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Mr. Beliles defended me in a courts-martial regarding a positive urinalysis showing cocaine usage. When I contacted Mr. Beliles, there was no interrogation, no judgment, no doubt, just support and willingness to help me. As Ben and I weighed the options of going to NJP versus a courts-martial, his confidence and expertise made me feel more confident in moving forward with a courts-martial to prove my innocence. Up until he arrived at my base to represent me, one of the most comforting and impressive things about Ben was that he always answered the phone or got back to me very shortly after when I called. I never felt like "just another client." This was especially true when he flew down from Washington D.C. to represent me in trial in Florida and we were able to meet in person. He was professional, knowledgable, personable, accommodating to my questions, and really just a fun person to work with. When it came time for the trial, this man owned the room. He was courteous to the judge and jury, and vicious when it came to shutting down the prosecution. Honestly I almost felt bad for them...almost. During this trial, I was most worried about taking the stand myself. When I eventually did take the stand to give my testimony and Ben stood up to ask me questions, he made me feel comforted and confident. The confidence he set in me carried over to when the prosecution cross-examined me right after, and I hardly felt nervous. Now, Ben's closing argument...I can't say enough good things about his closing argument. My actual words to him after he spoke to the jury were "I would vote for you for f***ing president after that." He spoke eloquently and was captivating to the jury while he simultaneously shut down every point that the prosecution had to argue with us. Words that I would use to describe Ben's closing argument with regard to the prosecution would be "wiped the floor with," "destroyed," "annihilated," "obliterated," etc. And I must be right because the jury returned with a verdict of Not Guilty. I've never been more relieved in my life, and it's all because of Ben Beliles. I do not possess the vocabulary to describe how highly I recommend Ben to anyone seeking legal counsel. This man will fight for you, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will win for you.

The Army initiated a BOI due to derogatory information in my permanent file. I contacted Best Military Defense due to some advice I received from a superior. After speaking with Ben, I felt extremely comfortable retaining his services instead of attempting to fight the BOI with TDS. TDS is usually swamped with other Soldiers’ issues and I wanted someone to provide undivided attention to my case. Once retaining their services, I always felt that Ben had my best interest at heart. Throughout the process, Ben walked me through what I needed to accomplish. When Ben arrived to my duty station, we went over how the BOI would be conducted and spoke to personnel who would speak on my behalf. Without Ben’s assistance, I don’t believe I would would have been able to continue to serve.

I wasn't certain with some of the strategy, but that's why we hire knowledgeable, respectful professionals to help us. I was glad I had faith. We achieved the desired outcome most beneficial to our individual situation.

Regarding military lawyers, just like in medicine there are good doctors and bad doctors. In my case I got a bad military lawyer. I was facing a Show Cause Board at 17 years of service for fraternization, adultery and disobeying a direct order. The prosecution had a slam dunk case (or so they thought) because I had admitted to everything and was guilty of all the charges. My military lawyer strongly advised me to just resign my commission. When I came back and told him that I wanted to go to the board and fight, he told me, "statements have been made and there was no chance they were going to retain me". I told him that I needed him to do his job and represent me. He told me he would but again that I had no chance. When I asked him what did I need to do to prepare and what should I tell my potential witnesses? He said, "The board just wants to hear about your military record and doesn't care about your other civilian witnesses, he told me don't wear your dress uniform because the board is made up of line officers and they don't care about that". I left that meeting completely distraught. I could tell he hadn't even reviewed my record and he didn't want to take my case. I did not want someone representing me who wasn't going to go 110% despite the odds. I called Cherkasky who called me back in an hour. I explained my case and without hesitation they told me they would take my case and fight! I was assigned "Big Ben". He reviewed my case file and came up with a killer strategy. He took all the stress off me and came up with everything. I started feeling good because I had someone advocating for me. I could finally focus on other things after 2 years of stress because of uncertainty regarding my case. We game planned until the morning of my board. He interviewed over 30 witnesses on my behalf. The day of the show cause board I was scared but I felt confident because Ben was at my side and we had prepared well. Ben set the prosecution aback from his opening statement and had the board members engaged. He presented 17 on the stand witnesses and myself to the show cause board. The Government had nothing to say and did not question one of my witnesses after Ben examined them. He then absolutely killed the closing statement, the prosecutor was left with nothing at the point and he didn't even recommend that I be discharged in his closing statement. The board went to deliberate and had some follow on questions which Ben deftly answered for them. The board came back with a 'Retain Verdict' and my career was saved because of the outstanding representation that I got from Ben. He took on a case that was a slam dunk for the prosecution and completely stuffed it back in the government's face. You can't afford not to have a lawyer that is not going to give a 110% on your behalf facing a military court. Ben gave that and more. He saved my career and retirement despite overwhelming odds. He truly does care about his clients as he still reaches out to check on me from time to time. He just didn't take the check and run off. I can't thank Ben enough for the diligent work he did not behalf of my case. Cherkasky and Ben Belilies truly are your Best Military Defense Lawyers! There is no one better in the business.

Ben represented our son very well. Had we not hired him, I don't feel the outcome would have been the same. Ben is very knowledgeable with the laws, both military and civilian. We would recommend him to anyone. Thanks for what you all did.

Ben Beliles is truly the best of the best! I hired him for counsel when I was the subject of a vindictive inspector general allegation that had the attention of the highest levels my service’s leadership. Always responsive, he was available via phone or email even when traveling in different time zones. In addition to thoroughly understanding the law, he also appreciated the emotional stresses involved. His personal and legal counsel are sound, he has a successful track record and I trust him implicitly.

Ben made sure that all evidence was reviewed before I went to court, and just a day before, found a conversation that was overlooked by both NCIS and the prosecution. Despite the judge allowing the complaining witness to destroy evidence and allowing the prosecution to say I was guilty by exercising my right to not take the stand, he valiantly fought to ensure justice was won and got the acquittal. Without a doubt, I would recommend Ben Beliles to anyone in the military going to court martial.

All too often the relationship between the layman and the lawyer is a paradoxical one, a cultural love-hate dynamic. Society cannot seem to forgo the temptation to jab at the profession and denigrate its presence more than that of the taxman or dentist. However, when oaths are broken, our reputations maligned, and our carefully scripted societal tools of recompense fail, society turns to the profession that it repudiates the most. While there are negative examples of the legal profession, Ben Beliles is not one of them. I cannot say enough good about Ben. It is infrequent in our society today that one person can have such a transformative impact on another’s life as he did for me. Ben is a truly remarkable litigator and human being who invests in his clients at a personal level and imbues his courtroom presence with humanity and empathetic leadership. In a system that dehumanizes and parades the most vulnerable artifices of humanity around for public consumption, judgment, and vicarious enjoyment, Ben is the beacon of hope for his clients before, during, and—most importantly—after the tragic opera that is the legal process. Ben works at the cross roads of the system and his clients, where the law achieves what is right and not only what is possible, where law and morality are in harmony, and when the good cause unites with the impassioned and noble fight. It is in this nexus that the law, society, and its incumbents are held high and we glimpse the ideals of what the legal system should be. While Ben cannot undue the original circumstances of the injustice and tragedy I endured, he could do everything possible to make it right when I could not for myself, and in doing so gave a new hope when hope had become forlorn and provided faith where the was little cause for faith. Every day, of every week, of every month of the rest of my life that I enjoy my freedom and my family, the first thought through my mind will be: Thank you, Ben, for giving me my life back.

Ben is absolutely top notch. He takes the time to understand your case before plotting a way forward. You may be facing some serious charges or career implications so you need to ensure that you have a lawyer with your best interest and that’s Ben to a T. From the first phone consultation, I felt at ease and knew I was in great hands. I had spoken to the Military attorney and while I think that attorney really wanted to do well, he just didn’t have the experience or time. Ben made it a point to make sure that if I had any thoughts or concerns to feel free to reach out to him and we would discuss. Although we were many miles away his attentiveness made the distance a non issue and I felt fairly confident prior to meeting him in person before my board. Once we were face to face he took the time to meet with my witnesses and then we sat together to prepare me for the most important day in my career at that point. During my board I watched as he drove home the truth and made the government look simply foolish for putting me through what I was facing. I walked out of the board as a rejuvenated soul and thankful for Bens hard work. Since the conclusion I have still been able to reach out to him for advice and without hesitation he has tried to assist where he could. Many lawyers talk and tell you how great they are, but when facing a career/life altering experience, you don’t need talk, you need results and Ben delivers Top Notch.