Some news we’re excited to share: our founder, Alexander Karapancev, has been named the Diamond Winner for Best Criminal Lawyer in the 2025 Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Awards. For those unfamiliar, Diamond is the top tier in the program, it goes to whoever receives the most votes in their category. So this one comes directly from the people of Toronto and the GTA, which honestly makes it one of the most gratifying forms of recognition we could ask for.
What Are the Readers’ Choice Awards?
The Readers’ Choice Awards are run annually by the Toronto Star. The way it works is straightforward: people from the community nominate local businesses and professionals they trust, then vote on the finalists. There’s no panel of judges, no industry committee picking the winners. It’s entirely decided by public vote. Diamond goes to the business or professional with the highest number of votes in each category, followed by Platinum and Gold.
What This Means for Our Clients
We’ve never been a firm that chases awards. What matters to us is the phone call from a client after their charges get withdrawn, or the handshake outside the courtroom when a jury comes back with a not guilty verdict. But there’s something different about an award that comes from the community itself. When the people of Toronto vote for you as the best in your field, that carries weight. For anyone currently searching for a criminal lawyer, and we know how stressful that search can be, this is the kind of signal that’s hard to replicate with advertising.
Why It Matters
Alexander built this firm on a simple idea: prepare harder than anyone else in the room. Every file gets the same level of attention, whether it’s a first-time DUI or a complex multi-count trial. Our lawyers are dedicated to getting the best possible results for our clients. This recognition demonstrates that the people of Toronto recognize the hard work that we do for our clients and our commitment to exceptionalism.
Thank You to Our Community
A sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for Alexander Karapancev. To the clients we’ve represented, the families who trusted us during what were probably the hardest weeks or months of their lives, and to the wider Toronto community, we don’t take this lightly.
Nothing changes on our end. We’ll keep doing the same work that got us here, showing up prepared, fighting hard, and treating every client’s case like it’s the most important one on our desk. Whether you’re dealing with impaired driving charges,assault,domestic assault,sexual assault,drug offences, or anything else under the Criminal Code, we’re here.
Facing Criminal Charges? Contact Us Today
If you or someone close to you is facing criminal charges anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area or across Ontario, contact Karapancev Law for a confidential consultation.
