Jeffrey Zimmerman

Jeffrey Zimmerman has over 25 years of experience representing individuals facing a broad range of criminal charges, from white collar prosecutions to capital cases. Jeff also specializes in defending individuals and entities in civil and criminal forfeiture matters. He is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia bars and practices in federal trial and appellate courts nationwide.

Jeff has been named in the list of preeminent lawyers in the field of criminal defense by Virginia Super Lawyers and as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine. He is a frequent speaker on forfeiture litigation and federal criminal matters. He has been featured in various media including the New York Times, National Public Radio, and CNN. 

Jeff is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and served on its Board of Directors from 2014-2020. He currently chairs the Elections Committee and the Social Media Committee. In 2015 and 2022, Jeff received the NACDL President’s Commendation for distinguished service. 

Jeff is a graduate of American University, Washington College at Law, where he also served as Adjunct Faculty. He received his undergraduate degree, with a major in biology and minor in theater, from Oberlin College.

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Education

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW
Juris Doctor Cum Laude, 1995

OBERLIN COLLEGE
B.A., Biology, Minor in Theater, 1989

Bar Admissions

• Virginia State Bar

• District of Columbia Bar

• United States Supreme Court

• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

• District of Columbia Court of Appeals

• United States District Court for the District of Columbia

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

• United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

• United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Honors and Awards

• Virginia Super Lawyers (2018-2024)

• Top Criminal Defense Lawyer, Northern Virginia Magazine (2015)

• President's Commendation, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2015, 2022, 2023)

Professional Affiliations

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Former Director

• NACDL Life Member

• NACDL Elections Committee, Former Chair

• NACDL Membership Committee, Former Co-Chair

• NACDL Social Media Committee, Chair

• American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section

• Alexandria Bar Association

Teaching

• Adjunct Faculty, American University, Washington College of Law (1995-1997)

Presentations

• Federal Sentencing Mitigation and Criminal Forfeiture: Recent Developments and Best Practices, Alexandria Bar Association, Alexandria, Virginia (October 23, 2024)

• Roles and Responsibilities of Standby or Advisory Counsel in Criminal Cases, American Bar Association, Webinar Panel (2021)

• Federal Sentencing Fundamentals, Alexandria Bar Association, Alexandria, Virginia (2019)

• Essentials of Federal Sentencing, with Lessons from the Manafort Case, Virginia CLE, Charlottesville, Virginia (2019)

• Asset Forfeiture: How to Keep the Government from Taking Your Fees & Your Client's Property, LACDL Law & All That Jazz Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana (2018)

• Defending Civil and Criminal Forfeitures in Drug Cases, NACDL Drug Defense Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (2017) (Video DVD Available)

• Demystifying and Fighting Forfeitures in Federal Court, Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2015)

• Introduction to Criminal Forfeiture, Alexandria Bar Association, Alexandria, Virginia (2014)

• Twitter Basics for Lawyers, NACDL Forensic Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada (2014)

• Rocket Course on the Rocket Docket: Federal Criminal Practice in Alexandria, Alexandria Bar Association, Alexandria, Virginia (2013)