NiaLena Caravasos
ON SUPER LAWYERS COVER IN PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE & DESCRIBED AS FIERCEA driving cornerstone of NiaLena's success is her passionate advocacy and her belief in traveling "the road less traveled by" made so famous by the poet, Robert Frost. Recently spotlighted by Super Lawyers in a feature article entitled "Fierce" and honored repeatedly as one of the "Top 50 Women" in Pennsylvania, NiaLena is the only criminal defense lawyer ever featured on the Super Lawyers cover in Philadelphia Magazine. Differing from most of her colleagues, NiaLena has tremendous compassion and focuses first on her clients as people. She utilizes a unique all-encompassing approach in an effort to help them during their representation because she realizes that clients who have been caught in the crosshairs of a criminal investigation are typically also dealing with a variety of other serious issues that transcend the confines of their specific legal case. Differing again from most other criminal lawyers, NiaLena is a graduate from the renowned Wharton School and also has work experience in the international business world. Consequently, she is also able to identify with many of the challenges facing white collar crime defendants in a manner that her colleagues cannot. Often setting her own course, NiaLena is known for always putting her clients' interests first: that reputation was initially earned when she was the youngest and only female attorney representing a high-ranking organized crime figure in the federal RICO trial of U.S. v. Joseph Merlino and yet did not hesitate to separate her client, Frank Gambino, and go against the old-boys network of other criminal lawyers representing mafia co-defendants. Her client who emerged from the trial victorious through his acquittals of attempted murder and racketeering charges was the beneficiary of NiaLena's individual courage, relentlessness, and strategic creativity. NiaLena was also the youngest and only female attorney representing Senator Vincent Fumo, long regarded as the most powerful politician in PA.
- Boston University School of Law
- J.D. | Law, Juris Doctor
- -
- Honors: (1) Commencement Award (BNA Law Student Award); (2) American Jurisprudence Award (Criminal Trial Practice); (3) Edward F. Hennessey Scholar; and (4) Commencement Speaker to the Faculty)
- University of Pennsylvania
- B.S. | Multinational Management and Marketing
- -
- Honors: The Wharton School (Graduated cum laude; Bachelor of Science degree in Economics)
- Owner
- Law Office Of NiaLena Caravasos, LLC
- - Current
- Philadelphia Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
- "Ineffective Assistance of Counsel"
- The Philadelphia Lawyer
- "Ineffective Assistance of Counsel"
- The Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
- Frequent guest speaker over the past decade on white collar crime as well as ethics in Leadership programs
- Management Department at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- Lecturer in multiple CLE seminars
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Criminal Law Symposium
- Teaching Forensic Psychiatry (Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)
- The Evolution of Forensic Psychiatry: History, Current Developments, Future Directions
- Oxford University Press
- "Inside the Minds: Jury Selection in Criminal Cases"
- Aspatore Book, Thomson Reuters
- White Collar Crime & Business Ethics, Leadership Programs, Management Department
- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- The Growing Intersection Between Forensic Psychiatry And Federal Criminal Defense, Forensic Psychiatric Fellowship Training Program
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Civil Rights And How To Best Exercise Those Rights, National Youth Rights Association
- University of Pennsylvania
- Criminal Defense
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Criminal Law Symposium
- Admitted to Practice
- Massachusetts State Bar
- Admitted to Practice
- Pennsylvania State Bar
- Admitted to Practice
- 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
- Admitted to Practice
- US District Court, Eastern District of PA
- Admitted to Practice
- US Supreme Court
- Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Lifetime Achievement Membership
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys®
- America's Most Honored Professionals
- American Registry
- Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia
- Three Best Rated®
- 10 Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Selected to become a Fellow
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Top 50 Women Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers
- Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Lifetime Achievement Membership
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys®/
- America's Most Honored Professionals
- American Registry
- Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia
- Three Best Rated®
- 10 Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Selected to become a Fellow
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Lifetime Achievement Membership
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys®
- America's Most Honored Professionals
- American Registry
- Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia
- Three Best Rated®
- 10 Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Top 50 Women Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers
- Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers"
- Super Lawyers
- Selected to become a Fellow
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Pennsylvania Law Firm Of The Year in Criminal Law
- Corporate INTL
- Global Awards Winner -- "PA Criminal Defense & White Collar Crime Attorney of the Year"
- Corporate INTL
- 10 Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia
- Three Best Rated®
- "America's Most Honored Professionals"
- American Registry
- Lifetime Achievement Membership
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys®
- "Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers"
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Named as a "Top 10" Criminal Defense Attorney in Pennsylvania
- The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- "Criminal Defense Law Firm of the Year in Pennsylvania"
- Corporate INTL
- Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell
- "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- The National Trial Lawyers
- "Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers"
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- "10 Best" Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers"
- Super Lawyers
- America's Most Honored Professionals
- American Registry
- "10 Best" Law Firms in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Lawyers
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- The National Trial Lawyers
- "Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers"
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- "Top-Rated Legal Leaders"
- Martindale-Hubbell
- "10 Best" Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- "Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers"
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Membership is extended to only the top 2% of lawyers "who combine stellar legal credentials with proven commitment to community engagement, leadership, and the highest professional standards."
- "2013 Top Rated Lawyer in White Collar - Criminal Defense"
- American Lawyer Media
- "2013 Top Rated Lawyer in White Collar - Criminal Defense"
- Martindale-Hubbell
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Only Female Lawyer in Private Practice in Philadelphia Listed in Super Lawyer Field of "Criminal Defense"
- "Top-Rated Legal Leaders"
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Global Award
- M&A International
- The M&A International Global Award is an honor that is bestowed upon "firms that are truly leaders within their chosen areas of specialization." The M&A International Annual Awards programs accumulate votes from over 163 countries globally and "provide a benchmark of the very best of the best industry leaders, exemplary teams and distinguished organizations, based on the simple principles of veracity, accuracy and insight."
- "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Membership obtained by special invitation and extended only to "top 100 trial lawyers" in every state who exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature & profile.
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Only Female Lawyer in Private Practice in Philadelphia Listed in Super Lawyer Field of "Criminal Defense"
- Global Awards Winner -- "PA Criminal Defense & White Collar Crime Attorney of the Year"
- Corporate INTL
- "Top Rated Lawyers in Criminal Defense: White Collar"
- Corporate Counsel
- "Top Rated Lawyers in Criminal Defense: White Collar"
- The American Lawyer
- "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Membership obtained by special invitation and extended only to "top 100 trial lawyers" in every state who exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature & profile.
- "Client Distinction Award"
- Martindale-Hubbell
- "Top Northeast Lawyer"
- Avvo
- Featured in Nov./Dec. 2011 edition of Avvo's Arrive Magazine
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Only Female Lawyer in Private Practice in Philadelphia Listed in Super Lawyer Field of "Criminal Defense"
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Pennsylvania Law Firm Of The Year in Criminal Law
- Corporate Int'l
- Pennsylvania Law Firm Of The Year in White Collar Crime
- Corporate Int'l
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Only Female Lawyer in Private Practice in Philadelphia Listed in Super Lawyer Field of "Criminal Defense"
- "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers
- Only Female Lawyer in Private Practice in Philadelphia Listed in Super Lawyer Field of "Criminal Defense"
- "Pennsylvania Rising Star" in Criminal Defense
- Superlawyers
- "Pennsylvania Rising Star" in Criminal Defense
- Superlawyers
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
- The College of Physicians of Philadelphia; Section on Medicine, Ethics & the Law
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
- Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Committee
- Member
- Current
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- Current
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- Current
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
- Association of Federal Defense Attorneys (AFDA)
- Member
- Current
- The National Trial Lawyers, Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Ct, Eastern District of PA
- 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees are specific to every case.
- Criminal Law
- White Collar Crime
- Federal Criminal Defense
- English: Spoken, Written
- Greek: Spoken, Written
- Website
- Law Office Of NiaLena Caravasos, LLC
NiaLena Caravasos Philadelphia PA, Federal Criminal Law LawyerMartindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated Attorney
Fumo Federal Corruption Trial (ABC News)ABC News Coverage of attorney NiaLena Caravasos (member of the Fumo defense trial team) and Senator Vincent Fumo in the federal political corruption trial of United States v. Vincent Fumo...
Merlino / Gambino Federal RICO Trial (NBC News)NBC News Coverage of attorney NiaLena Caravasos representing Frank Gambino in federal RICO organized crime trial of United States v. Joseph Merlino et al.
Merlino / Gambino Federal RICO Trial (Fox News)Fox News Coverage of attorney NiaLena Caravasos representing Frank Gambino in federal RICO organized crime trial of United States v. Joseph Merlino et al.
Merlino / Gambino Federal RICO Trial (ABC News)ABC News Coverage of attorney NiaLena Caravasos representing Frank Gambino in federal RICO organized crime trial of United States v. Joseph Merlino et al.