Reviews

Mark O'Brien and his team is soo responsive and knowledgeable!! No matter what our questions were answered. He visited my fiancé more than any other attorney had done. He reassured us and we put all of our trust in Mark and he didn't fail us!!! Thank you sooo much for your help we appreciate you and your staff!!!

Mark and his team are outstanding in every way that matters. Knowledgeable, experienced, industrious, and resourceful.

Best criminal attorney out there! Treat you like family !

Best attorneys in Tampa, they listen and fight for you

Mark O'Brien and his team are what you want on your side if you're ever in need of a great criminal defense attorney. My partner found himself in the hot seat facing very serious federal charges not too long ago. His family and I pulled our resources together and luckily found the O'Brien Hatfield firm to help in our moment of panic and desperation. Actually, lucky doesn't even begin to describe how fortunate we were to have Mark on board for this journey of the unknown. As the all too familiar saying goes, "They never taught us that in school," this was definitely something we knew nothing about. Mark's legal assistant, Jeanette, quickly calmed and relieved our concerns and we knew this was the group we needed defending our guy. Mark met with my partner at the jail to assess his case, confirm his safety, and got him moved to a safer area quickly where he was finally able to call us and let us know he was okay. Mark, Jeanette, and his paralegal, Chelsea, have been in contact via phone and email throughout this whole process, explaining things along the way, and being that constant bit of strength and encouragement not just for us but for my partner. I will always be grateful for that! Mark's demeanor in the courtroom was exemplary. I'd heard of and read about his reputation and courtroom performance, but when it's your loved one's life on the line and you're sitting there with a heavy heart anticipating the outcome, I was blown away at his expertise and the compassionate performance Mark gave in defense of my partner. One last thing: Mark doesn't get paid just to see a client through trial or sentencing; he's still there beyond court to assist in the needs of the client to get reestablished once they've been released. Thank you, Mark, Jeanette, and Chelsea, for your tireless efforts, genuine care and consistent contact with us all through this process. We wouldn't have made it without you!

Remember this name MARK J. O'BRIEN Criminal Defense Attorney. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! OPEN THIS DOOR WE HAVE A WARRANT. This is how my family's and my nightmare began in the wee hours of what should have been the start of another mundane morning. By the end of the day, my home's front door was splintered, approximately fifteen federal marshalls had invaded our home armed with assault weapons, my children were handcuffed, and one of my children was subsequently arrested. He had his first court appearance that same day with only a public defender to represent him which landed him in jail in the suicide hole scared senseless, virtually nude, no eye glasses (he is basically blind without them), no phone calls, no family, and for all intent and purpose without any decent legal representation. It is important to emphasize that my family, including the son that was suddenly ripped from his family and was now incarcerated, had no criminal background history whatsoever. Until that time, it had never occurred to me that I would ever even know a criminal defense attorney let alone have an emergency need to hire one. After all, I now had a loved one whose very life depended on my next move, and fortunately, I chose wisely and retained Mr. Mark J. O'Brien who agreed to represent my son. Never once have I regretted this family decision. Mr O'Brien has proven to be a phenomenal attorney. He is well read, his legal knowledge sound, he is eloquent in his presentation exhibiting exemplary lawyering skills while maintaining just the right balance of professionalism and personability. Last, but by no means least, Mr. O'Brien's leadership skills are clearly exhibited by the staff he has chosen to represent him in his office. They are sharp, well informed, and exceptionally kind (thank you Jeanette, Chelsea, and Mr. "G"). I sincerly hope you never get that KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK on your door, but if you do, I hope you remember there is no substitute for the best. You don't want you or yours to go into court without him-Thank you Mark O'Brien.

When my brother first got arrested, my family and I had no idea where to turn. My brother was unable to reach us, and we didn’t know how to reach him in jail. We felt so helpless and were so worried. I immediately began calling several law firms in the Tampa Bay area but knew the moment that I spoke with Mark’s Legal Assistant, Jeanette, that I had found the right place. First, Jeanette assured me that Mark would check on my brother ASAP, and that’s exactly what Mark did. He immediately went to the jail and made sure that my brother was safe. We had not even hired Mark at this point. Yet, he took time out of his hectic day to make sure that my brother was OK. Additionally, my brother’s case was complicated. However Mark, Jeanette, and Mark’s paralegal, Chelsea, handled it like top-notch professionals. My family and I were always well-informed, could reach out at any time, and most importantly, knew that my brother was in good hands. Mark and team are not only amazing at what they do but are kind and compassionate as well. Finally, I’m certain that my brother wouldn’t have fared as well as he did with a different legal team. I was astounded by Mark’s performance in court. However, Mark and team don’t disappear after sentencing; they continue to be there for you and your loved one. Words will never be able to sufficiently express my gratitude to Mark, Jeanette, and Chelsea; they’ve all earned a special place in my heart.

I am 2011 old case I had Hatfield as my lawyer I was only 18 or 19 at the time she made it seem like I was going to be able to get an Expungement after I did a plea deal of taking probation but she Failed to tell my mother or me that one of the charges is not able to be expunged so Im stuck with the charges on my record. we paid $5300 if I could give a negative I would

Waste of time, effort, money. They are quick to make promises and take your money. No phone calls back. Never once a meeting or consultation with a real lawyer! Contact the Florida Bar for more information. I will be placing complaints there too. Florida and many Attorney’s make promises and take money and no performance in exchange. Brian Hatfield never once met with me on the phone or in person. I called and called and the assistant would not return calls. I asked for copies of proof of work and received a few emails. I paid $5,000. That is a lot of money to send a couple emails to the government. In the end I wasted a lot of money that I work hard for. I like a refund! How about that, partial? There was not anything that could be done and was false promises on your end Mr. Hatfield.

February 2014 I retained attorney Mark J O’Brien for a preindictment investigation. Attorney O’Brien used coercion trickery promises and deceit when he intentionally knowingly hoodwinked me into an interview with the government. Attorney O’Brien helped the AUSA Jay Hoffer manufacture a false confession that was used to convict me at trail. In April 2014 O’Brien advised me that AUSA Jay Hoffer wanted to meet with me for a Proffer Session and that he secured a proffer agreement and that my constitutional rights were protected by the federal rule of evidence 410 criminal procedure 11f which meant that my statements are not admissible at trail. Approx one year after the proffer session I learned from the government that the interview was a voluntary interview not a proffer session he never secured a proffer agreement therefore my statements were not protected by the federal rule evidence 410 criminal procedure 11f. Attorney O’Brien fabricated the proffer session he made the whole thing up, I told him I wouldn’t speak with the government unless I had immunity so O’Brien orchestrated this scheme to get me into an interview with the government so FBI agent Richard Higgins could manufacture a false confession. O’Brien did not ask the government for the proffer agreement he did not take contemporaneous notes or record the interview, he did not read, adopt or sign the FBI 302 form, he basically allowed FBI Higgins to write whatever he wanted to, it didn’t matter what I said in the interview Higgins was leaving with the confession. The AUSA Jay Hoffer used the tainted confession throughout the entire trail, FBI Higgins testified four times in the governments case in chief, four times in his closing arguments. The government was unable to produce any evidence that I had knowledge of the fraud. The government star witness Brendan Bolger (who received 2 years for $50,000,000.00 bank fraud yup you read that correctly) testified “he never disclosed the fraud to me” “we never had that conversation”. Not one witness testified that I had knowledge of the fraud at the time the fraud happened, not even the mortgage broker. The only evidence the government was able to produce that I had knowledge of the fraud at the time the loans were made was the manufactured confession from the April 2014 interview. Attoreny O’Brien stated on the record in his 2018 Response Affidavit 2255 that the AUSA Jay Hoffer authorized him that the April 2014 interview was a proffer session and he authorized him to move forward without a proffer agreement. AUSA Jay Hoffer responded to O’Brien Affidavit stating “he never authorized O’Brien that the April 2014 interview was a proffer session” and that the April 2014 interview was voluntary interview not a proffer session therefore the government could use the statements from the April 2014 interview. O’Brien gave the government 1. involuntary interview which led to 2.involuntary confession which led to a 3. false witness (FBI Higgins) which led to my conviction. Because of O’Briens ineffectiveness malfeasance gross negligence I was convicted of a crime I had no knowledge of nor was I a willing participant. I received a 57 month sentence 60 months probation and $950,000.00 restitution for being a referring real estate agent. There is no explanation for O’Briens actions other than he set me up. O’Brien doesn’t know the difference between a voluntary interview v. proffer session and he doesn’t know how to conduct a proffer session. O’Brien stated that “it’s his practice not to secure proffer agreements because he doesn’t like to take away his clients rights”, well that’s exactly what he did to me, he took away my right to a fair trail. Do not put your life in this mans hands, he is a wreck less rogue attorney, he didn’t have my best interest at heart. This is my personal experience and dealing with attorney O’Brien, he’s a night school lawyer, legal trickster who secretly conspired with AUSA Hoffer to help him manufacture the evidence (confession) in order to convict me. Without the confession there was no charges filed.

Attorney Frank Papa and Legal Assistant Cristina Hernandez are great. After successfully handling my case years ago, I needed copies of documents I had misplaced. They responded immediately, emailed what I needed and were very helpful. So reassuring to have an attorney with staff that cares and follows up quickly. Thank you both!