Kaplan and Kaplan Review – Vermont Criminal Defense, DUI, Personal Injury & Business Litigation Attorneys

Introduction

Kaplan and Kaplan, found online at KaplanLawVT.com, is a long-established Burlington, Vermont law firm concentrating on criminal defense, DUI defense, federal criminal cases, white-collar and financial crimes, personal injury, and business litigation. The firm's history dates to 1948, when World War II veteran and Harvard Law School graduate Jacob Kaplan opened his first law office in Burlington.

Today, Kaplan and Kaplan presents itself primarily as a litigation-focused law firm. Rather than concentrating on routine transactional work, its attorneys regularly represent individuals and businesses involved in disputes where criminal charges, financial interests, physical injuries, reputational concerns, or business assets may be at stake.

Its current major practice areas include Vermont criminal defense, federal criminal defense, DUI defense, white-collar crime, financial crimes and embezzlement, drug offenses, assault and domestic violence, sex crimes, reckless driving, personal injury, and commercial litigation.

The firm is based in downtown Burlington and says it represents clients throughout Vermont and, in appropriate cases, elsewhere in the Northeast. Its attorneys are admitted in multiple jurisdictions, including Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

This Kaplan and Kaplan review examines the firm's services, its areas of specialization, and what types of clients may find KaplanLawVT particularly relevant.

What Is Kaplan and Kaplan?

Kaplan and Kaplan is fundamentally a Vermont trial and litigation firm.

Its principal services can be divided into three broad categories:

• Criminal and DUI defense
• Personal injury representation
• Business and commercial litigation

Within criminal defense, however, the firm handles a much wider range of specialized matters, including federal prosecutions, white-collar offenses, fraud and embezzlement, drug crimes, domestic assault, aggravated and simple assault, sex offenses, driving crimes, and other serious allegations.

This combination distinguishes Kaplan and Kaplan from both general-practice firms and firms devoted exclusively to one niche.

A business owner involved in a commercial dispute, for example, may use the firm for litigation, while an individual accused of a federal financial crime may turn to the same firm for criminal defense.

Vermont Criminal Defense

Criminal defense is arguably the most prominent part of Kaplan and Kaplan's practice.

The firm has decades of combined experience defending people accused of crimes in Vermont state courts. It emphasizes educating clients about their constitutional rights and explaining the criminal process before developing a defense strategy.

Its state criminal practice includes serious allegations such as aggravated assault, domestic violence, sex offenses, drug crimes, computer crimes, fatal driving offenses, fraud, and embezzlement.

Representation is not necessarily limited to the initial trial. Kaplan and Kaplan states that its lawyers also have considerable experience with criminal appeals and post-conviction issues.

That makes the practice relevant both to people who have recently been arrested and defendants whose cases have already progressed substantially through the Vermont court system.

Criminal Investigations and Police Contact

An interesting aspect of Kaplan and Kaplan's criminal defense philosophy is its emphasis on getting involved before a suspect makes potentially damaging statements.

The firm's criminal defense materials strongly advise people contacted by law enforcement regarding a possible crime to consult an attorney before deciding whether to speak with investigators.

From a service perspective, this means Kaplan and Kaplan is not merely a courtroom defense firm.

Its attorneys may become involved during the investigative stage, advise clients about interactions with law enforcement, evaluate constitutional issues, and attempt to prevent mistakes that could later become evidence for the prosecution.

Vermont DUI Defense

DUI defense is another core Kaplan and Kaplan service.

The firm's homepage gives Vermont DUI Defense its own major practice category and describes its objective as reducing or eliminating the consequences associated with DUI charges.

DUI cases can involve much more than determining whether someone consumed alcohol before driving. Depending on the circumstances, a defense attorney may need to examine the legality of the traffic stop, observations made by officers, testing procedures, statements made by the driver, and other evidence.

The consequences of a DUI can also extend beyond criminal punishment to driving privileges, employment, insurance expenses, and a person's record.

Kaplan and Kaplan's wider criminal defense and trial experience therefore complements its dedicated DUI practice.

Federal Criminal Defense

One of Kaplan and Kaplan's most important differentiators is its federal criminal defense practice.

Federal prosecutions can operate very differently from ordinary state criminal cases. The firm specifically emphasizes the importance of understanding federal sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and federal criminal procedure.

Kaplan and Kaplan says its federal defense lawyers work closely with clients to explain the charges, legal options, and potential consequences so defendants can make informed decisions.

This capability is significant because not every local criminal defense firm routinely handles federal cases.

Attorney Stephanie Greenlees, for example, has represented federal defendants in matters involving drugs, firearms, and immigration-related offenses in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont.

White-Collar Criminal Defense

White-collar crime is another specialized area of Kaplan and Kaplan's criminal practice.

The firm has handled allegations involving:

• Fraud
• Embezzlement
• Money laundering
• Bank fraud
• Corporate fraud

White-collar cases can be particularly complicated because investigators may spend months or years gathering financial records and other evidence before charges are filed.

For that reason, Kaplan and Kaplan stresses the importance of contacting counsel early when someone suspects they are under investigation, rather than waiting until criminal charges have formally been filed.

For executives, employees, business owners, financial professionals, or others facing fraud-related investigations, this is one of the firm's most specialized services.

Embezzlement Defense

Kaplan and Kaplan maintains especially detailed resources regarding embezzlement cases.

The firm says embezzlement is among the financial crimes it sees most frequently and that its clients have included employees, bookkeepers, treasurers, caregivers, and others entrusted with money or property.

Its approach depends heavily on the evidence.

Where responsibility is disputed, the attorneys examine the government's evidence. Where admissions have already been made, the strategy may instead involve scrutinizing the amount of the alleged financial loss, understanding the client's personal circumstances, addressing restitution, and attempting to obtain the most favorable available resolution.

This detailed approach makes financial crime defense one of Kaplan and Kaplan's more distinctive practice areas.

Bank Fraud and Identity-Related Financial Crimes

The firm also handles bank fraud and identity-related financial cases.

Its experience ranges from unauthorized use of another person's credit or debit card to significantly more complicated allegations involving large conspiracies, stolen financial information, and fraudulent loan applications.

Complex bank-fraud cases can require understanding banking procedures, financial documentation, asset valuations, credit systems, and accounting evidence.

Kaplan and Kaplan notes that some of these cases require outside professionals such as accountants or appraisers, demonstrating how financial crime litigation can extend well beyond ordinary criminal evidence.

Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud is another category within the firm's financial crime practice.

According to Kaplan and Kaplan, these cases may originate with property losses or theft claims investigated by insurance companies and later referred to police.

Such cases can become complicated because the insurer may have already conducted an extensive investigation before criminal authorities become involved.

The firm evaluates the circumstances, prior statements, and evidence before determining the appropriate defense strategy.

Drug Possession and Drug Sales

Kaplan and Kaplan has decades of experience defending drug possession and drug distribution cases in both state and federal courts.

Its lawyers distinguish between smaller state prosecutions and complex federal investigations that may involve numerous defendants accused of participating in a conspiracy.

One particularly important aspect of the firm's drug defense practice is search-and-seizure litigation.

Kaplan and Kaplan describes experience challenging vehicle searches following traffic stops, including cases where officers allegedly expanded an ordinary traffic stop into a drug investigation without sufficient justification or obtained consent through coercive circumstances.

For drug defendants, constitutional challenges to the way evidence was discovered can sometimes become central to the entire case.

Assault Defense

Kaplan and Kaplan represents people charged with both simple assault and aggravated assault.

The firm categorizes assault matters according to factors such as the seriousness of the alleged injury and the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

In more serious cases involving weapons or substantial injuries, Kaplan and Kaplan says it conducts detailed factual investigations, reviews recorded and written witness statements, and attempts to obtain relevant video evidence quickly.

The firm points out that evidence such as surveillance footage may disappear if it is not preserved promptly.

For less serious allegations involving defendants without criminal records, the strategy may focus more heavily on alternative justice programs designed to preserve a clean criminal record.

This case-specific approach is a notable feature of the firm's criminal practice.

Domestic Assault Defense

Domestic assault is another dedicated practice area.

These cases can be complicated because they frequently arise from emotionally charged relationships in which the incident cannot necessarily be understood in isolation.

Kaplan and Kaplan says its objective includes presenting prosecutors and courts with the broader context of the relationship so that allegations can be evaluated as part of the complete situation.

Domestic violence accusations can carry consequences beyond the immediate criminal charge, making experienced defense representation particularly important.

Sex Crime Defense

Kaplan and Kaplan also represents defendants accused of sexual offenses.

The firm describes sex crime cases as among the most challenging matters it handles and emphasizes the need for sensitivity when developing and executing a defense strategy.

Such accusations can create major reputational, professional, family, and criminal consequences even before a case reaches trial.

The firm's trial-oriented criminal defense experience is therefore particularly relevant in this category.

Reckless Driving and Excessive Speed

Kaplan and Kaplan represents drivers charged with reckless driving and excessive-speed offenses.

According to the firm, its attorneys have developed strategies intended, where circumstances permit, to resolve some reckless-driving cases through non-criminal outcomes and help clients avoid a criminal record.

This service may be particularly relevant because some drivers initially assume that a serious speeding allegation is merely an ordinary traffic ticket when it can actually create criminal consequences.

Personal Injury Representation

Criminal defense is not Kaplan and Kaplan's only major practice.

The firm also represents personal injury victims and says its attorneys bring five decades of combined legal experience to injury cases.

Its personal injury practice includes:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Slip-and-fall and premises liability
• Dog bites
• Serious and catastrophic injuries

Attorney Stephanie Greenlees' practice expands this list further to include wrongful death, products liability, invasion of privacy, civil rights, and defamation matters.

Car Accident Claims

Car accidents are among the firm's everyday personal injury cases.

Kaplan and Kaplan's role can include investigating the circumstances of the collision, evaluating liability, documenting injuries, and pursuing compensation from the responsible party or insurer.

The firm emphasizes that an injury can create both financial and emotional costs, including medical expenses and rehabilitation needs.

Its stated approach is to examine the facts closely and explore available options in an effort to maximize the client's recovery.

Truck and Motorcycle Accidents

Kaplan and Kaplan also represents people injured in truck and motorcycle collisions.

Both categories can involve significant injuries, although commercial truck accidents may introduce additional questions concerning businesses, commercial insurance, and other potentially responsible parties.

These cases fall within the firm's broader trial-focused approach to personal injury litigation.

Slip-and-Fall and Premises Liability

People injured because of allegedly unsafe property conditions can also contact Kaplan and Kaplan.

The firm specifically identifies slip-and-fall and premises liability cases as part of its personal injury practice.

Attorney Stephanie Greenlees also represents clients in slip-and-trip and other premises liability matters.

These cases may require evidence concerning the property condition, how long a hazard existed, notice, photographs, witnesses, surveillance footage, and the injuries that resulted.

Wrongful Death and Product Liability

Stephanie Greenlees' civil practice includes wrongful death and product liability cases, broadening Kaplan and Kaplan's injury services beyond ordinary accidents.

Wrongful death litigation involves pursuing legal remedies after a fatal incident allegedly caused by another party's wrongful conduct.

Product liability, meanwhile, can involve allegations that an unsafe or defective product caused an injury.

Both types of cases can require substantial investigation and litigation experience.

Civil Rights, Privacy and Defamation

A less conventional feature of Kaplan and Kaplan is its experience with civil rights, invasion of privacy, and defamation cases.

These areas are specifically identified within Stephanie Greenlees' civil litigation practice.

That gives the firm a broader civil litigation capability than its main criminal defense and personal injury categories might initially suggest.

Business Litigation and Business Law

Business litigation is another important Kaplan and Kaplan service.

The firm represents businesses in disputes involving:

• Business torts
• Commercial contracts
• Construction
• Employment
• Fiduciary claims
• Franchise disputes
• Information technology
• Insurance coverage
• Privacy
• RICO
• Trade secrets
• Unfair competition

Its experience ranges from smaller business disagreements to complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional litigation.

This is important when evaluating Kaplan and Kaplan because it demonstrates that the firm is not simply a criminal defense office with a small personal injury department. It has meaningful commercial litigation capabilities as well.

Mark A. Kaplan, Robert J. Kaplan and Stephanie Greenlees

The firm's current attorney roster includes Mark A. Kaplan, Robert J. Kaplan, and Stephanie Greenlees.

Robert Kaplan graduated cum laude from Albany Law School in 1992 and has spent more than three decades developing his trial practice. His experience ranges from criminal cases involving charges from DUI through murder to major personal injury claims and commercial disputes.

He is admitted in multiple state and federal jurisdictions, including Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, the District of Columbia, federal district courts, and federal appellate courts.

Stephanie Greenlees joined Kaplan and Kaplan in 2017. Her practice focuses primarily on civil litigation and personal injury, while she also handles federal criminal defense. She has represented federal defendants in drug, firearm, and immigration-related prosecutions.

This mix of criminal, civil, federal, personal injury, and commercial litigation experience gives Kaplan and Kaplan considerable breadth for a relatively focused litigation firm.

A Law Firm With Roots Dating to 1948

Longevity is one of Kaplan and Kaplan's strongest differentiators.

The practice traces its origins to Jacob Kaplan's Burlington law office established in 1948. The firm's stated philosophy has historically centered on representing individuals against powerful institutions, including governments, banks, insurers, and large businesses.

That philosophy continues to appear across its modern practice areas.

A criminal defendant faces the government. An accident victim may face an insurance company. A small business may face a larger commercial organization.

Kaplan and Kaplan positions its litigation practice around representing clients in precisely these kinds of imbalanced disputes.

Geographic Coverage

Kaplan and Kaplan is headquartered at 95 St. Paul Street, Suite 405, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

The firm says it serves clients throughout Vermont and sometimes works elsewhere in the Northeast. Its attorneys also maintain admissions in several states and federal jurisdictions.

This makes the practice particularly relevant for people seeking a Burlington or Vermont litigation attorney while also providing capabilities for selected matters extending beyond the state.

Strengths of Kaplan and Kaplan

One of Kaplan and Kaplan's primary strengths is its litigation experience across both criminal and civil cases.

Criminal defense is particularly comprehensive, extending from Vermont DUI and relatively common state charges to murder allegations, federal prosecutions, complex drug conspiracies, financial crimes, white-collar investigations, fraud, embezzlement, and appeals.

Its personal injury practice adds car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, premises liability, dog bite, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product liability representation.

Business litigation adds yet another layer, particularly for contract, construction, employment, franchise, trade-secret, insurance, and unfair-competition disputes.

The firm's history dating to 1948 and multigenerational identity are additional distinguishing characteristics.

Potential Limitations

Kaplan and Kaplan is a litigation-oriented practice rather than a full-service firm attempting to cover every field of law.

Its current main practice areas do not prominently include services such as divorce and family law, immigration, routine estate planning, patent prosecution, or residential real estate closings.

Clients seeking those types of services would likely need a different attorney.

Geographically, the firm's strongest focus is Vermont, although its attorneys have broader admissions and the firm handles selected matters elsewhere in the Northeast.

For clients seeking criminal defense, personal injury representation, or commercial litigation in Vermont, however, this specialization is more likely to be an advantage than a disadvantage.

Who Should Consider Kaplan and Kaplan?

Kaplan and Kaplan may be particularly relevant for someone facing a Vermont criminal charge, DUI prosecution, federal criminal investigation, white-collar investigation, fraud or embezzlement accusation, drug prosecution, assault case, sex crime allegation, or serious driving offense.

It may also be worth considering for people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, slip-and-fall, dog bite, or other accidents, as well as families pursuing wrongful death claims.

Business owners and companies involved in contract disputes, construction litigation, fiduciary claims, employment disputes, franchise disagreements, insurance coverage matters, trade-secret litigation, or unfair-competition claims may also find the firm's commercial litigation experience relevant.

Final Verdict

Kaplan and Kaplan is a long-established Burlington, Vermont litigation firm with particularly strong capabilities in criminal defense, DUI defense, federal criminal cases, white-collar and financial crimes, personal injury, and business litigation. The practice traces its history to Jacob Kaplan's original Burlington office established in 1948.

Criminal defense is arguably the firm's most distinctive service. Kaplan and Kaplan represents defendants in state and federal court and handles matters ranging from DUI and reckless driving to drug prosecutions, assault, domestic violence, sex offenses, fraud, embezzlement, white-collar investigations, and other serious crimes. It also has experience with appeals and post-conviction proceedings.

Its personal injury practice provides another substantial service for Vermont residents. The firm handles car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, premises liability, dog bite, serious injury, wrongful death, and other civil claims, with an emphasis on understanding both the financial and personal impact of an accident.

Kaplan and Kaplan also stands out from many criminal-defense-focused firms because of its substantial business litigation practice, which encompasses commercial contracts, construction, employment, fiduciary disputes, franchises, insurance coverage, technology, privacy, RICO, trade secrets, and unfair competition.

Overall, someone searching for a Vermont criminal defense lawyer, Burlington DUI attorney, Vermont federal criminal defense attorney, white-collar crime lawyer, embezzlement defense attorney, Vermont personal injury lawyer, car accident attorney, or Vermont business litigation lawyer may find Kaplan and Kaplan particularly relevant because of its decades of trial experience, broad litigation capabilities, and long-standing presence in the Vermont legal community.