Our Firm
If you are arrested in South Florida, you may feel helpless and confused about the charges you face. Depending on the alleged crime, you could face life-altering consequence, ranging from losing your career to severing years in prison. You could be labeled a criminal, and a conviction could haunt you.
You have a right to be represented. Before you speak with law enforcement officers, contact a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney to help defend your rights and guide you through the legal process. Fort Lauderdale criminal defense firm Meltzer & Bell can fight for you and give you the hard-hitting defense you deserve.
Meltzer & Bell is a criminal defense firm in Fort Lauderdale founded by a former Broward County prosecutor and a former Broward County public defender. Meltzer & Bell handles all state and federal criminal charges throughout Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Coral Springs, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Plantation, Davie, Sunrise, Weston and Wilton Manors.
Meltzer and Bell collectively have taken more than 200 cases to jury trial through verdict. The attorneys have extensive experience in DUI cases and the specific defenses employed when dealing with breath, blood and urine tests, plus other DUI matters in South Florida.

Lawrence Meltzer is a former Broward County prosecutor who defends clients in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas of Broward County. Meltzer earned his bachelor’s degree from American University and his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center. He spent four years working in the Broward County State Attorney’s Office before moving into private criminal defense practice.
Read more about Attorney Lawrence Meltzer.

Steven Bell is a former Broward County public defender who worked in the felony division before leading the juvenile division. He also has years of experience practicing privately in South Florida. Bell graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in advertising, and he earned his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center in 2004.
Read more about Attorney Steven Bell.

Ari Goldberg had been an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach for three and half years before joining Meltzer & Bell, P.A. Ari graduated from Florida International University College of Law in Miami in 2009 with his Juris Doctorate. Ari was first assigned to the County Court Trial Division while he was at the State Attorney’s Office where he served as the Lead Attorney. His responsibilities included supervising other ASA’s, handling hundreds of cases and making filing decisions on all DUI’s assigned to his division.
Howard Schumacher serves Of Counsel at Meltzer & Bell where he defends people in South Florida against criminal charges. He has practiced law in Florida for more than 25 years. His work has included extensive practice in federal appeals, especially the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Florida.
Read more about Howard Schumacher.
Attorneys at Meltzer & Bell are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Unlike other firms, you can have real-time access to the firm’s partners, including nights, weekdays and holidays. The attorneys are there to serve the clients at all times because arrests can happen at any moment.
If you have been arrested and accused of a crime in Broward County or the surrounding areas, contact Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys at Meltzer & Bell Call (954) 765-6585 to schedule a free consultation with one of the attorneys.