Firm Profile

Markus/Moss is a nationally-recognized trial and appellate law firm known for taking on and winning difficult criminal defense cases. The Firm’s lawyers accept only a small number of high-stakes cases at any given time so that they can dedicate their full attention to every client.  They are known for obsessing about their cases and how to win.  Markus/Moss handles investigations, trials, and appeals.

The Firm handles a wide variety of criminal defense matters, with an emphasis in representing business-people, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, and other professionals in federal white-collar prosecutions and appeals including criminal antitrust, tax fraud, mortgage fraud, Medicare fraud, securities fraud, OFAC violations, FCPA, environmental, and RICO cases. Markus/Moss also has been widely recognized for its successful and creative work in state and federal courts on non-white collar cases.  It is often cited as the best criminal defense firm in Miami.

The Firm’s founder, David Oscar Markus, is a Harvard-educated lawyer who has been described as “wickedly smart and a terrific trial lawyer.” His clients say that he is “the whole package” and “a creative, courageous and tenacious courtroom advocate.”

Throughout his career, David Markus has zealously and successfully represented defendants in high-stakes litigation at the trial level all the way to the Supreme Court. He takes part in all of the Firm’s cases, and his contact information is on the speed dial of professionals (and even filmmakers). He is frequently profiled as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in Miami and described as a “vigorous defender” and “one of the best trial lawyers around: very smart, highly respected and thoroughly prepared.”  He also handles high profile appeals and is known as a wonderful appellate advocate. He is a well-known opinion writer on the problems facing the criminal justice system, and teaches a seminar on White Collar Criminal Law at the University of Miami.

Margot Moss is known as one of the best trial lawyers in Miami.  She connects with juries because she speaks from the heart about her clients.  And she is known for her hard work ethic, diving into complex white-collar matters. Margot is a past-President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter. During her time at the public defender’s office, Margot was tasked with training young lawyers in her office and throughout Florida.

Mona Markus, also a graduate of Harvard Law School, leads the Firm’s motion and appellate practice and has won multiple appeals on behalf of the Firm’s clients. At her previous firm, Mona was part of the trial and appellate team that obtained a billion dollar verdict against Exxon Corporation in federal court and made it stick before the United States Supreme Court.  She recently authored two winning briefs, which resulted in vacating criminal convictions.

The Firm takes pride in resolving many of its cases privately so that the client never suffers any reputation damage.  This website will share with you some of the Firm’s public victories.

Some of the Firm’s previous high-profile clients include:

• Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State
• Andrew Gillum, former Mayor of Tallahassee
• Dwight Howard, All-Star NBA
• Neil Cole, former CEO of Iconix
• Ricardo Martinelli, former President of Panama
• Charles Adelson
• Lawrence Rudolph
• Pablo Lyle, actor
• Yasiel Puig, All-Star MLB
• Manny Ramirez, All-Star MLB
• Billy Corben, Award Winning Director
• Buju Banton, Grammy Award Reggae Artist
• Gilberto Rodriguez-Orejuela (head of Cali Cartel, featured in Narcos Season 3)
• Delmon Young, MVP ALCS
• Brian Cooper, CEO Tantus Tobacco
• Joe Garcia, former U.S. Congressman
• Tom Grady, Florida Board of Education Chairman
• Andres Arias, former Minister of Agriculture and Presidential candidate (Colombia)
• Willie Reed, former Heat center
• Carnival Cruise Line
• University of Miami
• Miami Heat

For a description of some of the Firm’s successes, please click here.

Margot Moss, David Oscar Markus, and Todd Yoder with client Rebecca Gheiler right after she was acquitted in federal court in Orlando (September 2017)