Welcome to S & R Law Firm
Member of:
Virginia Criminal Defense Attorneys: S&R Law Firm, PLLC
Facing a criminal charge is not just a legal problem. It is personal.
It can affect your freedom, your family, your job, your driver’s license, your security clearance, your immigration status, your professional license, and the way you see yourself. For many people, the worst part is the uncertainty. They do not know what will happen next, who to trust, or whether one mistake, accusation, or misunderstanding will follow them for the rest of their life.
At S&R Law Firm, PLLC, we understand that people come to us during some of the most stressful moments of their lives. They are scared, embarrassed, angry, overwhelmed, or simply trying to protect everything they have worked for.
Our role is not to judge you. Our role is to stand beside you, explain the process clearly, protect your rights, and build the strongest defense available under the facts and the law.
We are a Fairfax-based criminal defense and serious traffic defense firm serving clients throughout Virginia. Our attorneys regularly handle DUI and DWI, reckless driving, drug possession, drug distribution, assault and battery, domestic assault, larceny, fraud, eluding police, hit and run, probation violations, and serious felony charges.
This is not a side practice for us. Criminal defense and serious traffic defense are the core of what we do.
A Boutique Criminal Defense Firm With Nearly 50 Years of Combined Legal Experience
NOVA Defenders is intentionally built as a focused, boutique defense firm.
We are not a general practice firm handling criminal charges between divorces, wills, and contract disputes. Our attorneys spend their time in criminal and traffic courts, reviewing police evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, preparing clients for court, and litigating cases when the facts demand it.
Our four attorneys began practicing law in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Together, we bring nearly 50 years of combined legal experience to the table.
Just as importantly, we bring different perspectives.
Our team includes attorneys with experience connected to prosecution, public defense, DUI litigation, financial and regulatory matters, constitutional issues, serious felony defense, traffic defense, drug cases, domestic assault cases, and appellate litigation. That range matters because criminal cases rarely fit neatly into one box.
A drug case may involve substance use, treatment, search and seizure law, and long-term record consequences. A domestic assault case may involve family conflict, protective orders, immigration concerns, self-defense, or credibility issues. A DUI case may involve science, mental health, medication, substance abuse, police procedure, and license consequences. A financial crime may involve intent, accounting, authority, restitution, and forensic records.
We do not treat people as charge titles. We look at the whole person, the whole case, and the whole future.
Local Virginia Court Experience Matters
Criminal defense in Northern Virginia is intensely local.
Fairfax is not Prince William. Prince William is not Loudoun. Loudoun is not Arlington. Alexandria has its own pace and expectations. Stafford and Fauquier are different again.
The law may be statewide, but the courthouse experience is not.
Our attorneys regularly appear in courts across Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Prince William County, Manassas, Loudoun County, Leesburg, Arlington County, Alexandria, Stafford County, Fauquier County, Warrenton, and Falls Church.
That local experience helps us understand how cases are actually handled in each courthouse. We know the procedures, the local expectations, the practical realities, and the way different offices tend to evaluate cases. We have built professional relationships within the local legal community, including through court appearances, bar involvement, and years of working in the same Northern Virginia courthouses.
No lawyer can promise that familiarity with a courthouse will control the outcome of a case. It will not. But it does help a defense attorney prepare intelligently, communicate effectively, and avoid treating a local case like a generic legal problem.
Meet Our Criminal Defense Team
Benjamin Schaefer, Managing Partner
Benjamin Schaefer has practiced law since 2010 and brings a careful, analytical approach to criminal defense.
Ben’s background includes work with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., private litigation experience, and significant appellate work. He has handled complex legal issues and has secured important victories, including a successful appeal before the Court of Appeals of Virginia based on a previously uncited legal argument.
That background gives Ben a valuable perspective in cases involving financial allegations, fraud, embezzlement, larceny, business records, complicated evidence, and legal issues that require careful research and precise argument. He brings discipline, patience, and strategic thinking to cases where details matter.
Ryan Rambudhan, Founding Partner
Ryan Rambudhan has practiced law since 2013 and is a founding partner of S&R Law Firm.
Ryan’s background includes experience in a prosecutor’s office in New York, a judicial clerkship with a DUI judge, advanced DUI defense training through the National College for DUI Defense at Harvard Law School, and several years teaching legal writing and appellate advocacy at The George Washington University Law School.
Although Ryan is highly experienced in DUI and traffic defense, his practice is not defined by DUI alone. He regularly represents clients facing drug possession, drug distribution, domestic assault, assault and battery, theft offenses, reckless driving, serious felonies, and cases involving substance use or mental health concerns.
Ryan’s approach is shaped by a simple belief: many good people find themselves in frightening situations, and they deserve a lawyer who will take the case personally, prepare carefully, and treat them with dignity.
Madison Glossner, Partner
Madison Glossner has practiced law since 2016 and brings a strong constitutional and client-centered approach to criminal defense.
Madison studied criminology before law school and gained experience in both a Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and a Public Defender’s Office. That background helps her understand how criminal charges are built, how weaknesses can be exposed, and how important it is for an accused person to be heard.
Madison represents clients in traffic, misdemeanor, and felony cases. She is especially skilled at guiding clients through stressful and emotionally charged cases where communication, preparation, and trust matter. Her work reflects a deep commitment to protecting constitutional rights, challenging unlawful searches and seizures, and making sure clients understand what is happening at every stage of the process.
David Lloyd, Senior Attorney
David Lloyd has practiced law since 2015 and has deep Northern Virginia roots.
David graduated from George Mason University School of Law and built his foundation through work with the Fairfax County Public Defender’s Office and private criminal defense firms. He has represented clients in matters ranging from traffic infractions to serious felony charges.
David brings a practical, steady, and goal-oriented approach to his cases. He understands that clients often come to court with more than a legal concern. They may be worried about work, family, immigration, school, military service, or simply getting through the process without making things worse. David focuses on helping clients understand their options and move toward the best possible resolution under the circumstances.
Our Defense Philosophy: Preparation, Judgment, and Humanity
We do not believe criminal defense should be built around slogans.
The strongest defense usually begins with careful work: listening to the client, reviewing the charge, identifying the real risks, obtaining discovery, reviewing body-worn camera footage, analyzing police reports, studying chemical test evidence, evaluating witness statements, and understanding what the prosecution can actually prove.
We prepare cases early because early preparation can change the direction of a case.
Sometimes the right approach is negotiation. Sometimes it is mitigation. Sometimes it is treatment, counseling, restitution, or community service. Sometimes the answer is a motion to suppress evidence. Sometimes the answer is trial.
The point is that the strategy should fit the person and the facts.
We are not here to force every case into the same mold. We are here to help clients make informed decisions. We explain the good facts, the bad facts, the realistic risks, and the paths forward. Clients deserve honest advice, not false confidence.
Compassionate Representation Does Not Mean Weak Representation
Some people assume that a compassionate lawyer cannot also be a strong courtroom advocate. We disagree.
Compassion is what allows us to understand the person behind the charge. Preparation is what allows us to defend that person effectively.
Many criminal cases involve more than the police report. They involve addiction, alcohol use, prescription medication, family conflict, grief, trauma, financial pressure, professional stress, or one terrible night that does not reflect the client’s entire life.
We take those realities seriously.
For drug cases, that may mean examining whether the police violated search and seizure laws while also helping the client address treatment, substance use, or record consequences. For domestic assault cases, it may mean looking closely at credibility, self-defense, injury evidence, 911 calls, body camera footage, protective order issues, and the full context of the relationship. For DUI and alcohol-related offenses, it may mean challenging the stop, arrest, field sobriety testing, breath testing, blood testing, or medication evidence while also addressing the human issues that brought the client into the system.
A good defense should protect the case and the person.
Why Clients Choose S&R Law Firm
Clients choose our firm because they want more than a lawyer who simply appears in court.
They want communication. They want preparation. They want to understand what is happening. They want someone who will answer questions without making them feel foolish for asking. They want a lawyer who knows the local courts but still treats their case as personal and important.
Our public reviews reflect the values we work hard to maintain: responsiveness, professionalism, compassion, preparation, clear explanations, and personal attention.
That reputation matters to us because criminal defense is built on trust. When someone hires us, they are often trusting us with their freedom, their record, their career, and their family’s peace of mind.
We do not take that lightly.
Protecting Your Future in a Changing Virginia Legal Landscape
The outcome of a criminal case can affect your life for years.
Virginia’s Clean Slate record-sealing framework is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, creating new opportunities for certain eligible records to be sealed automatically or by petition. That makes the result of a current criminal case even more important. The final disposition, the type of charge, the presence or absence of a conviction, and the specific wording of the outcome may affect future record relief.
Our goal is not only to get you through the next court date. Our goal is to help you think about your future.
That may include your employment, your license, your housing, your security clearance, your education, your immigration concerns, your professional reputation, and your ability to move forward.
Talk to a Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney Before You Make a Decision
If you or someone you love has been arrested, charged, or contacted by law enforcement, do not try to handle it alone.
Police officers and investigators are trained to gather evidence. Even statements made with good intentions can create problems later. Before you speak to law enforcement, enter a plea, pay a ticket, or assume the case is hopeless, talk to a criminal defense attorney who can explain what is actually at stake.
S&R Law Firm, PLLC offers free, confidential consultations. We represent clients throughout Northern Virginia and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If a family member is incarcerated, we can move quickly to evaluate bond options and begin preparing for the next court date.
S&R Law Firm, PLLC at 703.273.6431 to speak with a Northern Virginia criminal defense attorney.
Your charge is not the whole story. Let us help you protect the rest of it.
FAQ Section
What makes NOVA Defenders different from other criminal defense firms?
NOVA Defenders is a boutique criminal defense and serious traffic defense firm. We focus on criminal and traffic matters instead of dividing our attention among many unrelated practice areas. Our attorneys bring nearly 50 years of combined legal experience and regularly represent clients in Northern Virginia courts. We emphasize preparation, communication, local court knowledge, and personal attention.
Does your firm handle serious felony cases?
Yes. Our attorneys represent clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges, including drug distribution, malicious wounding, sex offenses, embezzlement, fraud, grand larceny, eluding police, DUI maiming, involuntary manslaughter, and other serious charges. Every case is different, and the right defense depends on the evidence, the jurisdiction, the client’s history, and the client’s goals.
Does your firm only handle DUI cases?
No. DUI and DWI defense are important parts of our practice, but our firm handles a broad range of criminal and serious traffic matters. We regularly defend clients charged with drug offenses, assault and battery, domestic assault, protective order violations, theft, fraud, reckless driving, hit and run, eluding police, probation violations, and serious felonies.
What courts does NOVA Defenders regularly serve?
Our attorneys regularly represent clients in General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and Circuit Court throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Prince William, Manassas, Loudoun, Leesburg, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Fauquier, Warrenton, Vienna, Fairfax City, and Herndon..
Can your firm help if I live outside Virginia?
Yes. We frequently represent out-of-state clients charged in Virginia, especially in reckless driving, speeding, traffic, DUI, and criminal cases. Depending on the charge and the court, we may be able to appear on your behalf or reduce the number of times you need to return to Virginia. Whether your appearance can be waived depends on the specific charge, court, and judge.
How does your firm approach drug charges?
We look at both the legal and human side of the case. Legally, we examine whether the police had a lawful basis for the stop, search, seizure, arrest, and interrogation. We also look closely at lab results, constructive possession issues, intent, distribution allegations, and weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence. At the same time, we understand that many drug cases involve substance use, treatment, employment, family stress, and long-term record consequences.
How does your firm approach domestic assault cases?
Domestic assault cases require careful attention to context. We review the allegations, witness statements, 911 calls, body camera footage, injury evidence, photographs, prior history, self-defense issues, protective order concerns, and credibility problems. These cases can affect a person’s record, family, housing, employment, immigration status, and firearm rights, so they must be handled thoughtfully and carefully.
How does your firm challenge DUI charges?
A DUI defense may involve challenging the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, probable cause for arrest, breath testing, blood testing, medication evidence, officer observations, video evidence, and compliance with Virginia procedures. We also evaluate whether treatment, alcohol education, or mitigation evidence may help protect the client’s long-term future.
Will hiring a local Northern Virginia lawyer make a difference?
Local experience can matter. No attorney can guarantee an outcome based on familiarity with a courthouse, judge, prosecutor, or procedure. However, lawyers who regularly appear in Northern Virginia courts are better positioned to understand local practices, expectations, scheduling issues, and common approaches to negotiation and litigation.
Should I speak to police before calling a lawyer?
In most situations, you should speak with a criminal defense attorney before making any statement to law enforcement. Even innocent explanations can be misunderstood, taken out of context, or used against you later. A lawyer can help you understand your rights before you make a decision that could affect your case.