Federal Criminal Defense · Appeals · Post-Conviction
A Federal Criminal Defense Law Firm Built on Appellate Precision
Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. is a federal criminal defense law firm representing individuals and organizations in federal investigations, trials, appeals, and post-conviction matters in United States district courts and courts of appeals nationwide.
Led by a 2026 Best Lawyers recipient in Appellate Practice.
Recognized · Admitted · Trusted Nationwide
Who We Are
A White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Built for the Federal System
A federal case is not a larger version of a state case. It is a different system, with its own rules, its own sentencing framework, and prosecutors who bring charges only after long, well-resourced investigations. Our firm is built for that system, and white collar criminal defense sits at the center of the work.
Our principal, Elizabeth Franklin-Best, has spent more than two decades in federal criminal defense and appellate work. When you contact us, you reach a federal criminal defense law firm that lives inside the federal system every day and knows how to navigate it — from the first sign of an investigation through trial, sentencing, appeal, and post-conviction review.
Practice Areas
How Our Federal Criminal Defense Law Firm Can Help
As a federal defense law firm, we defend the full range of federal criminal matters and guide clients through every stage of a case. Each area below opens onto an in-depth library of offense, statute, and procedure guides.
White-Collar & Fraud
White-Collar Crime Defense
Insider trading, embezzlement, RICO, obstruction, and false-statement charges. Our white collar criminal defense work centers on the documents, intent, and loss questions that decide these cases.
Federal Tax Crimes
Tax evasion, false returns, employment-tax fraud, and FBAR matters. We handle IRS criminal investigations and the willfulness questions at the heart of a tax prosecution.
Federal Fraud Defense
Wire, mail, bank, securities, and healthcare fraud prosecutions. We defend complex fraud indictments built on long, well-resourced federal investigations.
Public Corruption Defense
Bribery, honest-services fraud, the FCPA, and program-bribery cases. These prosecutions turn on intent and the meaning of an official act, and we defend them on that ground.
Other Federal Offenses
Money Laundering Defense
Laundering, structuring, and Bank Secrecy Act charges. Laundering counts often ride alongside a fraud case, and we defend both the underlying conduct and the tracing.
Federal Firearms Offenses
Felon-in-possession, Section 924(c), and trafficking charges. Federal firearms counts carry steep mandatory minimums, so the defense begins the moment charges are contemplated.
Federal Drug Crimes
Trafficking, conspiracy, and possession-with-intent prosecutions. We challenge drug quantity, the scope of a conspiracy, and the searches behind the government’s evidence.
Federal Sex Offense Defense
Child pornography and enticement charges, handled discreetly and rigorously. We address the forensic evidence, the mandatory minimums, and the collateral consequences with care.
Process & Sentencing
Federal Criminal Process
How a case moves from investigation and grand jury to indictment and trial. Understanding what each stage allows shapes a federal criminal defense from the very first contact.
Collateral Consequences
Supervised release, civil-rights restoration, and the lasting effects of a conviction. Our work continues after sentencing, through supervised release and the restoration of rights.
Federal Sentencing
How punishment is set under the Sentencing Guidelines and Section 3553(a). We build the loss, role, and mitigation record that shapes the sentence a court imposes.
Federal Courts
Guidance for every U.S. Court of Appeals and all 94 U.S. District Courts. Our federal criminal defense law firm appears in courts nationwide through admission pro hac vice.
Appeals & Post-Conviction
Federal Criminal Appeals
Direct appeals to the United States Courts of Appeals. Appellate work is the core of our practice, from the trial record through briefing and argument.
Compassionate Release
Sentence-reduction motions based on extraordinary and compelling reasons. We pursue release for medical hardship, family circumstances, and other qualifying grounds.
Post-Conviction Relief
Motions under 28 U.S.C. Section 2255, habeas corpus, and ineffective-assistance claims. A finished case is not always a closed one, and post-conviction motions can reopen it.
Pardons and Clemency
Presidential pardons, commutations, and the clemency petition process. Clemency is a separate route to relief, and we prepare petitions that present the strongest case.
Why Our Firm
Why Choose Our White Collar Crime Lawyer
Three reasons clients nationwide trust our white collar crime lawyer with their most serious federal matters.
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Appellate and Post-Conviction Depth
The work that follows a conviction — direct appeals, Section 2255 motions, compassionate release, and clemency — is the center of our practice, not an afterthought.
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Nationwide Federal Practice
Federal criminal law is national. We represent federal defendants across the country, appearing in districts beyond our home court through admission pro hac vice.
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Senior-Attorney, Individualized Strategy
No two federal cases are alike. Every client works directly with the attorney handling the matter, and the strategy is built for the person in front of us.
Your Case, Stage by Stage
How a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Helps at Every Stage
A federal matter rarely arrives all at once. It unfolds in stages, and the right move depends on where the case stands. We step in wherever you are.
01
Investigation
Target letters, grand jury subpoenas, and pre-charge exposure.
02
Charges
Arraignment, detention, discovery, and pretrial motions.
03
Trial
A defense built and tested for the courtroom or for resolution.
04
Sentencing
Guidelines calculation and Section 3553(a) advocacy.
05
Appeal
Direct review in the United States Courts of Appeals.
06
Post-Conviction
Section 2255 motions, compassionate release, and clemency.
Applied Insight: Appellate and post-conviction deadlines are strict and they run quickly. In a federal criminal case, a notice of appeal generally must be filed within 14 days of the entry of judgment under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b), and a missed deadline can foreclose a meritorious challenge entirely. If you are considering an appeal or a post-conviction motion, the time to seek counsel is now, not later.
Attorney Spotlight
Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Principal Attorney
Elizabeth Franklin-Best leads our firm and has devoted her career to federal criminal defense and appellate practice. Her work spans the full life of a case, with a particular focus on the appeals and post-conviction motions that decide what happens after a conviction. Clients describe a lawyer who is candid about the realities of a case and relentless in pursuing every avenue it allows.
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States
- Admitted to all twelve United States Courts of Appeals
- Best Lawyers 2026 — Appellate Practice
- Author, Reversing Your Criminal Conviction
Standing & Credibility
Recognition and Press
Our standing in the appellate bar is reflected in independent recognition, published work, and national press commentary.
As Featured In
Best Lawyers 2026 — Appellate Practice
Elizabeth Franklin-Best was selected by Best Lawyers in America for 2026 in the field of Appellate Practice, a peer-reviewed recognition. She is also the author of Reversing Your Criminal Conviction, a practitioner’s guide to challenging a federal conviction — a reflection of the depth our firm brings to appeals and post-conviction relief.
Client Experiences
What Our Clients Say
The following are genuine reviews from people our firm has represented. They describe individual experiences; every case is different, and past results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any future matter.
In 2008 I was convicted of homicide by child abuse and sentenced to 35 years in prison. I felt so hopeless at that time. Mrs. Best was originally assigned to my case, she did my briefs, she kept in constant contact with me. Due to her excellent work I have been free since 2013. If you are looking for someone that is truly going to fight for you I would highly recommend Mrs. Best.
Paris A.
Post-conviction relief — conviction reversed
I cannot say enough good things about Chris and Elizabeth Franklin-Best. They secured me a full year in halfway house, which was life-changing for my reentry. In court and in filings, they were aggressive and strategic. After a judge denied my petition, they filed a motion for reconsideration, which was granted. If you need an advocate who actually cares, fights hard, and gets results, this is the team you want in your corner.
Onera P.
Post-conviction relief — motion for reconsideration granted
I contacted Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. when I was worried about a possible supervised release issue in Texas. The firm moved quickly, and Elizabeth worked directly with the U.S. Probation Office while explaining what to expect. The matter was resolved in about two weeks without any court action, which was a huge relief. I felt respected and supported throughout.
Pamela B.
Supervised release matter
Nationwide Practice
Nationwide Federal Criminal Defense Reach
Federal criminal law is national, and so is our practice. We represent federal defendants across the country from our office in Columbia, South Carolina.
12
U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals
94
U.S. District Courts
50
States — a nationwide federal practice
Our Team
The Team Behind Your Federal Defense
Behind every federal case is a team that keeps it organized, responsive, and moving — so our clients always understand where their matter stands and what comes next.
Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA
Managing Director
Christopher Zoukis holds a JD and an MBA and leads the firm’s operations and client communications. A nationally recognized authority on the federal prison system and author of the Federal Prison Handbook and Directory of Federal Prisons, he helps clients and families understand what a federal sentence really involves.
LaDonna Falvey
Lead Paralegal & Firm Administrator
LaDonna Falvey manages the firm’s federal casework, keeping filings, deadlines, and client matters organized from the first call through resolution. Clients rely on her steady, detail-driven coordination at every stage of a case.
Kimberly Zoukis
Operations Manager
Kimberly Zoukis oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations and client intake, making sure every federal matter is handled smoothly and every client feels supported and informed throughout the process.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases does the firm handle?
Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. is a federal criminal defense law firm. We handle federal investigations and charges, federal trials, direct appeals to the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and post-conviction matters, including Section 2255 motions and compassionate release. Our particular strength is appellate and post-conviction work.
Does the firm handle cases outside South Carolina?
Yes. Federal criminal law is national, and we represent federal defendants across the country from our office in Columbia, South Carolina. Elizabeth Franklin-Best is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court and all twelve U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the firm appears in other districts through pro hac vice admission, a routine part of federal practice.
How does the initial consultation work?
We offer a one-hour initial consultation. It is a substantive working session in which an attorney reviews the matter and explains the available options. The fee and the details are set out on our Schedule a Consultation page, and the consultation can be booked online.
Why hire a firm focused on federal cases?
Federal criminal practice is distinct from state practice. It is governed by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and strict appellate and post-conviction deadlines. A firm focused on federal work brings experience specific to that system, rather than handling federal matters as an occasional sideline.
Is it too late to challenge a conviction that has already happened?
Not necessarily. A direct appeal, Section 2255 motion, compassionate release motion, or other post-conviction relief may still be available. These paths are governed by strict deadlines, however, so anyone considering a challenge should seek counsel promptly to protect their options.
How do I get started?
The first step is to schedule an initial consultation through our booking page or to call our office at (843) 620-1100. Our team will review your situation, explain the options, and discuss how we can help.
How do I choose the right federal criminal defense law firm?
Look for a firm that practices federal criminal law as its focus, not as an occasional sideline — one fluent in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and the strict federal appellate and post-conviction deadlines. Ask who will handle the matter day to day, about the firm’s experience with cases like yours, and about its record on appeals and post-conviction relief. A consultation is the best way to judge fit before you decide.
Get Started
Talk With a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing a federal investigation or charge — or are considering an appeal or post-conviction motion — request a consultation and our team will review the matter and the path forward. You can also call us directly.
Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. · 3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 113, Columbia, SC 29204
Request a Consultation
Tell us about your federal matter and our team will be in touch.