trials and appeals in New York City and Westchester County. We have worked in large firms, legal services organizations, and academia. We are supported by a dedicated staff of paralegals. We work with top experts such as psychiatrists, forensic analysts, economists, and mitigation specialists. We are a client-focused, trial-ready law firm.
Our federal criminal lawyers represent people accused of serious crimes like possession of child pornography, RICO, sex trafficking, health care fraud, and computer crimes. Our New York civil rights attorneys help victims of sexual assault seek compensation from their assailants or responsible institutions. We represent people wrongfully convicted. We handle trials and appeals.
We believe in fighting for our clients. Jails and prisons are dangerous, dirty, unsafe, terrible places. No one should spend a second more incarcerated than necessary. As private lawyers, we take pride in holding to account abusive prison officials and violent police officers. We enjoy presenting cases to juries at trial. We love researching, writing and arguing appeals, coming up with innovative ways to use the law to help people. We obtain justice for our clients.
We thoroughly investigate every case we handle. We listen to our clients. We focus on our client's concerns -- not our own, not the court's, not the prosecutor's. We provide honest advice. In some cases, we partner with other leading law firms and organizations such as the Innocence Project. We represent indigent clients in federal court through the Criminal Justice Act panels for the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of New York. We are ready to go to trial in every case. Our adversaries know we do not back down.
We regularly fight for clients and frequently go to trial in federal courts in the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, and throughout the northeast. We appeal cases to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. We try cases in New York State courts in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester County. We represent innocent clients all over New York State. Our clients come from all over the United States and the world, including Europe, Africa and Asia.
Principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma has achieved groundbreaking results for clients since opening his firm in 2005. Our work led to the release and exoneration of Antonio Yarbough and Sharrif Wilson in 2014 after 22 years in prison for a triple-homicide they did not commit. Partnering with the Innocence Project, we obtained freedom for Felipe Rodriguez via executive clemency in 2017 and complete exoneration in 2019. We have obtained tens of millions of dollars for clients who were wrongfully convicted or sexually abused. In 2020, we obtained clemency for a mother of two serving a 13-year prison term. In 2010, our work led to leniency for a Songhai tribesman wrongly accused of helping Al Qaeda. Our appellate work has led to reversals of convictions in cases involving fraud, sex abuse, sex offender registration, drug trafficking, and murder. One of our appeals established, for the first time, that any sexual abuse of a prisoner violates the Constitution. At trials, our clients have been acquitted of murder, sex trafficking, federal conspiracy, gun possession, narcotics trafficking, receipt of child pornography, sex abuse, and other crimes. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
A lot. Our cases require professionals to expend time, energy, and passion to get the best possible outcome. In criminal cases, we charge hourly fees that are billed against a retainer set in consultation with the client at the outset of the case. In civil cases seeking compensation for sexual assault, wrongful conviction, or excessive force, there is no up-front cost to the client, but substantial fees are taken from the recovery.
If you or a loved one faces child pornography, sexual assault, homicide, or other serious criminal charges in New York City and you can afford a private attorney, you should call us immediately. If you are the victim of sexual assault at the hands of a powerful or wealthy individual or institution, you should call us immediately. If you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted or seriously injured by police, you should call us immediately. We will listen to you and give our honest opinion of your case and your legal options. If we cannot help, we will try to refer you to an attorney or other professional who can.
Zachary is a brilliant attorney - he has a keen understanding of the law, with years of experience and practices with diligence and integrity. It was a pleasure to work with and learn from Zach, as he provided thoughtful and meticulous guidance. Zach is undoubtedly a devoted and passionate advocate for his clients, who operates with confidence, reliability, and the utmost professionalism.
— Vidya P.
Zachary is an excellent lawyer with great concern for his clients and equally great skills and thinking outside the box. I met him as an adversary and chose to keep him as a friend. He is both able and dedicated. In his areas of practice, he is outstanding.
— Joel A.
I highly recommend Zachary as a defense attorney. I hired him on a very serious jury case and the bottom line is we won. It is the best decision of my life at a critical point in my life. Zach was very professional, personable, a diligent expert, a masterful strategist but most importantly he took the time to understand my perspective.
— Ronald C.
I met Zack while I was representing a client in a high profile murder case in 2007. Zack represented a witness who was subpoenaed against his will. Although our interests were adverse, Zack was the consummate professional--calm and well versed in the relevant legal issues. He acted as an outstanding advocate for his client. I would recommend Zack to potential clients without hesitation.
— Mark Bederow
Zachary is a top-notch lawyer who fights vigorously to advance his clients' interests. I have referred cases to him in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
— David Feldman
I have had the opportunity to see Zachary in action while he was conducting a federal trial for which he was lead trial counsel. He's a highly talented trial attorney skilled in the art of cross examination. I recommend him highly.
— Ryan Blanch
If you have been accused of a crime in New York State, please contact us today.
