The 2026 ELA Awards from Expert Law Attorneys have named Patel Law, PC Best Criminal Defense Firm of 2026, recognizing the Urbana, Illinois firm for its strong defense of people facing criminal charges.
About the 2026 ELA Awards
Presented each year by Expert Law Attorneys, the ELA Awards honor law firms that set a high standard for how clients are treated, from the first phone call to the final result. Recipients are recognized for experience in their field, client service, ethical practice, and involvement in their communities.
Why Patel Law, PC Earned the Recognition
Patel Law, PC is a personal injury and criminal defense firm serving central Illinois, with its main office in Urbana and additional offices in Decatur, Danville, Springfield, Bloomington and Chicago. Founding attorney Baku N. Patel has nearly 30 years of trial experience, beginning as a United States Navy JAG Corps officer serving as both prosecutor and defense attorney. He later served as a federal prosecutor with the Federal Trade Commission, a senior prosecutor in Champaign and Vermilion Counties and Chief Public Defender of Vermilion County, where he was certified as lead defense counsel in death penalty cases and selected for the Capital Litigation Trial Bar.
He has taken more than 150 trials to verdict and has been recognized among The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Personal injury results include a $5 million wrongful death recovery in a semi truck accident and $3.05 million for a car T-boned by a semi truck, and criminal defense outcomes include not guilty verdicts and dismissed charges. The firm represents clients in Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Decatur and Mattoon in matters from DUI to homicide, as well as truck and car accidents, medical malpractice and wrongful death.
What the Award Means for Clients
When you are dealing with a criminal charge, choosing the right firm matters. The 2026 ELA Award reflects the standard Patel Law, PC has set for its practice and adds to the firm’s reputation in Urbana and throughout Illinois.