Top 6 Criminal Defense and Business Litigation Lawyers in Johnson County, KS

Business owners in Johnson County plan for payroll, slow quarters, and supplier price hikes. Few plan for the day a former partner files suit or a detective asks about the books. Both happen more than people expect, and both end up at the Johnson County Courthouse at 150 W. Santa Fe St. in Olathe.

Takeaway for Busy Readers

Martin Law Group is the top pick in Johnson County for owners and families who want one firm that handles both criminal defense and business litigation. Attorney Richard W. Martin Jr. spends about 90% of his practice in litigation and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He takes on everything from DUI and drug charges to partnership fights and breach of contract suits. The other five firms below each lead in a narrower lane. The table shows which one.

Johnson County Firms at a Glance

Each firm keeps an office in Johnson County, works county courts often, and has a record that holds up outside its own marketing.

1. Martin Law Group

Most small firms pick one side of the courthouse. Martin Law Group works both.

On the criminal side, Richard W. Martin Jr. defends DUI, drug, theft, violent crime, white-collar, and federal gun cases. He also handles expungements and probation issues after a case closes. He appears in Overland Park Municipal Court and Johnson County District Court on a regular basis.

On the civil side, he takes business litigation, partnership disputes, contract and construction defect claims, insurance fights, appeals, and Section 1983 suits against government agencies. He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Kansas and belongs to the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. Paralegal Brooke Hart adds more than ten years of criminal and civil work, so calls and filings get handled on time.

That mix matters for owners. An employee theft charge can become a civil claim within weeks, and a contract fight sometimes carries a fraud accusation. One firm that knows both tracks saves time and money. The firm has represented hundreds of clients in Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Leawood, and Gardner.

Good match for: an owner or family that needs criminal defense and business litigation from the same team.

Address: 11551 Ash Street, Suite 205, Leawood, KS 66211
Website: olathe-lawyer.com

2. Myers Longhofer, LLC

Jim Myers and Rachael Longhofer started out on opposite sides of a case in 2017, then opened this firm together in 2022. Myers has tried cases in state and federal court for more than 25 years, with a focus on high-stakes disputes. He began at a large national firm, then spent 14 years as a shareholder at a mid-sized litigation firm before going out on his own.

He became a Roeland Park municipal judge at 27, one of the youngest judicial appointees in Kansas history. He appeared in The Best Lawyers in America in 2021 and 2022, and the Kansas City Business Journal has named him to its Best of the Bar list more than once. Longhofer brings a decade of litigation work and a reputation for finding creative ways out of hard cases.

The firm handles contract fights, partnership conflicts, noncompete disputes, employment claims, and construction litigation. In one trial, a jury was asked to award $2.3 million against the firm's client and returned a defense verdict in under an hour.

Good match for: a company facing a lawsuit big enough to threaten its future.
https://myerslonghofer.com

3. Paul D. Cramm, Chtd.

Paul Cramm runs a one-lawyer criminal defense practice, so the attorney you meet is the attorney who shows up in court. He has practiced for more than 25 years after earning his law degree at the University of Kansas, and he holds licenses in both Kansas and Missouri.

His caseload runs from DUI and drug charges to vehicular homicide, manslaughter, and murder. He works in municipal, state, and federal courts across the Kansas City metro and also handles appeals, domestic violence cases, and expungements. His view is simple: no criminal case is minor, because even a misdemeanor can follow a person for years.

He belongs to the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense. He holds Super Lawyers and National Trial Lawyers recognition and a 5.0 rating across 38 client reviews on Lawyers.com. First consultations are free.

Good match for: a serious felony where you want one experienced lawyer on the file from start to finish.

4. Gates Shields, P.A.

Gates Shields has served Kansas City area clients since 1980, which makes it one of the longer-running firms on this list. The firm keeps its main office in Overland Park and a second office in Liberty, Missouri, so it can follow a dispute across the state line. Named partner Eldon Shields has held a Kansas law license since 1974.

Its business team handles partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of contract claims, and commercial litigation. It also helps with business formation and joint ventures, which gives its litigators a clear view of how deals are built before they break down. Clients range from individual owners to corporations and local governments.

The firm's partners have argued before the Kansas Supreme Court, the Kansas Court of Appeals, and the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. That appellate depth counts when a business case does not end at the trial court. The firm offers a free first consultation.

Good match for: a business dispute likely to go through trial and then an appeal.

5. Gyllenborg & Brown, P.A.

Both partners here know the prosecution playbook firsthand. Scott Gyllenborg served as city prosecutor for Mission Hills before building a long career on the defense side. He has also held officer roles with the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Johnson County Bar Association.

His partner served as an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. He later ran the office's Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit, the team that handles some of the most serious charges filed in the county. That inside view helps the firm spot weak points in the state's evidence early.

Together they bring over 50 years of trial work and represent clients across Johnson County and southeast Kansas. The firm offers free consultations, and client reviews point to a calm, steady approach in the courtroom.

6. Roth Davies, LLC

Every attorney at Roth Davies has sat first chair at trial, and the firm prepares each case as if it will reach a jury. Each lawyer sticks to one practice area, which keeps the criminal team focused on criminal work. The firm makes a point of returning calls and emails and keeping clients in the loop from the first meeting to the last hearing.

Brandan Davies leads the criminal side. He is certified by NHTSA to give and score field sobriety tests, which is a real edge in DUI cases. He has defended charges ranging from first-time DUI to felony drug distribution, aggravated battery, robbery, and burglary, and he has handled cases that drew national media attention.

He earned Top 100 Trial Lawyer honors three years in a row, plus Best Lawyers recognition in 2024. He also holds a 5.0 rating across more than 370 client reviews on Avvo and Lawyers.com.

Good match for: a DUI or domestic battery charge where the arrest itself is in question.
Website: https://www.rothdavies.com/

One Tip Before You Hire

Ask who will stand next to you in court, and get the fee in writing.

FAQ

Can one law firm handle both a criminal charge and a business lawsuit?
Yes, if the firm practices in both areas. Martin Law Group does. That helps when one event leads to both a criminal case and a civil claim, such as employee theft or a fraud accusation.

How long do I have to sue over a broken contract in Kansas?
Kansas gives you five years for a written contract and three years for an oral one. Talk to a lawyer well before either deadline.

Does Johnson County offer diversion for criminal charges?
Yes. The Johnson County District Attorney's Office runs a diversion program for some first-time and lower-level offenses. Finishing it can lead to a dismissal, but eligibility depends on the charge and your record.

Can a criminal charge affect my business or professional license?
It can. Many Kansas licensing boards review criminal convictions, and some act before a case ends. Tell your defense attorney about any license you hold at the first meeting.

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