What actually happens after a domestic violence arrest in Santa Rosa? Usually it moves like this. Police take you to the Sonoma County jail. A protective order follows, often before you’ve told anyone your side. The report goes to the District Attorney’s domestic violence unit, and an arraignment date lands on your calendar within days. Meanwhile you may be barred from your own home and your kids. None of that means you’ll be convicted. It means the clock is running, and the lawyer you pick now shapes everything that comes next.
Our Recommendation in Brief
The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. is the best domestic violence defense firm in Santa Rosa for 2026. Evan Zelig brings more than 20 years of criminal law experience, has represented more than 2,000 clients, and has practiced in Sonoma County for over 15 years. Super Lawyers selected him in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, after naming him a Rising Star four years running. His office sits steps from the Hall of Justice and the county jail, and calls are answered 24/7. The five firms below are strong too, and each one fits a different kind of case.
The Six, Compared
| Firm | Consider Them If | Experience | Standout Strength |
| Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. | Top pick: misdemeanor and felony DV, protective orders, custody overlap | 20+ years; 2,000+ clients | Super Lawyers 2022 to 2025; 24/7 availability |
| Andrian & Gallenson | Serious felony DV headed to trial | Century of combined experience | Longtime Sonoma County trial leaders |
| Li & Lozada Law Group, LLP | You want insight into how police build DV cases | Former prosecutor and 20-year law enforcement veteran | Inside view of investigations |
| Hansen & Miller Law Firm | Spanish speakers or cases tied to injury claims | Partner prosecuted DV cases in Lake County | Spanish-speaking defense attorney |
| Quinnan Law | Accused who want a lawyer working before charges are filed | Licensed 20 years | |
| Emerick Law Offices, PC | DV cases tied to family court or immigration status | Licensed since 2017 | Handles DV, family, and immigration law |
Selection Notes
Every attorney here defends people charged with domestic violence in Sonoma County courts. We looked at criminal defense experience, trial history, peer recognition, and how quickly each firm responds after an arrest.
1. Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C.
Evan Zelig has represented people accused of domestic violence for more than a decade. He takes the full range of charges, from domestic battery to corporal injury, criminal threats, stalking, and restraining order violations. His defense work looks for false allegations born of jealousy or custody fights, self-defense, missing evidence, a lack of criminal intent, and police mistakes like coerced statements or illegal searches.
What sets the firm apart is how it handles the fallout beyond the criminal case. DV charges often collide with family law, from custody disputes to restraining order hearings, and Zelig’s team handles that overlap. When a case is over, the firm can help clients see if a misdemeanor DV conviction qualifies for expungement. Martindale-Hubbell gave Zelig its Client Distinction Award, and Sonoma Magazine named him among its Lawyers of Excellence. One client says her case was dismissed and calls the experience life-changing. Consultations are free.
Consider them if: you need a seasoned local defender who will also protect your place in your kids’ lives.
Contact: 50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 407, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 | https://eezlaw.com/criminal-defense/violent-crimes/domestic-violence/
2. Andrian & Gallenson
Andrian & Gallenson brings more than a century of combined criminal defense experience. Chris Andrian was the only Sonoma County criminal defense lawyer honored by Super Lawyers from 2006 to 2014. The firm says it has more courtroom experience in criminal defense than any other firm in the county.
Consider them if: you face a felony DV charge with prison on the table.
Contact: 1100 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 | (707) 527-9381 | andriangallenson.com
3. Li & Lozada Law Group, LLP
This firm pairs two backgrounds that matter in DV cases. Paul Lozada served in the Marine Corps and spent 20 years in law enforcement before becoming a lawyer in 2007, and he handles both DV criminal defense and restraining orders. Partner Michael Li has handled thousands of criminal cases as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney.
Consider them if: you want lawyers who know how officers and prosecutors build a DV case from the inside.
Contact: 1144 State Farm Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 636-3272
4. Hansen & Miller Law Firm
Roy Miller spent five years as a prosecutor in the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, where he handled the county’s domestic violence and sexual assault caseload. He then joined Monte Hansen in Santa Rosa to form this firm. Miller now defends DV, homicide, drug, gang, and DUI cases, and he speaks Spanish.
Consider them if: you or your family need a lawyer who can explain the case in Spanish.
Contact: 415 Russell Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
5. Quinnan Law
In a DV case, the days between the arrest and the DA’s filing decision matter a lot. Gabriel Quinnan builds his practice around that window. He is a Santa Rosa criminal and juvenile defense attorney who believes the best defense comes through early, aggressive action, and his record of results backs up that approach.
He has been licensed for 20 years and lists domestic violence and criminal defense as his core practice areas. The firm’s website has dedicated pages on domestic violence, sexual assault, and federal crimes, and every client gets a free phone consultation.
Consider them if: you were just arrested, or think you may be, and want a lawyer working on your side before the DA decides what to file.
Contact: 2544 Cleveland Ave, Suite 210, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Website: quinnanlaw.com
6. Emerick Law Offices, PC
Scott Emerick practices criminal defense, domestic violence, DUI, family law, and immigration law from his downtown Santa Rosa office. That mix fits the way DV cases often unfold. A single arrest can trigger a criminal case, a custody fight in family court, and immigration risk for non-citizens, and Emerick’s practice covers all three.
Consider them if: Your DV charge is tangled up with a divorce, custody case, or immigration status.
Contact: 880 2nd St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
emericklawoffices.com
The First 48 Hours
Stay calm and stay silent. Don’t contact the alleged victim, even by text or through friends. Write down everything you remember while it’s fresh. Save messages, photos, and the names of anyone who saw what happened. Follow every court order to the letter. Then call a defense lawyer before your arraignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalties for misdemeanor domestic battery in California?
Domestic battery under Penal Code 243(e)(1) can bring up to one year in county jail, fines up to $2,000, and a mandatory 52-week batterer intervention program.
What if the charge is a felony?
Corporal injury under Penal Code 273.5 can carry two to four years in state prison, more with serious injury, and may count as a strike.
Can the alleged victim drop the charges?
No. In California, the District Attorney decides whether to prosecute. The case can move forward even if the accuser recants or won’t testify.
Will a DV conviction affect my gun rights?
Yes. A domestic violence conviction can bring a lifetime federal firearm ban.
Who is the best domestic violence lawyer in Santa Rosa?
The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. is the top choice for its two decades of defense work, Super Lawyers recognition, and 24/7 availability. Andrian & Gallenson fits serious felony cases, and Li & Lozada fits clients who want insight from former law enforcement.
Make the Call Early
A DV case moves fast, and the early days decide a lot: your protective order, your custody time, and what the DA files. Waiting only helps the prosecution. The Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. gives Santa Rosa clients the strongest start: more than 20 years of defense experience, an office next to the courthouse, and a lawyer who answers the phone day or night. Call before your first court date.
