February 2026 – Doyle’s Guide, a global, independent, peer-reviewed legal ranking service, named KBK Attorney Michael J. McCarthy to its 2026 list of Los Angeles’s Criminal Defense Law Rising Stars. This year’s published list recognized only 11 honorees, including Mr. McCarthy, as “future leading lawyers” in the criminal defense space.
Mr. McCarthy is a senior associate and key member of KBK’s white collar defense and government investigations team. He has been recognized by Lawdragon (The Next Generation, 2025) and Best Lawyers (Ones to Watch, 2025), and he is a regular contributor to legal publications including the Daily Journal, Law360 (multiple articles, including one on the prosecutorial impacts of a 9th Circuit ruling, Today’s General Counsel, L.A. Lawyer Magazine, and National Law Review, as well as being cited in another Law360 article.
Outside of the courtroom, Mr. McCarthy is deeply involved in pro bono work, public service, and mentorship. In addition to recently overseeing a pro bono victory in a case involving domestic violence, he periodically serves as Delegate to the Conference of California Bar Associations, previously served on the Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Barristers/Young Attorney’s Section, and has contributed to the Bench Meets Bar Committee and Young Lions of the New York Public Library.
To see the full list of honorees, visit the Doyle’s website.