Criminal Defense
We Don’t Plead People Out. We Fight.
At Gad & Gad, we don’t build our reputation on plea deals—we build it on wins. We don’t pressure clients to take the first offer. We investigate, challenge, and litigate—because fighting is what we do best. That’s why we have one of the highest case dismissal rates in Minnesota.
DRUG CRIMES
Under Minnesota law, drug offenses—formally known as “controlled substance crimes”—include possession, trafficking, manufacturing, and distribution of illegal drugs. These charges range from first to fifth degree, with penalties determined by the degree, prior convictions, and other factors. Even lower-degree charges often carry mandatory jail or prison sentences. Many drug charges arise from unconstitutional searches and seizures. Yet most defense attorneys push quick plea deals without even reviewing whether your rights were violated. That’s not how we operate. We thoroughly examine every report, search warrant, and shred of evidence to uncover violations that can lead to full dismissal. You deserve a defense that leaves no stone unturned—and a lawyer who actually fights for you.
FELONIES
A felony conviction in Minnesota carries severe, lifelong consequences. It can limit your ability to work, find housing, or rebuild your life. Felons face lasting stigma, even long after their sentence is complete. Attorney Sarah Gad has earned the distinction of having the highest felony dismissal rate in Minnesota. If you're facing felony charges, don’t gamble your future on a lawyer who treats your case like just another file. Sarah examines every detail with a fine-tooth comb and fights relentlessly for your freedom.
THEFT CRIMES
Theft offenses in Minnesota include shoplifting, receiving stolen property, check fraud, identity theft, and white-collar crimes like embezzlement. These are often labeled “crimes of dishonesty” or “crimes involving moral turpitude” (CIMTs)—and they carry consequences far beyond the courtroom. A theft conviction can ruin job prospects, destroy professional licensure, and trigger automatic deportation for non-citizens. Even a minor theft offense can follow you for life. That's why you need a fierce advocate who won’t back down. We’ll fight to protect your name, your future, and everything you've worked for. Contact us today to start building your defense.
DOMESTIC ASSAULT & VIOLENT CRIMES
Under Minnesota law, “crimes against the person” include assault, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and even less common charges like knowingly transmitting an STI. Penalties vary based on the degree of the offense, whether a weapon was involved, and your prior record. These are among the most commonly charged—and most frequently pleaded—offenses. Prosecutors often rely on plea deals to avoid trial, knowing they must prove not just that the act occurred, but that you intended it. Most defense attorneys don’t challenge those assumptions. We do. We explore every defense, every inconsistency, and every angle that can raise reasonable doubt. Because that’s what a real defense looks like.
HOMICIDE
In Minnesota, “homicide” includes all charges involving the unlawful death of another person—ranging from first-degree murder to manslaughter and vehicular homicide. These are among the most serious charges in the criminal code, often carrying life-altering or life-long sentences. But there are powerful defenses to homicide charges—especially those that challenge intent, causation, or even identity. Yet most attorneys won’t go that far. Many push plea deals for crimes their clients didn’t commit. In fact, 2%–8% of people serving life sentences are wrongfully convicted—and nearly half of them pleaded guilty. If you’re facing a homicide charge, you need a defense that honors your presumption of innocence. We will fight with everything we’ve got—regardless of your ability to pay—because your life is worth defending.
If you've been convicted of a crime in Minnesota, you have the right to appeal. The appeals process allows you to challenge legal errors that occurred during your trial—errors that may have affected the outcome. If the Minnesota Court of Appeals rules against you, you may petition the Minnesota Supreme Court for further review. We handle complex criminal appeals at every level and are known for our strategic, aggressive appellate advocacy. Don’t give up after a conviction. Let us take the fight to the next level.
Immigration Advocacy
Attorney Susanne Gad is an global expert in asylum law. After a decade-long career as a supervising attorney for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Susanne has become one of the most sought after attorneys in the nation for noncitizens seeking asylum. A foreign national who is physically present in the United States may apply for asylum if there is a well-founded fear of persecution in the home country due to race, religion, nationality, membership in particular social group, or political opinion. An application for asylum may be submitted either as an affirmative request to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or as a defense in removal proceedings. Attorney Susanne Gad has dedicated her career to helping asylum applicants fearing persecution in their home country. Contact our firm today and let us help you put your mind at ease.
Our immigration experts have helped thousands of people obtain green cards in the United States. Whether through marriage, employment, or asylum, U Visas, or through education, we can help you navigate the complexities of the immigration system.
CITIZENSHIP
Applying to become a United States citizen is no easy task. Our immigration experts have helped countless people obtain citizenship through naturalization. We have also helped countless people obtain citizenship after their previous citizenship application has been denied. We know how to navigate the complexities of the immigration system and ensure that your citizenship application is up to par and guarantee that it will be approved.
We understand the fundamental importance of family unity, and we have helped countless non-citizens unite with their immediate and distant relative family members in the United States. There are two types of family-based immigrant visas: (1) Immediate Relative – these visas are based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, such as a spouse, child or parent; and (2) Family Preference – these visas are for specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). U.S. citizens can file an immigrant visa petition for their: • Spouse • Child • Parent • Sibling U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents can only file an immigrant visa petition for their spouse or unmarried child. Contact our experienced immigration attorneys today to go over your options.
REMOVAL
PROCEEDINGS
Once a non-citizen has been placed in removal proceedings, you have one chance to get it right. That means there is zero tolerance for your immigration attorney to make errors. Our lawyers have among the highest success rates in the nation for helping noncitizens avoid deportation after removal proceedings have commenced. In fact, the vast majority of our clients have turned to us after other immigration lawyers made errors in their cases. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution entitles foreign nationals have a right to counsel and due process in immigration court, but you only have one chance to get it right. Every case is unique and engenders its' own defenses against removal. This is exactly why our practice does not rely on templates or recycled motions for different clients. Other firms just copy and paste information into tempaltes, but we start every case from scratch and actually put in the grunt work. Our comprehensive work ethic and compassionate, client-focused appraoch is why we have such a high success rate at getting removal proceedings dismissed.
Attorney Susanne Gad is a global expert in helping victims of crime and trafficking seek relief and lawful residency in the United States. If you have been the victim of a crime or severe trafficking, you may be eligible to remain lawfully in the United States through a U-Visa, T-Visa, or meeting the criteria for residency under the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA"). T Visas are available for victims of severe trafficking including sex-trafficking, involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery who are physically present in the United States and meet other requirements. T visas are granted for a period of 3 years. T visa holders may adjust status to lawful permanent resident. The U Visa allows family members who have been cooperative with law enforcement with the investigation and prosecution of the crime, and who have suffered substantial physical or emotional harm from the crime to remain in the United States and obtain a work permit, and eventually adjust status to lawful permanent resident status after a period of 4-years. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is battered or subject to extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident to self-petition for lawful permanent resident status. If you have been the victim of a crime or severe trafficking, contact us to discuss the paths to lawful residency in the United States.
Civil Rights & Wrongful Convictions
WRONGFUL
CONVICTIONS
POLICE
BRUTALITY
INMATE ABUSE &
NEGLECT
DNA & FORENSIC
TESTING
There is no greater injustice than being accused and convicted of a crime that you did not commit. A false conviction is a disgrace that can have a far-reaching impact on the wrongfully convicted, the victims of the crime, their families and communities, and on our society as a whole. Imprisoning an innocent person leaves the real perpetrator free to commit more crimes. It is estimated that 2%-8% of prisoners are innocent of the crimes for which they are serving time for. Through DNA and other forms of scientific testing, we can help prove a wrongfully convicted person's innocence. We handle difficult matters involving: ✓Citizens who have been prosecuted for heinous crimes they did not commit ✓False arrest and false imprisonment ✓ Coerced confessions and other fruits of police misconduct ✓Recanted testimony of witnesses ✓The false reporting of results of scientific testing ✓Pivotal DNA evidence that has established the innocence of wrongfully convicted people ✓Evidence that was improperly collected or handled If you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted of a crime, you have the right to bring a civil lawsuit for damages. If you have questions that must be answered, seek the advice of an attorney who understands what you have been through and who can provide guidance on how to rectify this grave injustice.
When a person is arrested, detained or incarcerated wrongfully, a ripple effect can occur, causing many problems for the victim and his or her family. The damage can include income loss, job problems, damage to reputation, and family difficulties and disruptions, not to mention psychological and physical injury to the person who was falsely arrested or imprisoned. False arrest and false imprisonment represent serious failures of our law enforcement and criminal justice systems, serious civil rights violations that can form the basis of civil lawsuits. Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and other authorities can be held accountable when they violate an individual's civil rights.
Police officers have a difficult job, but they are paid to serve the public — with taxpayers' money. When an officer breaks the law through the use of excessive force or other abusive or corrupt conduct, he or she can be held accountable through a civil lawsuit. We handle difficult cases that include: ✓Police misconduct that was covered up ✓Police beatings and other violent conduct perpetrated during arrests and while suspects were in custody ✓The inappropriate use of handcuffs, pepper spray, tasers and other equipment during arrests and traffic stops ✓Defenseless individuals who were shot by police while unarmed ✓Jail or prison abuse of prisoners including deliberate indifference to their medical needs Every case is different. Unfortunately, our firm is not able to handle every case involving persons whose civil rights have been violated by law enforcement. However, we provide responsive, results-oriented service to every client we represent.
Many forms of improper treatment of prisoners, whether by commission or omission, are prohibited by federal and state laws. Our firm represents clients in civil rights cases involving: ✓Beatings and assaults by corrections staff and inmates ✓Prisoner rape and sexual assaults ✓Prison suicides ✓Deliberate indifference to inmates' medical needs ✓Refusal to provide substance abuse treatment that results in post-release overdose fatalities If you or a loved one suffered any form of abuse or maltreatment in a federal, state or county prison or jail, you have the right to be heard and seek damages. We are fiercely committed to defending people who are incarcerated and winning every case we take on.
Attorney Sarah Gad is the former Forensics Director of the Law Offices of Kathleen T. Zellner & Associates, which has helped exonerate 23 people of serious crimes using DNA and other forms of scientific testing. As forensic technology continues to evolve, individuals throughout the country are being released from prison due to DNA tests, sometimes after years of incarceration. In many cases, investigation of original trials that led to the wrongful incarceration reveals errors and improprieties in physical evidence collection, laboratory procedures or the reporting of test results. If you or a loved one was falsely convicted of a serious crime, DNA tests may be an essential part of proving innocence when a person is: ✓Falsely accused and/or convicted of murder and rape ✓Convicted of crimes because of false confessions If you are imprisoned and cannot afford a DNA test, we will provide one for free, and once we exonerate you, we will hold the county that wrongfully convicted accountable.
Our Minneapolis criminal defense team fights hard for clients facing drug charges, violent crimes, and serious felonies
Our award-winning criminal defense and immigration lawyers are ready to assist you. Call us today at (612) 512-187o for a free consultation.