State Years

Virginia - VA 22 years

Kentucky - KY 27 years
Licensed for 22 years

State VA

Acquired 2000

Status
Active No misconduct found
Licensed for 27 years

State KY

Acquired 1995

Status
Former Member No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Paul Christopher Galanides

Criminal defense Attorney at Richmond, VA

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Absolutely the best outcome for any criminal defense attorney

Mr. R. Fisher

About Paul

Learn Paul’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Criminal defense

85%

I have devoted my entire career to handling criminal cases, beginning as a Public Defender and spending years as a prosecutor in both Virginia and Kentucky. I was death penalty certified in 1998, and over my career I tried @ 100 cases to a jury.
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28 years, 1,000 cases
Appeals

14%

I spent almost five years as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Criminal Appeals unit and was counsel of record for the Commonwealth in well over a dozen death penalty cases.
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28 years, 100 cases
Other

1%

Richmond criminal defense lawyer Paul C. Galanides has been a public defender, prosecutor for the Attorney General, Court of Appeals prosecutor, Henrico County Prosecutor, and has worked with Joe Morrissey of Joe Morrissey and Associates and David Carlson of Carlson & Collier. In his more than two decades of professional experience, he has handled nearly every misdemeanor and felony offense, big and small. He uses this knowledge to his clients’ advantage, applying his passion for the law and care for every client to each case he takes on. Attorney Galanides truly cares about his clients and will dedicate whatever time is necessary to ensure they receive the best possible defense. Contact the firm today to schedule a complimentary case consultation.

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Law Office of Paul C. Galanides, P.C.

1561 East Main Street

Richmond, VA, 23219

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Reviews

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4.8 / 5.0

23 customer reviews

5 Star

96%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Posted by michael | May 28, 2023

Absolutely the best outcome for any criminal defense attorney

My felony case resulted in a decision by the commonwealth not to proceed with the case based on thorough and careful development of a defense and strategic communication from Paul to a reluctant prosecutor. Nolle Prosse. so there was no trial, nothing. case entirely dismissed. Best possilble outcome.

Posted by Ryan | March 16, 2023

Mr. R. Fisher

I cannot express in words what an amazing job Paul did for us. He went beyond what was expected. Thank you.

Posted by Tom | February 14, 2023

Professional

I had the good fortune to hire, Paul Galanides to assist, counsel and guide me through an unfamiliar legal process. He was insightful, and communicated simplistically which kept thoroughly informed throughout!

Posted by Karen | February 11, 2023

Best va lawyer around

We hired Paul for a case for my daughter, Paul, and his assistant one above and beyond I recommend him for any criminal case. All that matters in the end is his results.

Posted by Naomi | February 1, 2023

Thankful and Grateful

I'm gonna start with how thankful my family is for finding Paul Galanides and Kara. A few months ago we had to hire Paul to represent our son, there was a lot of stress and fear of the unknown and outcome on my family's part. Paul made this process with his legal expertise, calm demeanor, and compassion a lot better too go through. Paul Galanides is a great lawyer and a really nice man who cares about his clients. We are very Grateful we found him for our son. Let's not forget about Kara, she is the sweetest. I can't say enough about her. I used her as a paralegal, a therapist, and a friend, and everytime I called with a question she answered it or got a answer to it. I would highly recommend the law office of Paul C. Galanides as I would use them again if need be.

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Posted by anonymous | January 9, 2023

Grateful

Mr. Galanides was able to have my case dismissed - His legal advice and knowledge of the system are second to none. Miss Copley was helpful in every respect and matter of my case. To the one negative review here at the time of my post - Just remember Mr. Galanides is a seasoned attorney that handles complicated time consuming cases. It is also your responsibility to be proactive of your case and ask questions, especially if you felt the way you did. This will benefit all in the end.

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Posted by Diana | November 21, 2022

Compassion and Truth

Paul and Kara are absolute gems. I NEEDED answers to life altering questions- I contacted their office to be greeted with an extremely friendly and supportive voice (Kara). After giving descriptive information I was told Paul would contact me. Not ONLY did Paul contact me but he “clarified” very important details of my loved ones case. Too many times we’re lead to believe something totally different than what it’s actually about in the justice system. Paul was informative, efficient, knowledgeable, and HONEST!! If we could go back, rewind, and reset I know for a fact Paul would’ve been our choice. THANK YOU Paul and Kara. May God bless you for everything you’re doing to help people.

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Posted by Kristi | July 19, 2022

The best!!!

Kara is ALWAYS a text or call away. She helps explain any and everything that is going on. She will listen no matter the time or day, Paul is prompt in doing everything he says he will ALWAYS. He will make sure he is available to talk when you need him! He got my FELONY DROPPED! This law office will forever be my go to if I should ever find myself in this situation. They are the best!!

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Posted by anonymous | May 17, 2022

Excellent

Paul was able to use his expert experience to attain a positive outcome on my behalf.

Posted by Kyle | May 10, 2022

Thank You

I sought the help of Mr. Galanides to guide me through an investigation that was confusing and intimidating. His advice was thorough and his counsel ultimately protected me from criminal charges. Paul repeatedly took time to answer my many questions, and navigated me through all possible outcomes. I highly recommended Paul and his team!

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Posted by Jessica | February 9, 2022

Excellent lawyer to have on your side

Paul Galanides is an excellent lawyer and was very confident he could get my misdemeanor charge dismissed. The charge was dropped for which I’m very grateful. He and his assistant Kara were very helpful in letting me know what I needed to to provide for documentation and informative about the court proceedings. Paul has extensive experience and expertise with Virginia courts and I was very glad he was on my side to help me win my case.

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Posted by Maria | February 10, 2021

The Best!

Do not look any further. My case was a very complex one involving a family matter and it did not look very promising for me to have charges dropped after being served with a misdemeanor. I did my research and consulted with many attorneys before deciding to hire Paul. Right away, he made me feel at ease. He spent time with me before my trial to make sure that the testimony would go well by practicing. He fought for me in a caring manner and asked all the right questions during our trial. He is a very smooth, sharp attorney that is razor focused albeit unassuming. Needless to say, our verdict = NOT GUILTY I'm forever grateful.

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Posted by anonymous | July 9, 2020

Charges Dropped

Was charged with possession of drugs and paraphernalia. Paul got my charges dropped even before we got to our hearing! Amazing job, and very professional

Posted by Raul | September 24, 2019

Excellent attorney

I am happy to refer cases to Paul Galanides when I am unavailable or when his expertise favors the client's best interests. I've known Paul over ten years and know that he is a tenacious defender of rights.

Posted by Jen | July 16, 2019

Amazing Lawyer, Amazing Team, Amazing People

Paul and Lisa are the dream team when it comes to legal representation. I was in such a rough scary time and they managed to pull me back up and get my on my feet. I needed help and that's exactly what I got. They fought for me with everything they had and I came out of it feeling so well cared for as a client. They go above and beyond in every aspect and care about their clients with fierce determination. Lisa and Paul are unlike any other duo I have ever seen work together, they balance each other out perfectly and never settle for an outcome that doesn't meet the proper standards. I cannot recommend enough to anyone who is looking for a lawyer who will go to such lengths to defend you. Not only are Lisa and Paul amazing at what they do for your defense, they're also amazing people.

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Posted by George | June 9, 2019

Passionate, Ethical and Experienced

My wife called Mr Galanides to represent our son after having a horrible experience from another Richmond attorney. Mr Galanides did more in one week than our prior attorney did in three months. We had a meeting within hours after speaking with his law office. From the start of the meeting his experience and calm demeanor allowed us to build a trusting relationship. He was very organized/informative throughout the process of the case. We were very blessed to have found Mr Galanides and his staff. I would recommend him to anyone needing an ethical, passionate and experienced lawyer. The results of our case were outstanding!

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Posted by Dana | January 16, 2019

Highly Recommend

Paul Galanides is an excellent lawyer. Paul walked me through all the steps I needed to take after receiving a speeding ticket, as well as all the steps he would take. He is very professional, knowledgeable, detail oriented and patient. He was quick to respond to any questions I had, and I'm grateful for how he advocated for me. I appreciate all his hard work!

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Posted by anonymous | January 4, 2019

Personal touch

After just a few minutes in court, my case was completely expunged. I highly recommend Mr. Galanides. He spent considerable time in consultation and made sure all questions were answered.

Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2018

Did not know what to expect with my case, but great outcome in the end!!

I had a serious traffic violation and did not think that I would be able to avoid a conviction. I researched firms/attorneys on the internet and consulted with four different attorneys about my case. Mr. Galanides was clearly the best one to represent me. He had more experience than all the others and more importantly worked on both sides of the law. Before going into private practice, he had been a Commonwealth Attorney prosecuting individuals accused of breaking the law and a Public Defender defending people accused of crimes who could not afford an attorney. This experience was not only in Virginia, but also in Kentucky. I figured two state's worth of experience was key. Once in court, it was pretty clear that Mr. Galanides had been there and done that before. He was on top of all the legal lingo that was going on. It seemed like he spends much of his time day in and day out in court. I was grateful for that. The good news was that all charges ended up being dropped. I was floored. I think he just knew what to do to get me out of my jam. Yes, I would recommend him to anyone who needs legal support.

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Posted by anonymous | December 6, 2018

While in Richmond, VA I found myself in trouble an in need of a lawyer. My friend had used Paul Galanides in the past an he contacted him to get me a bond hearing. He came to see me right away an answered all my questions and told me in detail what to expect. Paul called me a few days before my court date an told me he had found some beneficial information in the police report. My case was dismissed a few days later. I would definitely recommend Paul to anyone needing a lawyer.

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Resume

AVVO RATING 9.7 (Superb)

Work Experience

Attorney
Law Office of Paul C. Galanides, P.C.
2014 - Present

Attorney
Carlson & Collier
2018 - 2018

Associate
Morrissey & Associates
2016 - 2018

Instructor Police Academy
Henrico County Police Department
2006 - 2014

Prosecutor
Henrico County Commonweath Attorney's Office
2005 - 2014

Assistant Attorney General
Office Of The Virginia Attorney General
2001 - 2005

Assistant Attorney General
Office Of The Kentucky Attorney General
1998 - 2001

Public Defender
Lexington - Fayette Legal Aid, Inc
1995 - 1998

Intern
University Of Kentucky College Of Law
1992 - 1994

View all work experience

Education

University of Kentucky College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1995

James Madison University
MA - Masters
1992

Washington and Lee University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1990

Legal Cases

Tyvon Smith v. Commonwealth of Virginia - Court of Appeals of Virginia
Four felony convictions (30 year sentence) reversed and dismissed

Commonwealth v. A.A. - Stafford County, VA J&D Court
Charges Nolle Prosse'd

Commonwealth v. Y.W
Convicted of Possession, fine and no incarceration.

Associations

Virginia State Bar, Criminal Law Section
Member
2018 - Present

Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
2018 - Present

Henrico County Bar Association
Member
2005 - 2016

Sts. Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Parish Council Member
2003 - 2006

Capital Appeals Unit
Member
2001 - 2006

Kentucky State Bar Association
Member
1995 - 2003

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Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2019

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers
2019

Carlton B. Smith Award for Outstanding Graduate Thesis
James Madison University
1992

Athletic Director's Award
Norfolk Academy
1984

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Speaking Engagements

Seminar on Identy Theft
Identity Theft
2009

Seminar on Trial Conduct
Trial Conduct
2007

Seminar on Courtroom Demeanor
Courtroom Demeanor
2003

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)

Given (16)

Endorse Paul

Matthew Mikula

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 24
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"As a fellow lawyer, I have seen Paul in practice. He works hard, he is diligent and he fights for the right outcome. Maybe most importantly, he appears to care about his clients and wants a good outcome for them."

Seth Saunders

Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I strongly recommend Galanides to anyone who is charged with a crime. He is a highly experienced and aggressive attorney who fights to defend each of his clients. I would encourage anyone who is facing charges to contact him to prepare their defense."

Abraham Del Rio

Criminal defense Attorney | May 21
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Paul is an exceptional attorney whose legal acumen and passionate advocacy gets positive results for his clients. I fully endorse Paul without reservation."

Matt Pinsker

Speeding and traffic ticket Attorney | May 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Paul is personable, highly experienced, and gets great results for clients."

Marc Boyko

Criminal defense Attorney | Apr 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of working and interacting with Paul for many years. He is a dedicated and compassionate attorney who I highly recommend."

Mark Matney

Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Paul served as a prosecutor for many years and now applies that experience as a zealous advocate for his clients. He is also someone who other lawyers can turn to for advice. He helped me in a case when I was new to one of the counties where he practices. I endorse him for criminal and traffic defense."

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Criminal defense

DUI and DWI

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Employment and labor

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

DUI and DWI

Criminal defense

DUI and DWI

Criminal defense

Criminal defense

Avvo Contributions

53 Legal Answers 0 Legal Guides

Q&A
How can county police set up a speed trap in private driveway and block from going in or out????
24 Sep 2019
Q&A
Is the traffict ticket affect me in my US oath ceremony?
20 Sep 2019
Q&A
How do I get my belongings from a parent ?
19 Sep 2019

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State	Years
Virginia - VA	22 years
Kentucky - KY	27 years

Paul Christopher Galanides

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