Criminal Defense Attorneys in Washington, D.C.

Eugene Gorokhov and Charles Burnham founded Burnham & Gorokhov, PLLC, with the goal of providing the highest level of representation to the criminally accused. Here are some of the things that make us unique:

A collaborative approach. We take a team approach toward our cases. This means that we put our collective knowledge, experience, and heart to work in analyzing your case, planning your defense, and representing you in court. When you hire our firm, you get the benefit of three attorneys putting their own unique strengths and talents together to represent you.

We also know when a case requires outside expertise and how to find the right experts to assist in your defense. Often, cases involve forensic or industry-specific issues that require expert investigation, consultation or testimony. We are experienced at working with investigators, jury consultants, and highly regarded experts from a wide variety of specialties to assist in your case where necessary.

A creative approach. We believe that each case is unique. We refuse to apply a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to cases. Each case requires thorough research and investigation, but is not complete without creative thought. We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box and making a bold, unconventional move when the circumstances are right.

Quality, not quantity. Given our dedication to working together, working creatively, and working hard on each and every case, we purposely limit the number of cases we take on so that we can devote the necessary time and resources to each client. Unlike some law firms, we don’t turn cases over quickly just to make a profit and move on. Speak with one of our lawyers today to learn how we may assist you.

How We Defend Criminal Cases

The legendary Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer Edward Bennett Williams said that “there is no substitute for knowing everything.” This is a benchmark we strive to achieve in every case we take on. Here are some important components of our philosophy:

Know the facts. In any case, it is important for your lawyer to have an absolute command of the facts. This requires effective investigative skills and judgment. It requires knowing what to look for and what to ask. Facts that are seemingly inconsequential at first can at times make all the difference. Likewise, facts that are seemingly fatal to a cause may be easily dispelled when viewed in the context of the bigger picture. We pride ourselves on our ability to review complex and often disorganized information, make sense of it, and put it to work for our clients.

Know the law. Criminal statutes are rarely as straightforward as they seem. Often, there are nuances and complexities that may open the door to strategies and defenses that are not obvious from the plain text of the law. A firm grasp of the facts of any given case is not complete without a comparably thorough understanding of the law to which those facts apply. Meticulous legal research and a command of the concepts at play, paired with the ability to think outside the box and apply those concepts to novel scenarios, are essential ingredients to winning cases. See our practice areas to learn more about specific federal criminal charges and defenses.

Know the court. Although all federal courts throughout the country are governed by the same laws (the Federal Criminal Code, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines), different courts — and even judges within the same district — often have different views and philosophies on how to apply the law. In addition, each district court has its own unique set of local rules. In approaching any case, it is important for your lawyer to understand and be sensitive to these issues in preparing and presenting your case.

Know the client. No representation is complete without understanding the person at the heart of a case. Our duty is to protect the best interests of our client and to tailor our strategy to the specific needs and circumstances of that individual. We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients and treating them as a member of our team.

Jurisdictions We Serve

Burnham & Gorokhov, PLLC regularly represents clients in federal courts nationwide, as well as in state courts in Virginia and Washington, D.C.  The attorneys at Burnham & Gorokhov, PLLC have handled federal criminal cases in the District of Columbia, Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria, Norfolk and Richmond divisions), District of Maryland (Greenbelt and Baltimore Divisions), Western District of Virginia, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of New York, Western District of North Carolina, District of Kansas, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th, 10th and 11th Circuits.