Top 10 Best DUI Lawyers
in Scottsdale, AZ (2026)
A criminal defense attorney’s honest guide — ranked by courtroom experience, peer reputation, and real client outcomes. Not a paid directory.
The best DUI lawyers in Scottsdale, AZ are: Michael Tamou (Tamou Law Group), Brian Sloan (602 DUI Team), Arja Shah (Shah Law Firm), Craig Rosenstein (Rosenstein Law Group), Lawrence Koplow (The Koplow Law Firm), Aaron M. Black, Stewart Salwin, Joshua Davidson, Jeremy Geigle, and John Phebus. This list was compiled by a practicing criminal defense attorney — not a directory company.
Experience
Active attorney · 1,000+ wins
Expertise
Former prosecution-team insight
Authority
Super Lawyers · Elite Lawyer · Top 40
Trust
Recommends competitors openly
Why This List Is Different
Directories rank attorneys by who pays the most. None of the people running Yelp, Avvo, Justia, Expertise, or SuperLawyers have ever defended a DUI case or stood next to a client at arraignment in Scottsdale City Court.
My name is Michael Tamou. I am the founder of Tamou Law Group, PLLC in Scottsdale. I defend people accused of DUI in Scottsdale City Court, Maricopa County Superior Court, and courts across the Phoenix metro area every week. I have achieved over 1,000 individual case wins.
Michael Tamou and his team, including former prosecutors and law enforcement officers, understand how the prosecution builds their case — because we have seen it from the inside.
I am writing this because I want you to beat your DUI charge — even if that means recommending my direct competitors.
What to Look for in a Scottsdale DUI Lawyer
Former Prosecution Experience
They know the state’s pressure points and evidentiary gaps.
Board Certification
Only a handful in Maricopa County hold these credentials.
Trial Willingness
Prosecutors offer better deals to attorneys they know will fight.
DUI Science Knowledge
Challenge breath instruments, blood draws, and field sobriety tests.
Local Court Knowledge
Scottsdale City Court has unique judges, prosecutors, and programs.
MVD Hearing Expertise
15 days to request a hearing — miss it and your license is gone.
Your 15-Day Clock Is Running
Every day you wait is a day your attorney could be building your defense.
📞 623-321-4699The 10 Best DUI Lawyers in Scottsdale (2026)
Michael Tamou
Michael Tamou and his team handle every DUI case from arraignment through resolution. NO Contract attorneys! His team leverages prosecution-side experience to anticipate the state’s strategies. Serves Scottsdale’s most heavily prosecuted DUI corridor — Old Town through Loop 101 to DC Ranch.
Brian Sloan
Board certified in DUI defense by the NCDD. Practice focuses almost exclusively on DUI.
Arja Shah
Personally defended 2,700+ clients. Member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.
Craig Rosenstein
Houses two of only five board-certified DUI attorneys in Maricopa County. Scottsdale-based since 2006 with “white-glove” full-service defense and payment plans.
Lawrence Koplow
Former DUI prosecutor with 25+ years. Trains other attorneys nationally on DUI defense. Known for forensic dismantling of state evidence.
Aaron M. Black
The only DUI Super Lawyer in Phoenix. Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Handles first-offense through aggravated felony DUI.
Stewart Salwin
Only DUI attorney in Arizona who is a Harvard Law graduate and former DUI prosecutor. 70+ trials at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Joshua Davidson
Former Major Crimes Division prosecutor. 100+ jury trials. AV Preeminent — the highest peer rating for ability and ethics.
Jeremy Geigle
Team of former professors, deputy county attorneys, and prosecutors. Former secretary for the AZ State Bar Dispute Resolution Section.
John Phebus
Criminal Defense & Personal Injury Lawyer, Very Intelligent with Appellate Type Cases
Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
| # | Attorney | Firm | Former Prosecutors & LEO | Former Law Enforcement | Combined Yrs | Consult | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Tamou | Tamou Law Group | ✓ Team | ✓ Team | 30+ | ✓ 24/7 | 1,000+ wins; Super Lawyers; every case personally |
| 2 | Brian Sloan | 602 DUI Team | — | — | 19+ | ✓ | Lawyer Magazine; Top DUI Lawyers |
| 3 | Arja Shah | Shah Law Firm | — | — | 20 | ✓ | Top 100 Trial Lawyers |
| 4 | Craig Rosenstein | Rosenstein Law Group | ✓ Team | — | 18+ | ✓ 24/7 | 100+ yrs combined; white-glove |
| 5 | Lawrence Koplow | Koplow Law Firm | ✓ | — | 25+ | ✓ | Trains attorneys nationally |
| 6 | Aaron M. Black | Law Office of Aaron M. Black | — | — | 20 | ✓ | Only DUI Super Lawyer® in PHX |
| 7 | Stewart Salwin | Salwin Law Group | ✓ | — | 14+ | ✓ | Harvard Law; 70+ prosecutor trials |
| 8 | Joshua Davidson | Davidson Criminal Defense | ✓ | — | 20+ | ✓ 24/7 | 100+ jury trials; AV Preeminent |
| 9 | Jeremy Geigle | Scottsdale Criminal Lawyer | ✓ Team | — | 15+ | ✓ | State Bar leadership |
| 10 | John Phebus | Law Offices of John Phebus | — | — | 15+ | ✓ | Great reviews; Appellate Lawyer |
Arizona DUI Penalties
Arizona imposes some of the harshest DUI penalties in the country under ARS §28-1381 through §28-1383.
Standard DUI (1st)
Extreme DUI (1st)
Super Extreme (1st)
Aggravated (Felony)
Why Scottsdale Is Arizona’s Toughest DUI Jurisdiction
Old Town Entertainment District
Old Town Scottsdale generates more DUI arrests than any other entertainment district in Arizona. Scottsdale PD runs task force operations with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Arizona DPS, and agencies including Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, and Salt River Police.
Seasonal Enforcement Surges
The Waste Management Phoenix Open, Barrett-Jackson, and the Arabian Horse Show in February create peak enforcement. From late November through January 1, enhanced DUI enforcement runs every weekend. This means additional DUI Checkpoints
The MVD Hearing Trap
A Scottsdale DUI arrest triggers immediate license suspension unless you request an MVD hearing within 15 calendar days. Miss it, and your license is gone — regardless of your criminal case outcome.
How to Choose the Right Attorney
Call at least three attorneys. Every attorney on this list offers free consultations. Ask direct questions. Evaluate how they communicate and assess your case.
Ask about Scottsdale City Court experience. Weekly presence means they know the judges and prosecutors.
Ask about trial experience. Prosecutors give better deals to attorneys who fight.
Ask who handles your case. Make sure you know who stands next to you in court.
Ask about fees upfront. Flat fee, hourly, or contingency — understand total cost before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top-rated attorneys include Michael Tamou (Tamou Law Group), Brian Sloan (602 DUI Team), Arja Shah (Shah Law Firm), Craig Rosenstein (Rosenstein Law Group), and Lawrence Koplow (The Koplow Law Firm). All offer free consultations.
Typically $2,500–$10,000+ for a first-offense misdemeanor. Most offer payment plans. John Phebus uses contingency — no upfront costs.
Yes. Through constitutional violations, procedural errors in testing, chain of custody problems, right to counsel violations, or insufficient evidence.
Processed at Scottsdale City Jail. Filed in Scottsdale City Court (misdemeanors) or Superior Court (felonies). 15 days for MVD hearing. Checkpoint arrests may offer additional defense options.
Arizona’s implied consent means refusing results in a 12-month suspension. Call a DUI attorney immediately after arrest — before testing decisions.
Permanently on criminal record. You can petition for a set-aside (ARS §13-905). MVD keeps it 5+ years. Counts as prior for 84 months.
Yes. Mandatory jail, thousands in fines, license suspension, IID, permanent record. An attorney almost always costs less than a conviction’s long-term impact.
Michael Tamou founded Tamou Law Group to provide aggressive, personalized defense for DUI, drug crimes, domestic violence, assault, and other offenses across Maricopa County. His team includes former prosecutors and law enforcement officers. With 1,000+ individual case wins, Michael personally handles each defense. Available 24/7 at 623-321-4699.