team-member

Richard B Kuniansky

Houston, TX

N/A

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Criminal Defense

Language

English

About

Richard Kuniansky was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1953. He received his preparatory education at the University of Georgia, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. He received his J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif in 1978.Since his graduation, Mr. Kuniansky has been involved almost exclusively in the litigation of criminal cases. Mr. Kuniansky tried his first jury trial in his first week as a state prosecutor, and has tried over 100 jury trial since, as both a state and federal prosecutor, and for the past 33 years, as a criminal defense attorney. From 1978 to 1980, he served as a prosecutor for the State of Georgia, then becoming an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta) and a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (Miami) assigned to the Presidential Drug Task Force. After prosecuting primarily white collar criminal cases, criminal tax cases and drug cases for the Department of Justice for over seven years, Mr.Kuniansky left government service to join a premier downtown Houston law firm, where he spent the next five years engaged in a litigation practice with heavy emphasis in criminal tax defense and commercial litigation, before forming his own law firm in 1992.Mr. Kuniansky has prosecuted and defended some of the largest fraud cases in the country. He prosecuted several businessmen for violating the Armed Export Control Act by exporting mid-air refueling aircraft to Mohammar Khadafi and Libya; prosecuted what was then the largest bribery case in the history of the IRS; defended a $7 billion Ponzi scheme; defended a postal theft of approximately $23 million; defended a mortgage fraud case involving tens of millions of dollars; defended numerous medicare fraud cases involving tens of millions of dollars; and defended a money laundering case involving several million dollars.Mr. Kuniansky is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been awarded an AV/preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards) and was named by Thompson Reuters a Texas Super Lawyer in white-collar criminal defense in 2020. He was also honored to be a Houstonia Magazine top criminal defense attorney in 2019.Mr. Kuniansky has lectured at seminars hosted by the Houston Bar Association- Criminal Procedures Section, Houston Bar Association-Tax Section, Southern Methodist University School of Law and the American Association of Immigration Lawyers.

Practices Areas

Criminal Defense

White Collar Crime

Language

English

Contact

Law offices of Richard B. Kuniansky440 Louisiana St Ste 1440Houston, TX, 77002-1665

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
March 17, 2021

I was investigated by the IRS for evading corporate and personal income taxes over a four year period. Mr. Kuniansky negotiated a plea of guilty on my behalf to one count of the seven count indictment, with the government dismissing the remaining counts. Mr. Kuniansky did not sugar coat things for me. He told me point blank that I was going to jail and the chances for me getting probation or home detention were about the same as winning the lottery. Nevertheless, I had a great deal of faith in him. He prepared an excellent Sentencing Memorandum and argued forcefully for a sentence of probation. My prayers were answered when the Judge sentenced me to home confinement, permitting me to work and perform other essential activities. I am extremely grateful for the job that Mr. Kuniansky did, and I would highly recommend him. A.L.

anonymous
April 2, 2016

I recently hired Mr Kuniansky to defend me in a rather unusual lawsuit. His in-depth knowledge and research are impressive. If I ever needed to use an attorney again or recommend one, he would be the first person in mind.

David
May 1, 2015

I am a criminal defense attorney in Houston, Texas. I tried my first federal jury trial in 1995. It was a multi-defendant drug case that lasted 7 weeks. Richard Kuniasnky represented a co-defendant in the case. He had already been practicing law for a long period of time and was very experienced. About 3 weeks into the trial, Mr. Kuniansky filed for a mistrial of the case based on prosecutorial misconduct. Everyone in the courtroom - except the prosecutor - was mesmerized by the power and eloquence of his argument. The Judge granted the motion. I have never forgotten the look of joy and utter relief on his client's face. Since that time, Mr. Kuniansky and I have worked on various cases together and I have always found him to do an excellent job in representing his clients. If I ever get in trouble, he will be the first (and probably only) attorney I call. There is no better attorney in Houston.

RH
April 13, 2015

The IRS investigated me for several years, claiming that I had committed tax fraud by not reporting my income from the sales of an international business. In actuality, the IRS’ own rules said the income was not taxable. However, that didn’t stop them from investigating me all over the world for years. They finally threatened to indict me. Richard Kuniansky represented me in the investigation. He brought in an international tax expert to prepare a position letter that the gain was not taxable. He methodically and concisely prepared my case. He then met with government lawyers and convinced them not to indict me. I was never charged. My IRS cases were resolved fair and clean. I would highly recommend Mr. Kuniansky in criminal tax matters. RH

M.C.
April 10, 2015

Many years ago, I was charged with misappropriating a large sum of money. Although I foolishly did it, which I very much regret, I was amazed at the harshness of the Federal system. One morning, I awoke to a Federal S.W.A.T. team with shotguns banging on my door. Had they called me on the phone and told me to turn myself in, I would have gladly done so. I was then thrown in jail. The government sought to detain me without bond, claiming I was a flight risk. That was completely absurd. Nevertheless, the Magistrate-Judge bought into the government’s nonsense and ordered me detained without bond until trial. I hired Mr. Richard Kuniansky to represent me. He worked tirelessly over the Christmas holidays appealing my detention order, and was successful in getting me released. He ultimately negotiated a very fair plea bargain on my behalf. I would highly recommend him.

R
April 9, 2015

Many years ago, I was indicted for several counts of bankruptcy fraud and lying to an FBI agent. I was innocent, but that didn’t seem to matter. Mr. Richard Kuniansky represented me and tried the case before a jury. He was an outstanding lawyer, and tore the FBI agent to pieces, showing that her version of what happened could not have been true. I was acquitted of all charges. I would highly recommend him.

lance
July 31, 2010

Richard served as a lead trial attorney in my case. He's slow at beginning to understand my case. He even thought that I was crazy after he first read my case through the prosecutors. However, he completely changed his mind after collecting all evidences from all sources. I even brought an additional attorney to advise/consult him. Finally, they won the trial judge and the Appeal Court judges. I previously had three law firms that took my money and forced me to the plea.

anonymous
March 17, 2021

I was investigated by the IRS for evading corporate and personal income taxes over a four year period. Mr. Kuniansky negotiated a plea of guilty on my behalf to one count of the seven count indictment, with the government dismissing the remaining counts. Mr. Kuniansky did not sugar coat things for me. He told me point blank that I was going to jail and the chances for me getting probation or home detention were about the same as winning the lottery. Nevertheless, I had a great deal of faith in him. He prepared an excellent Sentencing Memorandum and argued forcefully for a sentence of probation. My prayers were answered when the Judge sentenced me to home confinement, permitting me to work and perform other essential activities. I am extremely grateful for the job that Mr. Kuniansky did, and I would highly recommend him. A.L.

anonymous
April 2, 2016

I recently hired Mr Kuniansky to defend me in a rather unusual lawsuit. His in-depth knowledge and research are impressive. If I ever needed to use an attorney again or recommend one, he would be the first person in mind.

David
May 1, 2015

I am a criminal defense attorney in Houston, Texas. I tried my first federal jury trial in 1995. It was a multi-defendant drug case that lasted 7 weeks. Richard Kuniasnky represented a co-defendant in the case. He had already been practicing law for a long period of time and was very experienced. About 3 weeks into the trial, Mr. Kuniansky filed for a mistrial of the case based on prosecutorial misconduct. Everyone in the courtroom - except the prosecutor - was mesmerized by the power and eloquence of his argument. The Judge granted the motion. I have never forgotten the look of joy and utter relief on his client's face. Since that time, Mr. Kuniansky and I have worked on various cases together and I have always found him to do an excellent job in representing his clients. If I ever get in trouble, he will be the first (and probably only) attorney I call. There is no better attorney in Houston.

RH
April 13, 2015

The IRS investigated me for several years, claiming that I had committed tax fraud by not reporting my income from the sales of an international business. In actuality, the IRS’ own rules said the income was not taxable. However, that didn’t stop them from investigating me all over the world for years. They finally threatened to indict me. Richard Kuniansky represented me in the investigation. He brought in an international tax expert to prepare a position letter that the gain was not taxable. He methodically and concisely prepared my case. He then met with government lawyers and convinced them not to indict me. I was never charged. My IRS cases were resolved fair and clean. I would highly recommend Mr. Kuniansky in criminal tax matters. RH

M.C.
April 10, 2015

Many years ago, I was charged with misappropriating a large sum of money. Although I foolishly did it, which I very much regret, I was amazed at the harshness of the Federal system. One morning, I awoke to a Federal S.W.A.T. team with shotguns banging on my door. Had they called me on the phone and told me to turn myself in, I would have gladly done so. I was then thrown in jail. The government sought to detain me without bond, claiming I was a flight risk. That was completely absurd. Nevertheless, the Magistrate-Judge bought into the government’s nonsense and ordered me detained without bond until trial. I hired Mr. Richard Kuniansky to represent me. He worked tirelessly over the Christmas holidays appealing my detention order, and was successful in getting me released. He ultimately negotiated a very fair plea bargain on my behalf. I would highly recommend him.

R
April 9, 2015

Many years ago, I was indicted for several counts of bankruptcy fraud and lying to an FBI agent. I was innocent, but that didn’t seem to matter. Mr. Richard Kuniansky represented me and tried the case before a jury. He was an outstanding lawyer, and tore the FBI agent to pieces, showing that her version of what happened could not have been true. I was acquitted of all charges. I would highly recommend him.

lance
July 31, 2010

Richard served as a lead trial attorney in my case. He's slow at beginning to understand my case. He even thought that I was crazy after he first read my case through the prosecutors. However, he completely changed his mind after collecting all evidences from all sources. I even brought an additional attorney to advise/consult him. Finally, they won the trial judge and the Appeal Court judges. I previously had three law firms that took my money and forced me to the plea.