A defense built from the inside of the investigation
Most criminal defense attorneys learned police procedure from a textbook. Michael Vincent wrote the arrest reports.
Before founding the firm, he served as a sergeant with the Ypsilanti Police Department, supervising a federally funded drunk-driving enforcement patrol. Since 1986 he has devoted his career to the other side of the courtroom, defending people accused of drunk driving and serious crimes throughout Southeast Michigan.
He knows how officers are trained to conduct a stop, what a properly administered field sobriety test looks like, how breath instruments must be calibrated, and precisely where police work goes wrong. When it does, we find it.
What happens after an arrest
Before you decide who to hire, hear how we approach a case — what we ask for first, what we look for in the report, and why the officer's own paperwork is so often the strongest thing a defense has.
SPEAK WITH MICHAELThe charges we defend
From a first-offense OWI to open murder, the defense is built around the facts of your case — the stop, the search, the testing, the video, and the people in the room.
Your license, your record, and your job. High BAC, OWVI, drugged driving, second and third offense, implied consent.
First and second degree murder, manslaughter, and self-defense under Michigan's Self-Defense Act.
No-contact orders, false allegations, recanting complainants, and deferred dismissal under MCL 769.4a.
CSC first through fourth degree, registry exposure, and challenges to forensic interviews.
AWIGBH, felonious assault, and aggravated assault — including self-defense presented at trial.
Search-and-seizure motions, informant credibility, and section 7411 diversion for first offenders.
Concealed carry, the mandatory consecutive term for felony firearm, and felon in possession.
Matters that outlast the charge
A protection order, a revoked license and a record that will not clear are all decided in their own forum, on their own rules. We appear in each of them.
Orders signed before you knew they existed, the 14-day window to answer them, and the contempt that follows an alleged violation.
Hearings after a revocation, and the clear-and-convincing case a hearing officer expects you to have built before you arrive.
Clearing a conviction under Michigan's Clean Slate law — including a first OWI — so it stops answering questions on your behalf.
Outcomes that changed lives
Calibration records showed the breath instrument was outside its certification window. The result was suppressed and the case dismissed before trial.
Surveillance video preserved before deletion contradicted the complainant's account. Self-defense was presented at trial and the jury acquitted on all counts.
A warrantless vehicle search following a prolonged stop was challenged. Most evidence was suppressed and the felony became a misdemeanor with no jail.
Illustrative placeholders pending client sign-off. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
MORE RESULTSWhat our clients say
"Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive."
From my first consultation I felt like my case was in good hands. They took the time to explain every step, answered all my questions, and fought hard on my behalf.
"They gave me confidence during the most stressful time of my life."
Their attention to detail and strategic approach made a difficult situation much easier to navigate. I always felt informed and supported.
"I would recommend them to anyone facing criminal charges."
Responsive, honest, and dedicated to the best possible outcome. They treated me with respect and worked tirelessly to protect my rights.
Protecting your future
Discuss your case, understand your options, and get trusted guidance — beginning today.
Meet an attorney, understand the process, and see a clear picture of your defense and the fee before you commit to anything.
We obtain all discovery — in-car and body camera video, dispatch audio, breath and blood records, maintenance logs — and verify every step the police took.
Dismissal, suppression, reduction, or a verdict at trial. This is not a plea mill — if a case should be tried, we try it.
What clients ask first
01Do I need an attorney after a drunk driving arrest?
Yes. An OWI is a criminal charge carrying jail exposure, license sanctions, and a permanent public record — and the deadlines move quickly. If you refused the evidential breath or blood test, you have only fourteen days to request an implied consent hearing before an automatic one-year suspension attaches, separate from the criminal case.
02What happens during the first consultation?
You meet with an attorney, not an intake screener. We review the police report and your account of the stop, identify the issues we would attack first, explain the likely timeline in your particular court, and quote a flat fee. There is no obligation and no cost.
03Do you handle charges beyond drunk driving?
We do. Intoxicated driving defense is the core of the practice, and we also defend open murder, criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, drug possession and delivery, and firearms charges.
04Which courts and counties do you serve?
We appear throughout Washtenaw County and the surrounding counties of Wayne, Livingston, Monroe, Lenawee, and Jackson — including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Detroit, Canton, Plymouth, Romulus, Brighton, Howell, Adrian, and Jackson.
05What does a defense cost?
Most matters are handled on a flat fee quoted at the consultation, so you know the figure before you hire us. It depends on the charge, the court, and whether the case is likely to be tried. Payment arrangements are available.
06Someone was arrested tonight. Can I reach you now?
Call the after-hours line at 734.389.4267. Arrests do not happen during business hours, and the first forty-eight hours often decide how much room we have to work with.