Van Wagner & Wood, S.C.

Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Three-time recipient of Martin Hanson Advocate's Award, Warrior of the Year

Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner and Attorney Tracey A. Wood, the founders of Van Wagner & Wood exclusively devote themselves to defending people who have been accused (or convicted) of misdemeanor or felony crimes or drunk driving. The attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood frequently appear in Wisconsin state and Federal courts defending people accused of drunk driving offenses, drug crimes, sexual assault, white collar crimes, homicide and murder. Regardless of the charge, the criminal defense lawyers at Van Wagner & Wood will defend you.

Sexual Assault (Rape)

The attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood have successfully represented many people who have been accused of a sex crime. Recently, Attorney Chris Van Wagner won an outright acquittal (not guilty verdict) for his client who was acquitted on all sexual abuse charges for sexual assault of a child and multiple sexual assaults of the same child]. Attorney Tracey Wood won a post conviction challenge when the state asked for ten years imprisonment and her client was given probation.

The mere accusation of a sexual assault can have devastating effects upon a person's life including probation, restrictions on activities such as attending a child's high school dance, and mandatory sex offender reporting. Formerly known as rape, Wisconsin sex crimes include sexual assault, sexual assault and battery, sexual assault of a child, and repeated sexual assault of the same child. Computer related sex crimes such as child pornography and Internet solicitations and enticements carry equally harsh penalties ranging from fines or misdemeanor to felony charges.

Drunk Driving Arrests - OWI DUI - & Prior Convictions

Wisconsin drunk driving laws are tough, with mandatory arrest for drunk driving, zero tolerance, misdemeanor convictions on the second offense, and felony convictions beginning with the fifth offense. Wisconsin's foremost authority on drunk driving law, Attorney Tracey Wood, has been defending people charged with OWI (operating while intoxicated) for more than twenty years. Attorney Wood is Wisconsin's first and only National College for DUI Defense Board of Regents member. Attorney Wood defended a man charged with 3rd offense OWI; she argued against his prior drunk driving conviction resulting in her client being charged for a first offense OWI (non criminal charge) rather than a third OWI offense (misdemeanor).

Felony Murder, Homicide, Vehicular Homicide, Negligent Homicide

Very serious crimes such as murder and vehicular homicide require very astute legal representation and the level of intelligent, strategic trial experience that Attorney Chris Van Wagner has honed through hundreds of felony cases. Attorney Chris Van Wagner has successful represented people accused of felony murder, first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree intentional homicide, homicide with a dangerous weapon, first-degree reckless homicide, second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapon, explosives or fire, homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle or firearms, and homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. Attorney Chris Van Wagner has won numerous acquittals, including verdicts that shocked communities such as when his client was acquitted on murder charges after confessing to the crime. Attorney Van Wagner has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Warrior of the Year, and he has been three times awarded the Martin Hanson Advocate's Prize.

Theft - Robbery - Conversion - Embezzlement - Conspiracy

Theft crimes range in severity from simple larceny misdemeanor charges to burglary felony charges or robbery felony charges. White collar crimes such as embezzlement involve theft by fraud of property that is entrusted to the person accused of a conversion crime.

For more than thirty combined years, Attorney Chris Van Wagner & Attorney Tracey Wood have successful defended people accused of theft, robbery, conversion, embezzlement, and conspiracy, such as the largest military theft case in history, in which Attorney Tracey Wood won an outright acquittal for her client while the clients of three other attorneys were convicted and sentenced to very long federal prison terms.

Super Lawyers - Nationally Recognized - Voted The Best

Super Lawyers of America selected Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner as one of few (top 5%) of all lawyers in Wisconsin for the 2006 Super Lawyers award. [Chris Van Wagner named Super Lawyer] The National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) appointed Attorney Tracey A. Wood to the Board of Regents. That board is comprised of the most distinguished and respected DUI defense lawyers in the nation. Attorney Tracey Wood is the first Wisconsin attorney to ever be appointed to the Board of Regents. [Attorney Tracey Wood Appointed to NCDD Board of Regents] Repeatedly, Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys have been voted Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers. [Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Madison Magazine]

Recognized "Strongest Advocates"

The Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has three times awarded Chris Van Wagner the Martin Hanson Advocate's Prize for numerous homicide murder acquittals. [Attorney Chris Van Wagner]

Published Legal Authorities

Attorney Tracey Wood is the author of, "Challenging Prior Under Influence Conviction". She is a contributing author to DUI Defense. Tracey is authoring a treatise (a legal reference book used by many attorneys) on Wisconsin DUI Defense. [Criminal Defense Books]

Former Prosecutor

Attorney Christopher Van Wagner (Chris Van Wagner) is a former US Attorney. As a federal prosecutor, Chris Van Wagner handled serious crimes such as homicide, conspiracy, kidnapping, drug crimes, and sexual assault offenses. Before taking office, Chris successfully defended people against serious crimes (murder, attempt, conspiracy) in the hardened Illinois criminal courts where capital crimes receive death sentences. [Attorney Chris Van Wagner]

First Field Sobriety Test Instructor

Attorney Tracey A. Wood was the first attorney ever appointed as a Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor in the state of Wisconsin. [Attorney Tracey Wood]

Successful Criminal & Drunk Driving Defense

Very few lawyers know the feeling of an outright acquittal (not guilty verdict) in their careers, yet the attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood have won many for their clients. Their successful record of trials, plea bargains, and appeals often causes prosecutors to make very favorable settlement agreements to avoid a hearing at which Van Wagner & Wood might prevail.

Van Wagner & Wood Will Defend You

Regardless of the charges against you, the criminal defense attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood will defend you.

When Results Matter

Van Wagner & Wood's long and successful record of courtroom trials reflects their dedication and diligence to serving their clients. Attorney Chris Van Wagner & Tracey Wood have won many outright acquittals. To the left is a list of some of the types of cases in which these criminal defense lawyers frequently defend people, crimes ranging from disorderly conduct to white collar crimes, from sexual assault to homicide and felony murder, and post conviction defense including criminal, conviction and refusal appeals. Click on any of those topics for detailed information or click here for a composite explanation.

Contact Van Wagner & Wood 24-Hours A Day

If you are under investigation for a crime or drunk driving offense, if you have been charged with a crime or drunk driving violation, or if you have already been convicted but believe your conviction or your sentence were wrong, call (Wisconsin toll free 1-888-663-8163 or Madison, Wis 608-284-1200), submit your case for a free review by clicking one of the links below, or e-mail the attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood right away. They will give you a brief but professional "first-impression" analysis of your case and your situation, which will allow you to take an important first step in defending the case against you.

OWI Free Case Submit Form | Criminal Offense Free Case Submit Form