Howard E. Tanner, Esq., a former prosecutor, is the managing partner of Tanner & Ortega, L.L.P. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1986 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Upon graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 1989, he joined the Kings County District Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, New York. As an Assistant District Attorney, he successfully prosecuted the most serious felony cases, including narcotics, robberies, burglaries, rapes, assaults and murders, trying over 30 felony and misdemeanor trials to verdict. He left the District Attorney's Office in 1995 to join the law firm of Lysaght Lysaght & Kramer, P.C., where he put his expertise to work in the areas of criminal defense, labor and administrative law. There, Mr. Tanner conducted numerous trials to verdict, successfully defending government employees, such as police officers, housing authority employees and others against allegations of assault, bribe receiving, narcotics possession and other charges. He also defended against administrative allegations of employee misconduct. He left Lysaght in 1998 and established the law firm of Tanner & Ortega, L.L.P.
As lead defense counsel, Mr. Tanner has tried over 100 state and federal felony and misdemeanor cases to verdict. He has been successful in achieving positive outcomes for his clients by obtaining pre-trial dismissal of criminal charges, verdicts of acquittal after trial or by favorable plea bargaining through proactive and rigorous negotiations with the government. He has been retained as lead defense counsel in a variety of high-profile criminal cases. He secured an acquittal after trial in the NYPD 13th Precinct peddler bribery case in New York County; He successfully defended his client against allegations in the Sean Bell murder case in Queens County, resulting in no criminal indictment. He compelled a pre-trial dismissal, by the District Attorney, of all criminal charges against his client in the NYPD 61st Precinct Insurance Fraud case in Kings County; He obtained a favorable plea bargain for his client in the Byram Hills school teacher unlawful surveillance case resulting in probation and no jail time in Westchester County; and obtained a verdict of acquittal after trial in Yonkers in the off-duty NYPD McLean Avenue bar assault case in Westchester County.
Recently, after trial in U.S. Federal Court in the Southern District of New York, he obtained a verdict of not guilty from a jury in under 30 minutes. They acquitted his wrongfully accused client of all federal firearms charges, who was then released from jail.
Mr. Tanner has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX and was a legal analyst on Court TV. He was featured on the front page of the Miami Herald and has been frequently quoted in or interviewed by major newspapers across the country, such as the New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, Journal News, Miami Herald, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinal, the Associated Press and The Chief-Leader. He has been interviewed on Dateline NBC and his case featured on 48 Hours, Investigation Discovery Channel, Anderson Cooper Live and other national broadcasts. He has also appeared on local cable news and radio stations such as NY1, News 12 Westchester, 1010 WINS and 880 WCBS.
Mr. Tanner is admitted to practice in the state courts of New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, as well as the Federal Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District Court of New Jersey and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Kings County Criminal Bar Association.
5
Practice Areas
37 years
37 years
37 years
37 years
Always
State: New Jersey
Acquired: 1991
No misconduct found
State: New York
Acquired: 1990
No misconduct found
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Fax
299 Broadway, Suite 1700, New York, NY, 10007
tannerortega.com
Other places you can find Howard online.
43 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | Compassion
Posted by anonymous | November 13, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Expert Guidance, Genuine Care, and Results That Exceeded Expectations
I can’t thank Howard enough for everything he’s done for me. From start to finish, he went above and beyond to ensure my case was handled with the utmost care, precision, and dedication. He consistently checked in, responded promptly whenever I reached out, and made sure I always felt informed, suppo...
Posted by Lourdes | April 27, 2023 | Criminal Defense
THE BEST!
Words can’t describe how much I appreciate Mr. Tanner. I caught a case where I was looking at an easy 8-10 year’s minimum. I had an attorney prior to him that didn’t make me feel secured at all and wanted me to accept that time. Mr. Tanner on the other hand, DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL LIKE HE WAS AGAINST M...
Posted by Angela | November 06, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Incredible Lawyer
I had the pleasure of knowing Howard through a family friend. I needed a criminal defense lawyer for my brother who was in a very bad situation. My family could not had chosen more wisely than choosing Howard. His is experienced, knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated. Howard fought for my bro...
Posted by Karina | August 10, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Mr.Tanner is an exceptional attorney!
Mr.Tanner was my attorney at a very scary time. I was facing up to 10 years in prison for being involved with wrong people. I was very lucky that he took my case. Howard Tanner is very well respected in his sphere, he knows ins and outs of the system with over 35 years of experience not just as an...
Posted by anonymous | June 02, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
5 Stars Plus!
I would like to start off by saying that I never post reviews, but felt that experience needed to be shared. My family was faced with a situation with one of our children while at away college. One bad decision while out one weekend with friends now became an serious issue that could have had life ...
"Howard Tanner is smart as a whip, aggressive as a pit viper, and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. A great lawyer and highly recommended."
"I have known Howard for over twenty years. He is a tough advocate for his clients and is incredibly skilled both in and outside the courtroom. Can't go wrong if you hire Howard Tanner."
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2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
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2022
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2021
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2020
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2019
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2018
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2017
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2017
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2016
Client's Choice, Avvo
2016
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2015
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2014
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2014
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
1998 - Present
Managing Partner, Tanner & Ortega, L.L.P.
1995 - 1998
Associate, Lysaght, Lysaght & Kramer
1989 - 1995
Assistant District Attorney, Kings County D.A.
2015 - Present
Federal Bar Council, Westchester CommitteeMember
2012 - Present
Kings County Criminal Bar AssociationMember
2009 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
1998 - Present
New York County Lawyers' AssociationMember
1992 - 1992
American Bar Association, Young Lawyers DivisionCo-chair
Go to www.tannerortega.com
1989
JD - Juris Doctor
1986
BA - Bachelor of Arts
English
Legal Answers
Can I goto jail for criminal mischief for slashing all 4 of someone's tires on their car?
28 Dec 2015
In a possesion case does the DA have to state how he is going prove the defendent guilty
29 Nov 2015
I was never given a sobriety test, Breathalyzer or BAC. How can I be convicted of DUI.
04 Dec 2015