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. Spotlighted by Super Lawyers in a feature article entitled "Fierce" and honored repeatedly in the "Top 50 Women" and "Top 100" and "Top 100 Philadelphia", 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
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- 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)
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- University of Pennsylvania
- B.S. | Multinational Management and Marketing
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- Honors: The Wharton School (Graduated cum laude; Bachelor of Science degree in Economics)
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- Owner
- Law Office Of NiaLena Caravasos, LLC
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- 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
- 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
- Fellowship
- Litigation Counsel of America
- 10 Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia
- Three Best Rated
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
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- The College of Physicians of Philadelphia; Section on Medicine, Ethics & the Law
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
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- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
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- Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Committee
- Member
- Current
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- Current
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- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- Current
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- The National Trial Lawyers
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
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- Association of Federal Defense Attorneys (AFDA)
- Member
- Current
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- The National Trial Lawyers, Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association
- Member (by invitation only)
- Current
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- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Massachusetts
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- Pennsylvania
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- U.S. District Ct, Eastern District of PA
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- 3rd Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees are specific to every case.
- White Collar Crime
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Federal Criminal Defense
- English: Spoken, Written
- Greek: Spoken, Written
- Q. What can I expect following a federal indictment involving myself as an associate of the accused and my home was raided?
- A: You are likely in great jeopardy and the sooner you act, the better off you'll be. You need to consult with an experienced and top-notch criminal defense attorney in order to discuss your personal circumstances and figure out what your best options are at this point. You should act quickly because you need to strategize and put yourself in the best possible position for the charges that are likely coming. I do not suggest that you discuss this matter any further on a public forum such as this. (Please note that my response does not constitute legal advice nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship.)
- Q. I found a number on a 5 dollar bill which said to call this number for a good time and as a joke I acted like and fbi a
- A: Actually, this is no joke. Impersonating a federal officer is a very serious crime. You really should consult with a federal criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
- Q. I had important papers sent to my mom's and she threw it away and now there is a warrant out for my arrest since then.
- A: You need to hire a criminal defense attorney and get this taken care of asap before you get picked up and detained. (Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship.)
- Website
- Law Office Of NiaLena Caravasos, LLC
NiaLena Caravasos Philadelphia PA, Federal Criminal Law Lawyer
Martindale-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.