José R. Fanego, Attorney at Law

Portrait of attorney Jose R. Fanego, expert in Domestic Violence cases

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Oakland County Michigan

I have been practicing law for 30 years. I earned my Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 1989. I spent four years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office until 1993, when I was admitted to federal practice and became the owner of my own law firm in Oakland County.

For the last 28 years, I have focused exclusively on criminal defense. I utilize my experience on both sides of the courtroom to give me an edge when creating a strategy for each case. I handle a range of cases from traffic tickets to first-degree murder. No matter the case, if you have been accused of any wrongdoing by the government, I am the right attorney for you.

I work very hard to limit the size of my practice.  Some lawyers take any and all clients who call.  I frequently turn away clients in an effort to make sure the people I take on get my full attention and have access to me when they need it.  I am not the least expensive lawyer in town, but as they say, “you get what you pay for.”

I am proud to serve my community of Oakland County and actively participate in various law associations. I have been a member of the Oakland County Bar Association since 2014 and am a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the State Bar of Michigan, the Federal Defender Panel.

Contact José Fanego

Criminal Prosecution and Defense Background

  • Former assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County
  • Lecturer at the White Lake Citizen’s Academy
  • Instructor at National College of District Attorneys
  • Guest lecturer at the National College of District Attorneys
  • Former Panel Attorney for the Federal U.S. Eastern District Court

Honors & Awards

  • Recipient of Marshall Goldberg Award
  • Law Day Competition Winner
  • Jessup Competition Winner
  • Two-time Best Oralist Award

Learn From Those He Has Represented

I was arrested last year on drug charges. I didn’t know any lawyers so I asked my neighbor and some guys at work. They all gave me the same name: José Fanego. I hired him and we went to court for the first time together a few weeks later. We walked into the courtroom and the judge literally interrupted a hearing that was in progress to say ‘Good morning, Mr. Fanego. It’s a pleasure to see you.’ It blew my mind! That was the moment I realized everything was going to be okay. José is really well known in the courts and is highly respected by his peers. He knows every single person we dealt with by first name, and knew how to get from point A to point B the easiest possible way. Two trips to court later, and I ended up with a brief period of probation, no jail and no criminal record. I now know it was not a coincidence that several different people gave me the same attorney name. He’s just that good.

– Carl B.