Mr. Wishek's practice emphasizes the defense of persons and businesses accused of crime or facing regulatory professional discipline, including aggressive representation through independent investigation during government and law enforcement investigations. His practice includes criminal and white collar defense on behalf of corporations and businesses, individuals, public officials, and licensed professional, including regulatory and professional licensing defense.
He has experience in defending almost every kind of criminal allegation, including drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, assault, firearms, rape, embezzlement, insurance fraud, kidnapping, environmental, health care, consumer and tax fraud, and other regulatory crimes. He has represented individuals and businesses in a broad spectrum of regulatory and professional licensing matters, form medical professionals and attorneys to licensed contractors, from and engineering firm to a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment program.
Mr. Wishek is listed in the peer-reviewed publications Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers, and he has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available from this peer-reviewed publication. He has successfully litigated numerous precedent-setting cases for the benefit of his clients in the Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.
Mr. Wishek is an adjunct professor of law in the trial practice program at the University of California at Davis School of Law, and frequently serves as a presenter on a variety of legal topics in the areas of criminal defense and trial practice. Mr. Wishek serves on the Board of Directors for a local drug and alcohol treatment program which serves the homeless community in Sacramento.
Professional Experience/Clients
Licensed Professionals
Mr. Wishek's clients are often professionals facing a criminal allegation or professional licensing allegation, or both. He has represented attorneys, medical and mental health professionals, lobbyists, teachers, pharmacists, veterinarians, private investigators, certified public accountants, engineers, real estate professionals, contractors, chiropractors, and other professionals.
Public Entities, Officials and Employees
Mr. Wishek has represented or been retained by public entities, elected and appointed officials and public employees in criminal investigations and proceedings throughout his career. Cities, Counties and the State of California have engaged Mr. Wishek as his client or on behalf of public employees and officer. His clients have included a superior court judge, an elected county auditor controller, a county director of health and human services, the enforcement chief for a state regulatory agency, a chief deputy prison warden, a fire chief (ret.), firefighters, police officers, a university program manager, and other public employees and officials, Judges, prosecutors and other public employees have engaged him to represent family members or referred family or friends for representation.
Corporations and Businesses
Mr. Wishek has represented corporations, businesses, and their executives and owners in a wide array of matters, including criminal investigations, and licensing and regulatory natters. Clients have included a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment program, an environmental testing and certification firm, a dental corporation, a professional engineering practice, a large plumbing company, restaurant and nightclub owners, landlords, automobile repair businesses and building contractors.
Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Issues
Many clients facing a criminal allegation or professional discipline have longstanding issues of chemical dependency or mental health. For these clients, whether facing the loss of their professional license or a criminal allegation from vehicular manslaughter to burglary, referral to the right professional for an evaluation and treatment recommendation may be the most important decision in their case. If the government has a strong case, presentation of evidence confirming a chemical dependency and/or mental health diagnosis together with evidence of successful treatment and a favorable prognosis for continued success can mean probation instead of prison, diversion from criminal proceedings instead of a conviction, or probation or diversion instead of the revocation or suspension of a professional license. Countless clients, sometimes after years of denial or failed treatment efforts, have succeeded when presented the opportunity to work with the right professionals for evaluation and treatment of these medical conditions.
Continuing Education Presentations
Mr. Wishek is a frequent presenter at seminars and continuing education programs for attorneys in the area of criminal defense and professional licensing.
Administrative Hearings (2011, Sacramento and Los Angeles) Pincus Professional Education
Winning Trial Techniques (2011, San Francisco) Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Evidence Issues (2007, 2008, Sacramento and San Francisco) Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Recent Developments in Criminal Law (2004, Lake Tahoe) Placer County Bar Association
Opening Statements and Hearsay (2004, 2005, Sacramento) Lorman Education Services
Cross-Examination of Children and Police Officers (2003, New Orleans) National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center Twelfth International Conference
Effective Sentencing Techniques (2001, Sacramento) Sacramento County Indigent Criminal Defense Panel
Conducting and Effective Cross-Examination in Civil and Criminal Cases (2000, Sacramento) Lorman Education Services
Listed, Best Lawyers in America. Listed, Northern California Super Lawyers.
