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Christopher T. Van Wagner is a top-rated criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin with over 30 years of legal experience. With regard to sex crimes as well as vehicular homicide cases, Mr. Van Wagner has an impressive record of achieving positive results for his clients. Mr. Van Wagner has devoted the past 20 years of his practice to defending people charged with serious crimes such as sexual assault. Sexual assault cases are particularly difficult, given the nature of these types of crimes and the automatically negative public reaction to them. However, even if it means taking a sexual assault case to a jury trial, Mr. Van Wagner will ensure that justice is served for his clients.
Mr. Van Wagner brings a wealth of life experiences to his criminal law practice. As one of 11 children, Mr. Van Wagner was raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family in New Jersey. He remains an avid New York Yankees fan. He attended St. Lawrence University where he earned honors in English Literature. Following his graduation from college, Mr. Van Wagner pursued an Ivy League law degree at Cornell Law School, where he was editor of the presigious Cornell Law Review. Following Cornell Law School (1981), Mr. Van Wagner obtained a coveted slot as clerk for a federal trial judge (Hon. Dick Debevoise, in Trenton, NJ). Following this clerkship, Mr. Van Wagner worked as a state prosecutor for the mean streets of Trenton, NJ, then was a Brooks Bros business litigator for the Fortune 500 clients of a world-renowned Chicago firm, Mayer Brown (on LaSalle Street). Chris later served as a federal prosecutor in Madison, Wisconsin.
In 1994, Mr. Van Wagner went into private practice where to this day he focuses on defending people accused of or convicted of serious crimes like sexual assault, vehicular homicide and the like. By demanding that a jury hear the case, Mr. Van Wagner has achieved many dismissals at the courthouse steps for clients in sex cases. He has gotten many “eve of trial” dismissals precisely because he has tried and won many so jury acquittals in his criminal defense career for clients who were falsely and wrongly accused of sex crimes, and other serious offenses. Not only does he command respect from prosecutors, Mr. Van Wagner also holds an “AV” rating with Martindale Hubbell, the highest peer rating available. He has been recognized numerous times as a Super Lawyer, an honor that applies only to the top 5% of attorneys in the State of Wisconsin. Additionally, Mr. Van Wagner has been a legal analyst and commentator on national shows such as Court TV, the Dan Abrams Report on MSNBC, the Today show, Good Morning America, ABC News as well as local shows such as ABC Madison's Channel 27 and Madison Channel 3000.
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Practice Areas
35 years | 2,000 cases
35 years | 500 cases
35 years | 250 cases
Free Consultation
$0 first 30 minutes
Always
State: Wisconsin
Acquired: 1994
No misconduct found
State: Illinois
Acquired: 1989
No misconduct found
Other places you can find Christopher online.
Showing 1 - 5 of 8 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | December 15, 2025 | Hired Attorney
Christopher Van Wagner is a brilliant lawyer, a former Federal Prosecutor, and a former State Prosecutor, who has served his clients with diligence and devotion as a highly successful criminal defense attorney for over 40 years. I've known Chris for more than 20 years. He is and always will be my 'go...
Posted by anonymous | July 3, 2023 | Hired Attorney
I absolutely recommend Christopher Van Wagner. He really came through for my son during an extremely hard time. My son was facing serious felony charges for inappropriate conversations over social media with an 17 year old. We finished court today with a disorderly conduct.no probation.and a small fi...
Posted by Nicolas | October 21, 2021 | Hired Attorney
CVW is the guy you need to hire if you’re in legal trouble. CVW will give you the best defense counsel possible. CVW helped me prove my innocence in trial for a terrifying situation that could have ruined my life. When you hire anyone for anything you want the person with the most experience and disc...
Posted by Nancy | March 3, 2020 | Consulted Attorney
Chris took the time to speak with us, after calling many others that would not give us the time of day. We needed guidance on a letter that needed to be submitted within 10 days. Not only did he help us with the letter, but pointed us in the right direction for the next steps as well. Refreshing to s...
Posted by Tou | April 27, 2016 | Consulted Attorney
Just got off the phone with Chris. I had a battery citation and Chris gave me free useful and honest advice because hiring a lawyer would have been more expensive then paying for the citation. He told me his price but gave me life changing advice on what I should do and what to expect and how my de...
"Chris is the lawyer's lawyer. His ability to frame the issues so judges and juries understand his client's position is unparalelled. Chris is the very definition of a zealous advocate. I would not hesitate to recommend Chris to a friend or family member in need."
"I was a municipal prosecutor and worked on many cases with Chris. He is an experienced and knowledgable attorney who works hard on behalf of his clients. Later, I referred a very difficult and complicated case to him and he achieved an excellent result. I recommend his services whole-heartedly."
"Chris offered me some good advice about getting started as a new attorney. He is experienced in criminal law and very passionate about ethical representation and thorough preparation. "The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare.""
"I endorse Christopher. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"Chris is known as one of Wisconsin's top trial attorneys. I consider myself lucky to have worked with him for the past eight years. If I were ever charged with a criminal defense, I'd call him first."
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2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
Preeminent 4.5 out of 5.0 Client Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2009
Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine
2009
Wisconsin Super Lawyer, Wisconsin Super Lawyers
2009
Wisconsin Best DUI Defense Attorneys, OWI-DUI.com
2008
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2008
Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers
2007
Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine
2007
Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers
2006
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2005
Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine
2003
Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine
2001
Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine
2014 - Present
Managing Partner, Van Wagner Law Offices
1999 - 2014
Shareholder, Van Wagner & Wood, S.C.
1994 - 1999
Sole Practitioner, Van Wagner Law Offices
1991 - 1994
AUSA, U.S. Attorney's Office, Madison WI
1987 - 1991
Associate Attorney, Mayer Brown & Platt
1983 - 1987
Assistant Prosecutor, Felony Crimes, Mercer County (Trenton) NJ Prosecutor's Office
1996 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
1995 - Present
Dane County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
1995 - Present
Dane County Bar Association
1994 - Present
Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Not guilty on all counts.
Not guilty on all counts.
Not guilty on all counts.
1981
JD - Juris Doctor
1978
BA - Bachelor of Arts
English
Legal Answers
I received an under age drinking ticket in Wisconsin is this considered a misdemeanor?
16 Apr 2014
Is it legal for a minor to date an adult in wisconsin?
12 Apr 2014
What happens if you already are a felon and you have 3 felony cases pending
11 Apr 2014