Gressley & Donaldson LLP

Gressley & Donaldson LLP is a premier law firm specializing in criminal defense, particularly DUI cases, located in Riverside, California. With a team of seasoned attorneys, they are dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation to clients facing criminal charges. Their expertise encompasses a wide range of criminal defense matters, ensuring that each client receives personalized and effective legal strategies tailored to their unique situation.

Our Attorneys:

• Lara J. Gressley: A distinguished appellate lawyer and past president of the California DUI Lawyers Association, Lara has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2020 to the present. She has contributed to significant DUI appellate cases and is a contributing author for 'Attacking and Defending Drunk Driving Tests.'
• Mike Donaldson: A seasoned DUI defense attorney with numerous successful jury trial verdicts and suppression motions. Mike has been honored as a DUI Defense Super Lawyer from 2020 to 2025 and is a contributing author to DUI defense practice guides.

Firm Highlights:

• Countless Not Guilty verdicts on DUI cases, including felony DUIs.
• Numerous DUI case dismissals.
• Successful resolutions of serious felony DUI matters with minimal or no jail time.
• Significant number of DMV Hearings won, protecting clients' driving privileges.

Appellate Highlights:

• Involvement in major DUI appellate cases in California, including People v. Vangelder, People v. Harris, and People v. Arredondo.
• Drafting of amicus curiae briefs in cases such as People v. Dungo in the California Supreme Court and Williams v. Illinois in the United States Supreme Court.
• Regular handling of criminal appeals, including those after trial and denial of suppression motions.
• Numerous successful criminal appeals.

Scholarship and Teaching:

• Authorship of the leading book in the nation on DUI defense, 'Attacking and Defending Drunk Driving Tests.'
• Regular lectures across California on DUI defense strategies.
• Former recipient of the President's Award from the California DUI Lawyer's Association for outstanding criminal defense and appellate work.
• Past elected President and current Vice President of the California DUI Lawyers Association.

Client Testimonials:

Clients have praised the firm's dedication and expertise. One client shared, 'I was arrested for crashing and then blowing a .08. I was devastated from being arrested for the first time and was facing DUI charges. I called 4 or 5 top-rated DUI attorneys in Temecula. I talked to each one for 30 minutes to one hour on the phone. Many of the responses were very uninterested and grim or OVERLY