For the 26th straight year, Martindale-Hubbell has rated me AV Preeminent. This is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
In 2023
For the 25th straight year, Martindale-Hubbell has rated me AV Preeminent. This is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
In 2022
For the 24th straight year, received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
In 2021
For the 23rd straight year, received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
In 2020
Received the 2020 Harris County Lawyers Association (HCCLA) President’s Award
Received the Member of the Year Award from the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
For the 22nd straight year, received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
In 2019
Received the Torch of Liberty Award from the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the Pursuit of Liberty and Justice. Below is the introduction video played just before HCCLA presented the award.
For the 21st straight year received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
In 2018
Received a Presidential Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
For the 20th straight year, received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
Received the 2018 Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) President’s Award
In 2017
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
In 2016
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
Received the Liberty Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. The Liberty Award is presented to Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association Members for their outstanding contribution in promoting liberty in Texas.
He was named “Client’s Choice” by AVVO.
Received a 10.0 Rating from AVVO.
In 2015
He was named a “Top Rated Lawyer in Texas” by Martindale-Hubbell.
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
Was named by Texas Monthly Magazine to be one of the Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in the Houston Area (See Texas Monthly, October 2015, S-60).
He was named a Texas “Super Lawyer.”
Was named by Houstonia Magazine as a “Top Lawyer in Criminal Defense.”
In 2014
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
Received a 10.0 Superb Rating from AVVO.
Was featured on the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Best of 2014 DVD as one of the highest-rated speakers from all NACDL seminars for that year. The compilation DVD represents the 12 highest-rated speakers and presentations from all NACDL seminars in 2014.
In 2013
Received the Justice Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. The Justice Award is presented to Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association Members for their outstanding contribution in promoting justice in Texas.
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for the 15th Consecutive Year. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards. Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating process evaluates lawyers in the United States and Canada solely based on peer review. This rating process attests to a lawyer’s legal ability and professional ethics, and reflects the confidential opinions of the Bar and the Judiciary.
In 2012
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
He was recognized in a Texas Bar Journal article as “Mr. Declaration of Independence.” Mr. Fickman was recognized for his efforts in encouraging Texas criminal defense lawyers in their continuing fight for liberty. Specifically, to read the Declaration of Independence in front of their local courthouses in honor of July 4th.
He served as National Coordinator for the First Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Criminal Defense Lawyers. As a result of Mr. Fickman’s efforts, the Declaration of Independence was read by criminal defense lawyers in front of courthouses in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington D.C.
Received the Minuteman Strike Force Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) President. The Minuteman Strike Force Award is awarded to those criminal defense lawyers who have come to the aid of other criminal defense lawyers across the state.
Received the Member of the Year Award from the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). This award is presented to two attorneys by the President of this 700-member criminal defense organization.
In 2011
Received an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest possible rating in both legal ability & ethical standards.
In 2010
Was featured on the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Best of 2010 DVD as one of the highest-rated speakers from all NACDL seminars for that year. The compilation DVD represents the 12 highest-rated speakers and presentations from all NACDL seminars in 2010.
Before 2010
In 2006-2007, served as the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) President. The HCCLA is an organization that strives to protect criminal defense lawyers and to educate the general public regarding the administration of criminal justice and the need for an independent, ethical, and professional criminal defense bar.
The client, a Houston area medical assistant, was accused by her estranged husband of assaulting her in her family home. The defense showed that the complainant had a history of alcohol abuse and violence. The defense demonstrated that the police failed to conduct an adequate investigation of the initial charge, No charges should have ever been accepted.
The client believed to be facing potential Wire Fraud Charges related to SBA PPP loan applications. Investigation of applications for PPP loans and PPP forgiveness demonstrated that the Client had at all times acted in a lawful manner. Investigation demonstrated no fraud was committed by the client. Case closed.
Client was charged by Federal Indictment with making a social media post that threatened Malicious Damage and Destruction of a Building by Means of Fire and Explosives in violation of Federal law. The Defense showed that Client was a law-abiding citizen. The Defense further showed that the alleged threat was not made with any criminal intent.
The client, a public official with a long history of public service, was accused by a former girlfriend of engaging in non-consensual sexual relations. The Defense investigation and analysis showed through a detailed timeline that the allegation made absolutely no sense. Phone records, including calls and texts, were relied on to help establish an accurate timeline. The Defense met with law enforcement and reviewed a detailed package that exonerated the accused.
Client, a Houston area professional who frequently travels for work, was accused by his wife of assaulting her in his family home. Defense showed that wife’s story lacked credibility and there was no physical evidence in support of the wife’s allegation.
The client, a young Black male, was driving his car when police pulled him over for no apparent reason. It looked to be a profile stop. The client was accused of possessing a controlled substance in his vehicle. The Defense showed that there was no lawful basis for the police to stop the Client’s car. The Defense also showed that there was no lawful basis for the search of the Client’s car. It was a bad search, so the seized evidence was not admissible.
FEDERAL CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND CONSPIRACY TO MONEY LAUNDER
Not Guilty (C.R.)
Client charged in Federal Indictment In “Operation Wrecking Ball” with 55 named co-defendants. Client faced seven charges. Client was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering. Client was also charged with four counts of Distribution of Cocaine and one count of Money laundering.
Allegations involved client’s alleged use of his home to distribute cocaine. Government’s lengthy investigation involved numerous wiretaps, surveillance, video, pole cams, search warrants, vehicle stops and use of cooperating co-defendants.
Client went to trial with four remaining defendants. After a two-week trial, Judge granted Motion for Acquittal on four of the seven charges. Jury found Client Not Guilty of remaining three charges.
Client charged in Federal Court with two counts of Wire Fraud related to Five SBA EIDL loan applications. The Government alleged the client, a Houston professional, defrauded the Small Business Administration out of over $150,000. The Government also found the intended loss was over half a million dollars. The Client faced up to 20 years in prison on each count. The Defense investigated the case and negotiated a deal that included the Government not opposing a probation. The Federal Guideline calculation was for a prison sentence and the Probation Department recommended a prison sentence. Attorney Fickman submitted a 90 page Defense Sentencing Memorandum asking for Probation.
Client was retired professional. Client was accused of being involved in a road rage incident in 1960 Area. Defense put together a 100 page memorandum that demonstrated complainant was actual aggressor.
Client was accused of touching child. Case involved thousands of pages of psychiatric and Child Protective Services records as well as investigations by multiple police departments. After three- year fight, case dismissed.
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