DALLAS – September 3, 2026 – Texas Defenders, a Dallas criminal defense law firm representing individuals accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses throughout North Texas, has been named the 2026 Law Firm of the Year for Dallas, Texas, by the Consumer Ratings Institute.
The recognition adds to a growing list of distinctions for Texas Defenders and reflects the firm’s focus on providing experienced, accessible criminal defense representation to people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Texas Defenders represents clients facing criminal charges including DWI, drug possession and THC offenses, assault, family violence, theft and shoplifting, weapons charges, probation violations, and other misdemeanor and felony cases.
The firm’s attorneys regularly represent clients in Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County and Denton County, including cases arising in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville and surrounding North Texas communities. Texas Defenders also serves clients in the San Antonio area.
“Being accused of a crime can affect someone’s freedom, family, career and future,” said David Payma, Dallas criminal defense attorney and founder of Texas Defenders. “Our job is to make sure our clients understand what they’re facing, understand their options and have a defense team that is prepared to fight for them at every stage of the case.”
Consumer Ratings Institute Names Texas Defenders Dallas Law Firm of the Year
The Consumer Ratings Institute named Texas Defenders the recipient of its 2026 Law Firm of the Year award for Dallas, Texas.
According to the Consumer Ratings Institute’s published methodology, its awards recognition program evaluates businesses using aggregated consumer-review information from major platforms, including Google, Yelp, Trustpilot and TripAdvisor. Its methodology considers factors beyond a business’s overall rating, including review volume and velocity, response patterns and longevity.
The recognition is particularly meaningful to Texas Defenders because client experience has been a central focus of the firm’s approach to criminal defense.
Texas Defenders has accumulated more than 1,000 client reviews across its offices while maintaining a 5.0-star overall rating. The firm emphasizes frequent communication, straightforward explanations and making attorneys accessible to clients throughout the criminal court process.
“This award means a great deal to us because it ultimately reflects the experiences people have had with our firm,” Payma said. “When someone hires Texas Defenders, we want that person to know who is handling the case, what is happening in court and what we’re doing to protect their future.”
Criminal Defense Focused on Preparation and Communication
Texas Defenders’ legal team includes attorneys with experience on both sides of the criminal justice system, including former prosecutorial experience that provides insight into how the government investigates, charges and prosecutes criminal cases.
The firm’s attorneys have handled thousands of criminal matters and bring decades of combined legal and courtroom experience to their representation of clients.
That experience is paired with an emphasis on early investigation and preparation.
Depending on the allegations, defending a criminal case may require examining police reports, body-camera and dash-camera video, witness statements, search warrants, laboratory results, breath or blood testing, probable cause, search-and-seizure issues and other evidence used by prosecutors.
Texas Defenders believes criminal defense should begin as early as possible rather than waiting until a case reaches trial.
“When someone’s freedom is on the line, preparation matters,” Payma said. “We look for the weaknesses in the government’s case, identify the issues that could change the outcome and make sure our clients understand the best path forward.”
Criminal Defense Representation Throughout Dallas-Fort Worth
Although Texas Defenders is based in Dallas, the firm’s criminal defense practice extends throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding North Texas counties.
The firm represents people facing criminal charges in communities throughout:
- Dallas County, including Dallas, Irving, Garland, Richardson, Mesquite, Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville;
- Tarrant County, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Grapevine and surrounding communities;
- Collin County, including McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Allen and surrounding communities; and
- Denton County, including Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony and surrounding communities.
Texas Defenders also provides criminal defense representation in the San Antonio area.
The firm’s practice includes representation for DWI and intoxication offenses, marijuana and drug possession, THC-related charges, assault and family violence, theft and shoplifting, unlawful carrying of a weapon and other weapons offenses, probation violations, and other felony and misdemeanor criminal charges.
One Criminal Charge Should Not Define a Person’s Future
Texas Defenders was built around the principle that being arrested or accused of a crime should not define the rest of someone’s life.
A criminal allegation can create consequences long before a case is resolved. An arrest can affect employment, professional licensing, education, housing, relationships and reputation. A conviction can carry consequences that continue long after fines, probation or incarceration have ended.
For that reason, the firm’s attorneys focus not only on the immediate criminal charge but also on protecting the client’s long-term future whenever possible.
“We meet good people who are going through bad situations every day,” Payma said. “An accusation is not a conviction, and one mistake or allegation should not automatically determine the direction of someone’s life.”
Texas Defenders continues to offer free consultations to individuals who have been arrested, charged with a crime or believe they may be under criminal investigation.
Individuals seeking a Dallas criminal defense attorney can contact Texas Defenders at 214-306-9696 or visit TexasDefenders.com.
About Texas Defenders
Texas Defenders is a Texas criminal defense law firm based in Dallas, Texas, representing individuals accused of misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses throughout North Texas and the San Antonio area.
Led by Dallas criminal defense attorney David Payma, the firm’s attorneys handle cases involving DWI, drug and marijuana possession, THC offenses, assault, family violence, theft, shoplifting, weapons charges, probation violations and other criminal allegations.
Texas Defenders represents clients throughout Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County and Denton County, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton and surrounding Texas communities.
The firm’s attorneys have handled thousands of criminal matters and include former prosecutorial experience, providing insight into how criminal cases are investigated, charged and prosecuted.
Texas Defenders offers free consultations to individuals who have been arrested, accused of a crime or are under criminal investigation.
Media Contact
Company Name: Texas Defenders
Contact Person: David Payma
Email: Send Email
Phone: 214-306-9696
Address:3302 Swiss Circle
City: Dallas
State: TX
Country: United States
Website: https://texasdefenders.com/