Law Office of Nathaniel Pitoniak

Houston Criminal Lawyer

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  • Biography
  • Education & Experience
  • Legal Associations
  • Press Mentions

FORMER PROSECUTOR FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS

Nathaniel Pitoniak is a former Felony Prosecutor and Chief Prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in practice for over 17 years. He has represented people from many different backgrounds including working-class people, veterans, and professionals such as doctors, business people, dentists, professors, police officers, teachers, nurses, and pharmacists. He frequently represents non-citizens facing potential immigration consequences. His philosophy on the aggressive and effective defense of people accused by the police of breaking the law is to “speak softly, and carry a big stick.” See what Nathaniel’s former clients have to say about him in their reviews on Google.

In addition to being a top-rated criminal lawyer, Nathaniel Pitoniak is the father of two daughters.  He also serves on the Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Committee.

Working Hard For Your Criminal Defense

Through hard work and preparation, combined with his experience of how the prosecutor’s office works, Nathaniel can sometimes obtain dismissals, favorable reductions to lesser offenses, or pre-trial diversions without the necessity of trial. Nathaniel does not show up to court screaming at prosecutors as some grandstanding lawyers might, and remains mindful that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

However, Nathaniel handles every case from the beginning with the ultimate goal of trying the case. Rather than rely on the mercy of the prosecutors, in many cases a favorable result can only be achieved after the prosecutors become worried that they might lose at trial, a worry that only develops once they realize you are serious about trying your case.

People accused of crimes often wonder what their lawyer is doing to help their case in the afternoons and evenings after morning docket. Prior preparation prevents poor performance, and Nathaniel puts in extensive work behind the scenes researching and collecting evidence. If push comes to shove, Nathaniel has extensive jury trial experience with both felony and Misdemeanor offenses which enables him to tell your side of the story in a manner calculated to persuade the jury. He is a fierce advocate who has tried tough cases and achieved great results. He loves to try cases. Nathaniel Pitoniak has received Not Guilty verdicts on cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony offenses where the punishment range was from 25 years to life in prison.

Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney Near You

Many people search for the “best criminal defense attorney near me” and hire one of the first lawyers that come up on Google without doing much more research. While having your attorney nearby is important, it’s also important to know that you’re hiring the right attorney for your case.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN HOUSTON CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Nathaniel attended the University of Texas at Austin, the most competitive public school in Texas, and graduated with honors in three years. Nathaniel received his law degree from the most competitive law school in Houston, the University of Houston Law Center. After receiving an “A” in Criminal Law, Nathaniel was eager to obtain real-world experience and so interned with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Here, Nathaniel fell in love with Criminal Law and was hired to work as a prosecutor. Nathaniel gained valuable experience persuading juries in trials of felony and misdemeanor offenses of all types. After leaving the office, Nathaniel worked for some large law firms handling multi-million dollar disputes before returning to his true passion of defending people accused of crimes.

NATHANIEL PITONIAK WINS

Nathaniel’s prior experience gave him an insight into the operations of the prosecutor’s office, in addition to valuable jury trial experience many criminal defense lawyers lack. His clients benefit from his ability to effectively collect and present evidence to tell his clients’ side of the story with the goal of dismissal or acquittal in every case. While a plea bargain is sometimes in his clients’ best interest, Nathaniel works for his clients and advises them of their options before recommending this course. Nathaniel cares deeply for his clients and fights for them instead of shuffling them through the system as some lawyers do.

Read our case results and see why Nathaniel Pitoniak is a top-rated criminal lawyer in Houston.


C.N.

Nathaniel is an incredible lawyer and I couldn’t be more grateful for his services! I was contacted by law enforcement that I was under investigation for a violent felony, a very surprising and confusing thing for me to discover. At our first meeting, Nathaniel was able to explain the investigative and trial process, present a solid defense strategy and timeline, and answer all of the questions and concerns I had. Having never been under investigation or had any run-ins with the law previously, I had a LOT of questions. Nathaniel worked very fast and thoroughly in preparing my defense, was in constant communication with me throughout the process, and was available at any time to discuss the case. He was able to present my defense to law enforcement and intervene before the investigation was even concluded. His defense for my case was so effective that charges weren’t even filed! I can’t be more grateful to Nathaniel for his hard work and expertise in handling my case and getting a result I couldn’t have imagined when I was first contacted by law enforcement. Hopefully, I’ll never need a lawyer again, but if I do I know I’ll call Nathaniel.

R.G.

Nathaniel is a true professional and is dedicated to the best outcome possible. I also read his reviews at the beginning of my cases with skepticism but soon realized that all the great things people said about him were true and I put complete faith in him. Nathaniel found evidence the prosecution was unaware of and used his extensive experience to get my cases dismissed. As a professional, I was concerned about my career, considerable jail time, and overall loss of normalcy. Nathaniel gave me my life back and I’ll be forever grateful. I recommend his wonderful services to anyone. Thank you, Sir. God bless you.

M.K.

My experience with Nathaniel Pitoniak was so great. I was in dire straits, confused and scared. Nathaniel calmly answered all my questions. He was thorough and patient and explained everything to my complete satisfaction. He was genuinely interested and caring during my family's time of need. I must not forget to mention how reassuring it was to receive a follow-up call just to make sure we were okay. I highly recommend him for anyone seeking an attorney.

Dee

I am fifty-five years old, had a clear criminal history, and was charged with a Felony Assault case... Nathaniel started work quickly. During his investigation, he discovered evidence proving my innocence... My case was dismissed on his first appearance because of all the work he did out of court.

Awesome work! Nathaniel worked extremely hard and got my felony case dismissed.

Awesome work! Worked extremely hard and got my felony case dismissed. Anytime I had a question or needed information he always answered in a timely manner. I highly recommend!

Nathaniel made good on his promise. He got my son’s felony case dismissed.

I want to thank Mr. Nathaniel for his hard work on my son’s case. One of the things I admire is his honesty. From the beginning, he said he couldn’t promise me the outcome of the case but he promised to work as hard as he could to provide the best outcome. He made good on his promise. He got my son’s felony case dismissed. Throughout the whole process, I felt he truly cared about doing right by the case. I’d highly recommend him to anyone in need of his services.

Stop looking and hire Nathaniel now.

Nathaniel represented me on a case where I had been framed. My career was at stake. He worked tirelessly, persuaded the prosecutor, and got the case dismissed quickly. You should hire him if you are charged with a crime. 5 Star should be increased if you have a career profession and you life is about to go up in flames or sink like the Titanic Highly recommend you get Mr Pitoniak aka THE DISMISSER. Works for you Thorough ask the important and pertinent questions STOP LOOKING HIRE HIM NOW

Nathaniel is a very hard worker, and didn’t quit on me.

Nathaniel is a very hard worker!!! Did not quit on me. Was real upfront with my case and did everything in his power to get it dismissed. I am a very stress free man because of him. Thank you yet again Nathaniel!! Highly recommend him!!!

Working with Nathaniel eased any fears I had regarding my case.

Working with Nathaniel eased any fears I had regarding my case. His approach is open, honest, & straightforward. He is very responsive to any & all questions you could possibly have. He worked diligently & was able to get my case dismissed. If you need someone that you can trust, give him a call it is the best decision you could ever make.

Nathaniel displayed nothing but superb professionalism…

Nathaniel displayed nothing but superb professionalism from the first time we met. He made me feel comfortable and confident. I would recommend his services to anyone. Outstanding lawyer - second to none.

Nathaniel is very positive hardworking, outgoing, a person that tells the truth…

Nathaniel was very positive hardworking, outgoing, a person that tells the truth because he never knows what he will walk into with dealing with judges. As a law student myself while working on my boyfriend case I myself one day want to be like him. He is very strong headed , very patient, very understanding, a great listener, very great at what he do. He was working on my boyfriend case got him two weeks in jail only because he was on probation but that’s better than two years in I am so very thankful. Than got the case dismissed without my boyfriend having to go to court nothing but once throughout the Whole journey and even than he talked to the judge boyfriend didn’t have to do anything. I will always recommend him to people no matter there situations. If words can explain how much of a good lawyer as well as person he is I would. Thank you so much for you help your AWESOME!

Nathaniel knows his job and he is the best to do it!

I went to Nathaniel after the first lawyer that was to represent me took $1000 retainer fee and didn’t do anything for 3-4 months. I was facing 2 Felony Counts of Tampering with Federal Evidence. Nathaniel told me what I would have to pay and he told me what he will need from me. I was able to get one of the charges thrown out and the other charge Nathaniel was able to get dismissed. Nathaniel knows his job and he is the best to do it!!!!

Mr. Pitoniak got my case dismissed in a timely fashion despite the pandemic!

Mr. Pitoniak got my case dismissed in a timely fashion despite the pandemic! I was impressed with his response time and the ease of communication with him throughout the ordeal. I’m glad I did my research and found such a great lawyer! Also, I had requested referrals from Mr. Pitoniak for other handlings in my life and those lawyers have been aces as well. Thank you!

Had four felonies dismissed and a great outcome to my case.

Had four felonies dismissed and a great outcome to my case. The overall experience was A1, everything was handled very professionally. He’s definitely someone I’d recommend without hesitation to anyone looking for a great defense attorney.

Assault Case. DISMISSED!

Assault Case. DISMISSED! Nathaniel is open, honest, straight forward and easy to communicate with. He always responded to my calls and text. Nathaniel is dedicated to the best out come possible, soft spoken, but carries a big bat. The Judge got on to me for a non-compliance issue and Nathaniel jumped in on the spot saving my *ss. Again, the end result was case dismissed. Searching for an Attorney is never fun, with Nathaniel rest assured you are in good hands! Thank You, for all your efforts and putting me at ease going through the Judicial process. Assault cases are not easy and Texas does not play around regarding such. I highly recommend Nathaniel Pitoniak

Nathaniel is an amazing lawyer to work with.

Nathaniel is an amazing lawyer to work with. He was on top of my case from day one and answered any questions I had from the beginning. Communication was great and he was able to convince the prosecutors to dismiss my case. Would recommend. 10/10

If you need a defense attorney there is not a better option in the Houston area.

In one of the worst times in my life Nathaniel was there for me. I was accused of awful things and Nathaniel listened, he calmed, and he counseled my wife and I to help us find some peace in this storm. After a year and hours of putting evidence together and working with Nathaniel its finally over. Nathaniel used his expertise, reputation and relationships to defend my innocence and bring this nightmare to an end. I am forever grateful for the work he did defending me. If you need a defense attorney there is not a better option in the Houston area.

Nathaniel knows what he is doing, is good at it, and really cared for me as a client.

I was referred to Nathaniel by another criminal lawyer for a felony. I had a tough case because of my history and the allegations. I was not eligible for probation. I was very worried. Nathaniel was reassuring and always available to discuss. Nathaniel had a good relationship with the judge and the prosecutor, worked hard and methodically, and persuaded the grand jury to no-bill my case, which is a dismissal. I never even had to come to court over the year my case went on and Nathaniel gathered evidence. He knows what he is doing, is good at it, and really cared for me as a client.

Highly recommend Nathaniel. Literally changed my life for the better.

Nathaniel was extremely reassuring and positive throughout my entire case. My case was difficult due to some evidence against me. But he pressed forward. Was optimistic the whole time and always responded quickly. Guided me through the whole process patiently and he got my case dismissed. He really pulled through and changed my life. This dismissal helped me get promoted at work and now I can sleep well. Highly recommend Nathaniel. Literally changed my life for the better.

Nathaniel stood by me for several years…

Nathaniel stood by me for several years as he persuaded the prosecutors that I was not responsible for a death that occurred. In the end, they believed him and I could not have picked a better lawyer.

Nathaniel knows what he is doing, hands down.

Nathaniel knows what he is doing, hands down. His counsel was effective in the dismissal of my felony case. He doesn't over promise, he over delivers.

Nathaniel is a very competent hard worker…

My husband was wrongly accused, and was charged with two felonies one for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon. He was facing life. The nature of the case made it difficult to present some evidence but Nathaniel worked hard and got both cases dismissed at grand jury. He believed in my husbands innocence but was also very realistic about the possible outcomes. We interviewed several attorneys and picked Nathaniel because he stood out to us. He is very competent, hard worker and he shows he actually cares about getting the case dismissed or the best result possible, not just working out a deal. We are so thankful and would highly recommend Nathaniel to anyone looking for a great criminal attorney who will go the extra mile.

Nathaniel went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed for my case.

Nathaniel was an amazing attorney. He went above and beyond to make sure that we had everything we needed for my case. Every question we had he would answer and was always keep us in the loop with how the trial was progressing. I really appreciate all the work he put into my case . Easily the greatest attorney and I highly recommend you go with him, his former experience as a DA makes him well versed in both sides of the legal system. If you want an attorney that will take care of you go with Nathaniel.

Thank you Nathaniel, for giving a young person a second chance.

My brother inlaw committed a felony (attempted murder with a deadly weapon) while being recorded on video. He was placed under arrest and was pending a possible sentence of up to 20 years. My husband wanted to give his brother a second chance and we immediately started looking for a lawyer. Most of the lawyers we contacted did not want to pursue the case because of the amount of evidence the prosecutor had recovered. There were very few lawyers that were willing but did not want to waste much time on the case and told us upfront that they would ask for plea deal with a guilty verdict. We found Nathaniel Pitoniak on Google search and saw the positive reviews and decided to give him a call, he wasted no time and ask to meet at his office at 9pm night time. We met at his office and quickly asked for all of his information, he knew how sensitive the case was and the risk we were taking. He convinced us that he was the right lawyer for the case and left all of the responsibilities under his hands. Nathaniel Pitoniak convinced the judge to release him on an unprecedented small bond. It was lengthy process and many court dates to come. It has been close to 3 years and Nathaniel did what he promised, he convinced the judge and had the case dismissed. Thank you Nathaniel, for giving a young person a second chance.

Nathaniel is a good person who is kind and caring.

Due to an unfortunate series of events, we received a late night phone call from a family member who was in jail. Using Google, we searched for a highly-rated family defense attorney who could handle a client with a disability. It was a rough night trying to make contact with the jail to speak to our family member, and the panic and fear of the unknown set in quickly. Fortunately for us, Nathaniel spoke to us and let us know about his experience as a former Assistant District Attorney and what to expect of everything that would happen next. While we never thought that this situation would happen to us, Nathaniel was a calm and reassuring presence for us all. He is a great communicator and very patient when we overloaded him with questions! On top of all of this, Nathaniel is a good person who is kind and caring. We couldn’t have been luckier in finding him and wish that there was a way to rate him higher than 5 stars!

Nathaniel was genuinely interested and caring during my family’s time of need.

My experience with Nathaniel Pitoniak was so great. I was in dire straights, confused and scared. Nathaniel calmly answered all my questions. He was thorough and patient and explained everything to my complete satisfaction. He was genuinely interested and caring during my families time of need. I must not forget to mention how reassuring it was to receive a follow up call just to make sure we were ok. I highly recommend him for anyone seeking an attorney.

We are so fortunate to have found Nathaniel.

When our family member was arrested, jailed and charged with a serious offense, we were desperate for the right attorney to represent her..and we are so fortunate to have found Nathaniel. He was very open about the potential range of outcomes of the case, and presented a clear and direct strategy to put our family member in the best position to have the charges lessened or dismissed by the court. Within three months, the charges were indeed dismissed. I highly recommend Nathaniel as a criminal defense attorney, as his knowledge, communication skills and true concern for his client were on display in every interaction. Thank you Nathaniel for everything you accomplished for our family!

Mr. Nathaniel responded to us immediately and kept us informed throughout the case.

If you need to get a strong advocate on your side, I would highly recommend Mr. Nathaniel. As he is truly compassionate about his clients and maintains professionalism at the same time. We need more attorneys like him.. God bless!

Two felony assault charges dismissed. If I could rate higher than five stars I certainly would.

Nathaniel is a true professional and is dedicated to the best outcome possible. I also read his reviews at the beginning of my cases with skepticism but soon realized that all the great things people said about him were true and I put complete faith in him. Nathaniel found evidence the prosecution was unaware of and used his extensive experience to get my cases dismissed. As a professional, I was concerned about my career, considerable jail time, and overall loss of normalcy. Nathaniel gave me my life back and I’ll be forever grateful. I recommend his wonderful services to anyone. Thank you Sir God Bless you.

Words can not describe how grateful I am to have had Nathaniel represent me.

This process is scary for anyone especially when you are looking at hard time. His attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond was incredible. I could honestly write a novel if I listed everything in detail. Anytime I had a question whether it was early morning, middle of the night or on the weekends he went out of his way to give me the best advise and put me at ease. BELIEVE ME when I say this you won’t find anyone better. Trust his process because this man is a genius playing master level chess!

Nathaniel was extremely reassuring and positive throughout my entire case.

My case was difficult due to some evidence against me. But he pressed forward. Was optimistic the whole time and always responded quickly. Guided me through the whole process patiently and he got my case dismissed. He really pulled through and changed my life. This dismissal helped me get promoted at work and now I can sleep well. Highly recommend Nathaniel. Literally changed my life for the better.

When extensively researching a Criminal Defense Attorney, I luckily came across Nathaniel Pitoniak.

Not only did he successfully dismiss my felony case at hand, he did so without having me appear in court numerous times. To say the weight on my shoulders was lifted, is an absolute understatement. He went above and beyond to ensure I was well informed throughout the duration of the entire process. I would highly recommend Mr. Pitoniak. FOREVER GRATEFUL & THANKFUL, SIR!

We had two attorneys prior to Nathaniel – and neither worked out.

I cannot recommend Nathaniel enough for a criminal defense attorney. My son has had a myriad of mental health issues from his young childhood through now (he’s 20) and was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a minor, where the sentencing can be 5 years to life! Nathaniel worked his butt off that resulted in what I think is a right and just decision – a NO BILL from the grand jury. We had two attorneys prior to Nathaniel – one court-appointed and one paid – and neither worked out. Either his mental health issues were too much to work with, or as his mom, caregiver, and advocated I was a “pain” for the other attorneys. But not for Nathaniel – he answered all my questions, never hesitated to answer the phone when I called, responded to my text messages quickly, and in a nutshell understood how hard this was for my son and our family and showed genuine concern and empathy. This was the worst year of my life living this out with my son, and am SO glad I found Nathaniel. I pray I never need him again, but if I would, hands down I’d be calling him right away. Hire him – you won’t regret it.

Nathaniel is an incredible lawyer and I couldn’t be more grateful for his services!

I was contacted by law enforcement that I was under investigation for a violent felony, a very surprising and confusing thing for me to discover. At our first meeting Nathaniel was able to explain the investigative and trial process, present a solid defense strategy and timeline, and answer all of the questions and concerns I had. Having never been under investigation or had any run-ins with the law previously, I had a LOT of questions. Nathaniel worked very fast and thoroughly in preparing my defense, was in constant communication with me throughout the process, and was available at any time to discuss the case. He was able to present my defense to law enforcement and intervene before the investigation was even concluded. His defense for my case was so effective that charges weren’t even filed! I can’t be more grateful to Nathaniel for his hard work and expertise in handling my case and getting a result I couldn’t have imagined when I was first contacted by law enforcement. Hopefully I’ll never need a lawyer again, but if I do I know I’ll call Nathaniel.