The 2026 ELA Awards from Expert Law Attorneys have named The Pritchard Firm Best Criminal Defense Firm of 2026, recognizing the Asheville, North Carolina 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 The Pritchard Firm Earned the Recognition
The Pritchard Firm is an Asheville, North Carolina criminal defense firm founded in January 2024 by John Pritchard, a former state and federal prosecutor, serving clients throughout Western North Carolina, including Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, McDowell, Avery, Yancey, Mitchell and Rutherford counties. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University School of Law, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Washington, North Carolina and in Asheville, prosecuting thousands of cases and handling hundreds of jury and bench trials, and later as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of North Carolina. He is Board Certified as a Specialist in Federal and State Criminal Law by the North Carolina State Bar and has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
The firm handles DWI, drug crimes, federal offenses, firearms charges, theft, assault and violent crimes, sex offenses, white collar crime, homicide, expungements, criminal appeals, domestic violence restraining orders and Title IX defense in North Carolina state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Clients work with Mr. Pritchard personally and receive a candid early assessment of their case.
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 The Pritchard Firm has set for its practice and adds to the firm’s reputation in Asheville and throughout North Carolina.