Murat Erkan

Relentless Criminal Defense

With over twenty-six years of trial experience, Attorney Murat Erkan has built a reputation as a fierce advocate for those facing criminal charges. Licensed to practice in all Massachusetts state and federal courts, Attorney Erkan’s practice focuses on one thing: Relentless Criminal Defense.

A Singular Focus

Many lawyers claim to be a “Jack of all trades,” but Attorney Erkan believes that the solemn duty of fighting for a person’s freedom demands a singular focus. Just as a person needing a root canal should turn to a specialist, someone fighting for their freedom needs a lawyer who has dedicated his life to criminal law. As they say, a Jack of all trades is a master of none.

Extensive Prosecutorial Experience

Before starting his private practice in 2006, Attorney Erkan served for over 8 years as a prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Lawrence, Lynn, and throughout Essex County. He handled every type of case imaginable, from drunk driving to murder, drug possession to aggravated rape, and shoplifting to armed robbery. Attorney Erkan supervised and trained fellow prosecutors and police, and received federal recognition for his efforts in co-founding a task force that dismantled several violent street gangs in the greater Lawrence area in the early 2000s.

Unique Insight into Government Tactics

Attorney Erkan’s experience as an Assistant District Attorney translates into a potent advantage for his clients. By learning how the government puts together a case, he learned how to take it apart. His unique insight into the government’s thinking and tactics helps him identify and exploit weaknesses in the case against you.

Tailored and Aggressive Defense Strategies

Most lawyers follow the path of least resistance, relying on generic defense tactics. Attorney Erkan, however, treats each client as a unique individual with their own story to tell. He develops individualized defenses tailored to each unique case. By immersing himself in the circumstances of each client’s story, Attorney Erkan pursues bold, aggressive defenses, delivering uniquely outstanding results.

Recognized Excellence in Criminal Defense

Attorney Erkan’s excellence in criminal defense has been recognized by his peers and the legal community. Every year since 2020, he has been rated “AV-Preeminent” on Martindale Hubbell, an honor reserved for the top 10% of attorneys in the country. Since 2021, he has been featured as a “Super Lawyer” and recognized as a top 100 criminal defense attorney by the National Trial Lawyers.

Leadership and Advocacy

Attorney Erkan is a council member of the Criminal Justice Council of the Massachusetts Bar Association and serves on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he co-chairs the legislative committee. In this role, he has spearheaded campaigns to eliminate minimum mandatory drug sentences and implement a ban on pretextual car stops.

Educating Fellow Attorneys

Attorney Erkan is frequently called upon to share his knowledge with fellow attorneys through continuing legal education programs. He has led seminars and classes on practicing with professionalism, lawyer resiliency, effective cross-examination strategies, navigating the intersection between criminal and immigration law, defending murder cases, and cutting-edge topics in criminal defense.

Attorney Murat Erkan will handle your criminal defense in courts throughout Massachusetts and frequently appears in Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Haverhill, Newburyport, Salem, Woburn, Malden, Worcester, Chelsea, and Boston. He will also, on a case-by-case basis, appear pro hac vice in other states including New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island.