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Matthew Garth Kaestner

5.0
Rating: 8.0

Licensed for 40 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Long Beach, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Violent Crime, Domestic Violence ... +2 more

One World Trade Center, Suite 400, Long Beach, CA

About Matthew

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 40%

Practice is 100% criminal law. Attorney has over 27 years of experience and is a certified specialist in criminal law, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Extensive experience handling major narcotics cases involving search warrants, wiretaps, medicinal marijuana, transportation and possession for sales.

40 years

40%
Violent Crime 30%

Criminal law specialist with over 27 years experience. Extensive experience handling murder, homicide, kidnapping, extortion, attempted murder, gang crimes, felony and misdemeanor assault and other violent crimes.

40 years

30%
Consumer Protection 10%

Extensive experience handling fraud charges including real estate fraud, insurance fraud, employee fraud, extortion and other fraud offenses. Over 27 years of criminal law experience. Certified specialist in criminal law.

40 years

10%
Domestic Violence 10%

Board certified criminal law specialist. Over 27 years of experience handling felony and misdemeanor domestic violence cases. Results include dismissals, acquittal at trial, and plea to reduced charges.

40 years

10%
White Collar Crime 10%

Attorney has over 27 years of experience handling all types of white collar offenses including real estate fraud, insurance fraud, employee embezzlement, identity theft, grand theft and others. Certified specialist in criminal law.

40 years

10%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Platinum Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in California for 40 years

State: California

Acquired: 1986

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 1991

Location

Matthew G.Kaestner, Attorney

One World Trade Center, Suite 400, Long Beach, CA, 90831

www.lbcrimlaw.com

Matthew Garth Kaestner's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

12 Client Reviews

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5 stars 12
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 0
Practice Areas

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | General Knowledge

Posted by Javier | June 17, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Best lawyer ..

I met attorney Matt Kaestner in January of 2000. I had just been arrested and charged with murder. The first thing Mr. Kaestner said when he introduced himself was that he had some good news and some bad news. He said the bad news was that I was being charged with murder. He said the good news was t...hat he was my lawyer. I was in shock and didn’t know what to think. I was looking at life. Two of my friends had just been convicted of the murder and now I was being charged as an accessory. I quickly learned that Mr. Kaestner was the lawyer I wanted to defend me. Mr. Kaestner aggressively pursued every avenue to prove that I was innocent. He conducted a lot of the investigation personally and used private investigators as well. Although the case was being prosecuted as a gang case, Mr. Kaestner treated me with respect. He was always straight up with me. He dug up so much information that I was being framed by the prosecutor’s witness, that he got the D.A. to offer me a misdemeanor and time served on the day of trial. Later he used the information he developed defending me to get my friend’s conviction thrown out and case dismissed. In the last 20 years Mr. Kaestner has defended me and I have referred him to anyone I knew that needed a criminal lawyer. He has continued to deliver great results again and again. If I ever needed a criminal defense lawyer again, I wouldn’t want anyone other than Matt Kaestner.

Posted by David | November 28, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Excellent Criminal Attorney - Reduced 3 Felonies to a Misdemeanor

For 32 years I worked with numerous Attorneys. After Matthew Kaestner's efforts in defending a relative I would rate him at the top! There was never any doubt during the process that he was giving his all. His legal ability was obvious and he was respected by the Prosecuting Attorney as well as o...ther court members. The end result was above all expectations. (3 felonies, two of them strikes, settled for a misdemeanor.) If you or a loved one need a first class Attorney protecting you in court on a serious criminal case, I highly recommend Mr. Kaestner!

Posted by EM | December 01, 2014 | Criminal Defense

Criminal

I'd like to give my thanks and deepest gratitude to criminal defense specialist, Matt Kaestner. I needed his services twice. Matt was highly recommended to me by my family law attorney. Matt obtained a dismissal of my first case due to his hard work and diligence. My second case went to trial an...d through Matt's dedication and detailed, heart felt, closing arguments, I was found Not Guilty. Matt made me feel like my case was his only priority and he gave my case his full undivided attention. I was very impressed with his insights and how focused he was on the things that he had to prove my innocence. I'm the sole provider for my family of five, and was terrified of possibly going to jail for something I didn't do. When going to criminal court, picking your attorney is crucial. Matt looks the part, knows the law, and worked to know my situation and my feelings. I was able to go into court feeling safe with Matt on my side. I highly recommended him to anyone in need of a criminal defense attorney. My family and I truly appreciate what he did for us. Matt has given us back our peace of mind and has allowed us to get back to our normal life!

Posted by Julie | March 21, 2014 | Criminal Defense

Saved my life!!

What can you say about needing a Criminal Attorney? 45 Years old and I had never even given it a thought. Completely overwhelmed, terrified, and at a total loss, I had no idea where to even start. So Google it was. I spoke with many on the phone and made five appointments for consultations to screen ...the finalists. After my fourth meeting I was still a mess. No one I had met with really seemed to care it was more of a "show me the money" conversation. I still didn't understand the process or what my options were. Thank heaven I didn't just jump at the chance to work with the first person that sounded like they knew what they were talking about. The fifth meeting was with Matt Kaestner, Certified Criminal Specialist. First of all if you want a stuffy, droll, powdered wig esquire, this isn't the guy for you. He took the time to really talk with me and understand my unique situation. He gave me great advice, calmed my decidedly frazzled nerves and when it came down to necessity, I paid him. It was worth every penny. Do not trust the system to do the right thing. It doesn't. It's an endless, confusing, backward numbers game, and you won't get through it with stellar results without top notch representation and a sense of humor. Mr. Kaestner gets you both. I never could have gotten through it without him. He's a bulldog with a heart and my outcome was great, my life goes on and while I will never need to hire him again, I would not hesitate to refer anyone to him. Call him, talk to him and then hire him. You won't be sorry. I am telling you. Worth. Every. Penny.

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Matthew Garth Kaestner's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Matthew
Matthew J Ruff headshot
Matthew Ruff

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 20

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Matt is a true fighter for his clients. He does not "roll over" to the DA and this makes him one of the best!"

Tracy A Rogers headshot
Tracy Rogers

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I believe Matthew Kaestner is one of the most effective and diligent attorneys in the criminal defense bar. I am an appellate attorney and have had the opportunity to review transcripts of dozens of defense attorneys- Mr. Kaestner consistently provides top quality legal representation for his clients."

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Experience

Rating:  8.0 (Excellent)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 1991.

Private reproval, public disclosure issued in CA, 1991

updated on 12/02/2018

Private reproval, public disclosure means the attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The Bar warns the lawyer in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

Matthew’s comment:

“This reproval was the result of a misdemeanor "harassment" conviction attorney Kaesnter suffered in Oregon concerning an incident that occurred in 1987 involving a personal child custody dispute. Not sure why the state bar or Avvo consider it important. It DID NOT involve a client or the practice of law.”

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

1985

High Honors Trial Practice, Willamette University College of Law

Work Experience

1989 - 1991

Criminal defense attorney, Alternate Defense Counsel

1986 - 1989

Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney

Associations

1986 - Present

State Bar of California

Member

Long Beach Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

People v. Juan Herrera

Murder conviction reversed, case dismissed.

See More Legal Cases

Education

N/A

Willamette University College of Law

N/A

University of the Pacific

Speaking Engagements

2013

Publications

2013

ICDA Summer Seminar 2013 Defending A State Wiretap Case

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 1991
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
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