Olivia Goodman

We are O’Brien Hatfield, PA, a criminal defense law firm with offices in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. I am a partner. My law firm consists of five lawyers, four legal assistants, two private investigators, one mitigation specialist, and numerous third party experts. We have three divisions in our firm: federal criminal defense, state criminal defense, and appellate criminal defense. I am in charge of the appellate division. A good criminal appellate attorney should possess a combination of legal knowledge, research and writing skills, attention to detail, oral advocacy abilities, persistence, dedication, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, preparation and deadline management, teamwork, commitment to professional development, empathy, and client-focused approach to effectively handle criminal appeals and advocate for their clients' rights. The bottom line is my appellate defense strategy must be multi-faceted, aggressive, and yet nimble. I always have a strategic plan in place, but it may change depending upon what happens tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I must be fluid. I need to be proactive, not reactive, to my client’s needs. Then, and only then, will my appellate defense of you be on the high level that I expect in every case. However, the bottom line is our relationship is about you, not me. Yet, we are in this journey together. And I take our journey very seriously. It matters to me. In the end, I have a single ambition: to fight relentlessly for those who have been silenced by the criminal justice system. I understand how isolating and frightening a criminal case is for the incarcerated and their loved ones – especially after a jury or a judge has decided you are guilty, you feel you did not get a fair shake by your old attorney, and life feels hopeless. When you work with me, it is never hopeless. I am a compassionate and an aggressive advocate who will work tirelessly to find every advantage in your appeal.