Raphael W. Goldman
Raphael Goldman joined ACH in 2007. After graduating in 2003 from the University of Michigan with both a J.D. and a Masters of Public Policy—having received an Order of the Coif and served as an Associate Editor on the Michigan Law Review—Raphe clerked for United States District Court Judge William W Schwarzer, and then worked for the law firm of Topel & Goodman in San Francisco.
Raphe’s practice focuses on legal advocacy. He specializes in crafting and arguing successful legal motions. Those motions have earned outright dismissals of cases at every level, including medical marijuana, political corruption and sexual assault cases. Often, Raphe’s legal strategy serves to narrow or reduce the prosecution’s case against ACH’s clients, thereby encouraging favorable settlements or improving the prospects for a good result at trial or sentencing. Raphe’s keen intelligence and sharp analytical skills make him an invaluable member of ACH’s team in major white collar cases, and he handles a wide range of felony and misdemeanor cases in the state and federal trial courts.
Cris Arguedas knows that “Raphe’s intelligence and analytical ability have been crucial to many of our biggest wins.”
Raphe also has an active and successful appellate practice; he litigates direct appeals and collateral challenges to convictions (such as writs of habeas corpus) in all levels of the federal and state court systems. While working with Judge Schwarzer—who sat on appellate panels in federal courts around the country—Raphe learned by experience the types of arguments judges find convincing, and he puts that knowledge to use in advocating on behalf of his clients.
Raphe’s talents are widely recognized, and he has been honored by Super Lawyers magazine as a 2009, 2010 and 2011 Northern California Rising Star.