William R. Gallagher - Cincinnati, OH
Attorney at Arenstein & Gallagher
Criminal Law Lawyers in Cincinnati, OH
2115 Luray Ave Cincinnati, OH 45206
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
39
Years
Experience
Cincinnati Criminal Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law
Attorney Information
Overview
William Gallagher is a 1987 graduate with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago. After seven successful years as a trial attorney in the Lake and Cook Country Public Defender Offices in Illinois, he moved to Cincinnati in 1994. Since joining the Law Offices of Hal Arenstein, Mr. Gallagher has confined his practice to criminal cases in both state and federal courts.
In addition to the many jury trial victories, Mr. Gallagher has tried 13 Capital Murder trials in three different states with none of his clients receiving the death penalty. Currently, Mr. Gallagher is one of only a few local lawyers in private practice handling federal Habeas Corpus litigation.
Mr. Gallagher is a past president of the Greater Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the current Chair of the CLE Institute for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Gallagher is a frequent presenter on a variety of topics relating to criminal defense. His presentations have included topics such as "Opening Statements", "Evidentiary Issues in Drug Cases", "Professionalism", "Theories and Themes in Criminal Cases" and "The Use of Electronic and Digital Evidence in Criminal Trials."
In addition to his guest lecturing, Mr. Gallagher is a past adjunct faculty member at DePaul University Law School and is currently on the Adjunct faculty at the University of Cincinnati Law School. He has taught in the areas of Ethics, Trial Advocacy, and Forensic Sciences.
Mr. Gallagher is a founding member of the Ohio Innocence Project located at the University of Cincinnati Law School. He serves on its Advisory Board.
In 2011, Mr. Gallagher was awarded the Robert Heeney Memorial Award by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It is their most prestigious award given to the attorney who provides outstanding contributions to the profession.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- NACDL, Champion of Justice Award, 2002
- Robert Heeney Memorial Award, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Other Sources of Feedback About William R. Gallagher
Included on the 2026Ohio Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago,
Illinois, 1987
J.D.
Honors: cum laude
-
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago,
Illinois, 1987
-
Non Legal Education
-
Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago,
Illinois
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Accounting
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Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago,
Illinois
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Past Positions
- Cook County Public Defender, Trial Attorney, 1989 - 1994
- Lake County Public Defender, Trial Attorney, 1987 - 1989
Classes and Seminars
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Opening Statements
-
“Evidentiary Issues in Drug Cases
-
Professionalism
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Theories and Themes in Criminal Cases
-
The Use of Electronic and Digital Evidence in Criminal Trials
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Past Adjunct Faculty Member at DePaul University Law School
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Adjunct faculty at the University of Cincinnati Law School
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Trial Advocacy, University of Cincinnati Law School, 2005 - 2006
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Death Penalty, 2002 - Present
- Forensic Services, 2002
Representative Cases
-
State v. Leach
- Citation: 2004 Ohio 2147
- Court: Ohio Sup. Ct.
- Year: 2004
-
Coleman v. Ohio
- Citation: 2004 U.S. App.
- Court: 6th Circuit
- Year: 2004
Ancillary Businesses
Member of Ohio Sentencing Commission Since 2003
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1987
- Ohio, 1995
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1994
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2000
Other Affiliations
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) (Board Member)
- Greater Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA), 2001 - 2002 (Past President)
- CLE Institute for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. (Current Chair)
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Past Member, Board of Directors)
Contact
2115 Luray Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45206
Fax: 513-651-5688
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.arensteinlaw.com
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