David Zeltner Chesnoff (born May 13, 1955) is an American

criminal defense In the field of criminal law, there are a variety of conditions that will tend to negate elements of a crime (particularly the ''intent'' element), known as defenses. The label may be apt in jurisdictions where the ''accused'' may be assigned some ...

attorney based in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

. Chesnoff was a law partner of

Oscar Goodman Oscar Baylin Goodman (born July 26, 1939) is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat-turned- independent, Goodman was the mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1999 to 2011. His wife, Carolyn Goodman, succeeded him as mayor in 2011. Early ...

, who served three terms as

Mayor of Las Vegas The following is a list of people who have served as mayors of Las Vegas. Starting with Mr. Peter Buol the first mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1911 to 1913. List of mayors of Las Vegas See also * Las Vegas history and timeline References ...

. Chesnoff has represented celebrities as well as crime figures. Goodman and Chesnoff met in 1985 and formed the law firm Goodman & Chesnoff. Based in Las Vegas, the duo appeared in courtrooms across the United States for their clients. Goodman was elected Mayor of Las Vegas and remained a partner until 2001. After Goodman went into politics, the firm changed its name to Chesnoff & Schonfeld, and Richard A. Schonfeld became a named partner. David Chesnoff, now runs the Las Vegas firm, Chesnoff & Schonfeld with partner Richard A. Schonfeld. Robert Z. DeMarco is also an associate attorney with the law firm. Chesnoff and Schonfeld is listed as one of the country's top criminal law firms by ''The National Directory of Criminal Lawyers''. Chesnoff has been featured on " 48 Hours," "

Nancy Grace Nancy Ann Grace (born October 23, 1959) is an American legal pundit, commentator and television journalist. She hosted ''Nancy Grace (TV program), Nancy Grace'', a nightly celebrity news and current affairs (news format), current affairs show ...

," "ABC's Nightly News," "

Charlie Rose Charles Peete Rose Jr. (born January 5, 1942) is an American journalist and talk show host. From 1991 to 2017, he was the host and executive producer of the talk show ''Charlie Rose (talk show), Charlie Rose'' on PBS and Bloomberg L.P., Bloombe ...

Show," A&E's "American Justice" and City Confidential. The firm carries the highest legal ability rating in

Martindale-Hubbell Martindale-Hubbell is an information services company to the legal profession that was founded in 1868. The company publishes the ''Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory'', which provides background information on lawyers and law firms in the United S ...

Awards / Honors

AFHU Scopus Award

Chesnoff was recognized with the 2024 American Friends of the Hebrew University Scopus Award on January 20, 2024.

National Security Advisor Council

Chesnoff was one of twenty-two members appointed by President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Noem to The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) on June 9, 2025.

Notable clients

Musicians, entertainers, sports stars and actors

Jeff Ross Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer. Nicknamed the "Roastmaster General" for his insult comedy, his multiple appearances at celebrity Roast (comedy), roasts held by the ...

Philthy Rich Phillip Anthony Beasley (born January 30, 1983), known professionally as Philthy Rich is an American rapper. from Oakland, California. He began his musical career in 2004 with extensive work with local rappers on various projects. He enlisted ra ...

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (; born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for and Captain (association football), captains both Saudi Pr ...

Henry Ruggs III Henry James Ruggs III (born January 24, 1999) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He played college football for the Alabama Crims ...

Vince Neil Vincent Neil Wharton (born February 8, 1961) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist of heavy metal music, heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, which he fronted from their 1981 formation until his departure in 1992. Neil reunited with the ...

Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

's family,

Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (; ; born November 11, 1974) is an American actor and film producer. Known for Leonardo DiCaprio filmography, his work in biographical and period films, he is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received ...

David Copperfield ''David Copperfield''Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work; see is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from infancy to matur ...

Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal ( ; born March 6, 1972), commonly known as Shaq ( ), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program ''Inside the NBA''. He is a and Center (basketball), center ...

Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi ( ; born April 29, 1970) is an American former professional tennis player. He was ranked as the List of ATP number 1 ranked singles players, world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 101 ...

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

Mike Tyson Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson i ...

Martha Stewart Martha Helen Stewart (, ; born August 3, 1941) is an American retail business woman, writer, and television personality. As the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, focusing on home and hospitality, she gained success through a variety ...

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. Known for his work in both the screen and music industries, his accolades include an Academy Award, a Grammy Award ...

Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Dee Lohan ( ; born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, singer, producer, and businesswoman. Born in New York City and raised on Long Island, Lohan was signed to Ford Models at age three. She appeared as a regular on the soap opera ' ...

Scott Weiland Scott Richard Weiland (, ; né Kline; October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015) was an American singer and songwriter. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Stone Temple Pilots from 1989 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2013, r ...

of the

Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots, commonly abbreviated as STP, is an American Rock music, rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1989. Originally consisting of lead vocalist Scott Weiland, guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo, and drummer :Songs ...

Nate Dogg Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American rapper and singer. He gained recognition for providing guest vocals on several hit rap songs between 1992 and 2007, earning him the ...

Suge Knight Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. ( ; born April 19, 1965) is an American former record executive, former National Football League, NFL player, and convicted felon, who is the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Knight was a central f ...

Paris Hilton Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American media personality, businesswoman, and socialite. Hilton was born in New York City and raised there partially; shuttling between Los Angeles and New York City; she is a great-grandda ...

Alistair Overeem Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...

Charles Oakley Charles Oakley (born December 18, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. Oakley is best known for playing 10 of his 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks. As a power forward, he consisten ...

Jarret Stoll Jarret Lee Stoll (born June 24, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. Stoll is a two-time Stanle ...

, and

Chumlee Austin Lee Russell (born September 8, 1982), better known by his stage name Chumlee, is an American businessman and reality television personality, best known for his appearances on the History Channel television show ''Pawn Stars'', which depi ...

Poker stars

Phil Ivey Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. (born February 1, 1977) is an American professional poker player who has won eleven World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour title, and appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables. Ivey is regarded by num ...

Doyle Brunson Doyle Frank Brunson (August 10, 1933 – May 14, 2023) was an American poker player who played professionally for over 60 years. He was a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) List of World Series of Poker Main Event champions, Main Event champi ...

Johnny Chan Johnny Chan (;He has another Chinese name "Chen Qiangni" () which is also commonly used by Chinese-language media. It is a transliteration of "Johnny Chan" (as "Chen" for "Chan", "Qiangni" for "Johnny") rather than his Chinese birth name. (b ...

, Shawn Sheikhan, David "Chip" Reese, "The Mouth" Matusow, Kenna James, Wei Seng "Paul" Phua, and

Dan Bilzerian Daniel Brandon Bilzerian (born December 7, 1980) is an American businessman and influencer. He gained notability for his extravagant lifestyle and photo ops with scantily dressed female models on social media. The eldest son of businessman Pa ...

Others

*Nebraska philanthropist,

Terrance Watanabe Terrance Watanabe is an American businessman and high roller who inherited Oriental Trading Company, a direct merchant of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties and school supplies founded by his father Harry Watanabe. T ...

, in the largest alleged check fraud case in Clark County, Nevada history. *Represented Salvatore Scafidi, alleged Scarfo, organized crime family member in a death penalty case, and he was acquitted. *Represented U.S. District Court Judge Harry Claiborne in a U.S. Senate Impeachment trial. *David Kulik in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in a fifteen-ton hashish case, and received a decision of acquittal based on the legal argument of jurisdictional entrapment. *Former HBO Chairman,

Chris Albrecht Chris Albrecht (born July 24, 1952) is an American media executive. He is the co-founder of Rubicon Global Media and was previously chairman and CEO of HBO and CEO and President of Starz. Early life and education Albrecht was born July 24, 195 ...

. *Alleged

Hells Angel The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is an international outlaw motorcycle club founded in California whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells ...

members. *Former

Biloxi, Mississippi Biloxi ( ; ) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It lies on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi, bordering the city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Gulfport to its west. The adjacent cities ar ...

mayor Pete Halat. *Businessman Juan Bravo in a trial with Senator

Héctor Martínez Maldonado Héctor Javier Martínez Maldonado (born September 1, 1968) is a former Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican politician, lawyer, attorney and former senator of Puerto Rico. He served as senator of the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII, District of Carolin ...

from

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

in 2010. *Represented

Reno Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

millionaire, Darren Mack in a controversial murder trial. Darren Mack's case was the topic of an

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

special entitled "Killings in the biggest little city." *Chesnoff has handled some of the largest controlled substances cases in American history. For example, Chesnoff represented a defendant in ''U.S. v. Hector Tapia''.
*

Robert Durst Robert Alan Durst (April 12, 1943 – January 10, 2022) was a convicted murderer and an American real estate heir. The eldest son of New York City real estate magnate Seymour Durst, he garnered attention as a suspect in the unsolved 1982 disappe ...

- co-counsel in the case of State of California v. Robert Durst. David Chesnoff appeared on the

show with

John Gotti John Joseph Gotti Jr.Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 25–26 ( , ; October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002) was an American '' mafioso'' and boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He ordered and helped to orchestrate the murder of Gambin ...

attorney, Albert Krieger, to discuss topics ranging from the attorney-client privilege to the infamous Cali Cartel indictments.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesnoff, David 1955 births Living people Lawyers from Paterson, New Jersey Alfred University alumni Suffolk University Law School alumni Nevada lawyers