Client Testimonials

“I had the misfortune of getting a DUI back in October of 2009. Since it was my first time ever getting arrested or committing an offense, I was scared and I didn’t know what to do. My friend told me to get a lawyer ASAP, and my neighbor (also a client of Philip’s) gave me his card and told me that he would take good care of me. And that he did.

Philip walked me through everything step by step, kept me well informed, and let me know my options of how things could possibly go. He is very thorough and found a discrepancy on my police report which saved me from having my license suspended and from possibly not even having to go to court at all (hopefully!). But he said that even if they did take me to court he would most likely be able to get me off anyway…

Philip was also kind enough to work within my budget (or lack thereof) because I have been unemployed for months.

Philip is absolutely great and if I ever had to go through something like this again (hopefully not!!) I would definitely want him by my side!!! Thank you so much Philip!!!”

L B.

“Hard to match the other reviews on here. But if your looking for the best look no further you’ve found them. Phillip took the time to listen pleaded my case and I have no REASONABLE doubt this was the best choice for me !!!”

Daniel W.

“I don’t have a DUI on my record and Attorney Philip Gagnon is the reason for that. In my younger and more careless days, I was cited for being over .01 BAC as a 20yr old. In the state of California, Zero Tolerance dictates that any traceable amount of alcohol in a “minor’s” system is grounds for a serious legal beat down.

At the time, I was a junior in college and was working full time. The night I was pulled over I wasn’t the slightest bit intoxicated. In fact, I was on my way to my apartment to get intoxicated in an environment where driving would not be part of the equation. My mistake was that I had had a beer with a friend before heading home and I had beers in my possession. Instead of celebrating the end of the semester with friends that night, I celebrated my accountability as a half-adult in jail. I say half-adult because I was old enough to be locked up with the dregs of society but was not old enough to drink a beer.

The officers were “charming”, as per usual in San Diego. I would love to give them the benefit of the doubt by saying they were just doing their jobs but I won’t because they weren’t. Instead of arresting prostitutes, drug dealers, and violent criminals, eight SDPD officers spent several hours arresting me, impounding my vehicle, and trying to charge me with driving under the influence. I spent the next 18 hours locked up in the downtown jail and wasn’t released until 3pm the next afternoon.

When finally released, I was a mixture of pissed off and scared; pissed because of what had happened and scared because I knew how expensive DUI’s were. On my way home from adult timeout, I flipped through a copy of “The Daily Aztec”. I was never an avid reader of the aforementioned periodical but I needed something to take my mind off having spent the night in jail. About half way to the Olive Garden, I saw an ad for “The DUI Guys”. Having never needed legal representation or advice for that matter, I decided to give it a go and set up a meeting. The rest is history; history that undoubtedly favored me and my being wrongfully accused.

Philip Gagnon is an OG DUI defense attorney, fighting the good fight and keeping the SDPD honest. He is the undisputed heavy weight champion of making sure you’re treated fairly, the Michael Jordan of negotiating plea bargains, and the Laurence Olivier of court room theatre. If you find yourself in a precarious situation and your “get out of jail free card” is expired, give Philip a call and thank your lucky stars you read this review. You’re Welcome!”

Ryan R.

“Philip is absolutely magnificent. He took care of my case very well from the day I first called him. He gave me a free consultation and explained to me many intricacies and answered the stressful questions I had looming over my head. What’s really great about Philip is that he is VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

My situation was pretty unique and he definitely went the extra mile to take care of me. I was under 21 during the time of my arrest, and had turned 21 before I went to trial. Philip helped explain to me how the process of getting a restricted license looked in my unique situation, and what a critical needs license was. Philip also clearly explained to me how the DMV and the court operates and how they often might conflict with each other, and the intricacies of each matter.

Philip was awesome, I wouldn’t recommend anyone else to my friends or family if they ever got in a situation like this. He even agreed to compromise on the cost of services for me because I was a student. On top of that, he went the extra mile to court to inquire about the status of my License suspension even after my case was completed when I had questions.

The only thing I could criticize about is that it can be hard to reach him sometimes, you might need to go through a receptionist and wait for a call back for up to a week or so.

But either way, I would sincerely highly recommend him. Thanks, Philip!”

Tommy J.

“Wow! Phillip is the DUI GURU! After being bailed out of jail August of this year, I found him via yelp. Saw all of his reviews and was convinced I found a bulldog!

I gathered my information and met up with him a few days later. He was just as upset as me if not even more upset. From day one, he was prepared to fight the good fight. The prosecution ‘tried’ to give me was a dry with wet conditions. That was dumb on their part.

So, we decided to take the prosecution to trial. To make a long story short, Phillip made the prosecution look like complete dumbasses! It’s hard not to laugh while watching him rip people to shreds in court. We won!! My husband and I were both scared out of our minds! But, Phillip being the professional that he has really put our minds at ease!!!

If you want someone to look out for you and to treat your case as if it were his own, this is the guy!!! My husband and I greatly appreciate his hard work and dedication!!! Thanks again Phillip we love you, man!!!!!”

Raven R.

“Thanks to Yelp decided to read reviews to find the best and most affordable attorney I can get. From reviews I decided on Philip Gagnon he was the best decision I’ve made probably in my entire life. He’s not just an attorney he makes you feel special almost like a friend who really cares about the outcome.

I have been dealing with my case for over year and a couple trials he still with me and I couldn’t ask for a better person to be on my side. Awesome attorney awesome person who really cares the best that you can possibly get.”

Aj M.

“If you’re in need of a great defense for DUIs, look no further. The DUI Guys, Philip, is the best defense attorney in San Diego hands down. I was looking for the best, affordable, and trustworthy attorney when I received my DUI arrest back in April of 2015, and narrowed it down to a few other attorneys along with Philip. After meeting with a couple other attorneys and then with Philip, I knew Philip was my best affordable chance at fighting this case. The meeting with him went great and he did not have any smoke and mirrors like the other attorneys. Philip was straight forward and honest, additionally, he seemed more eager to fight my case and confident than me. After months of fighting the case, he got my DUI dropped down to a dry wreckless!!! You read that right, a dry wreckless which in the eyes of the law is wreckless driving.

I did not have any implication of alcohol on my record and I was very worried because I have to drive a company vehicle for work. Philip is very busy fighting other cases during the weeks, so if you text or call him, he might not get back to you right away, however, he will get back to you. I found that contacting his assistant/secretary Andrea would get you a very rapid response to any questions you have. Andrea replied to all of my emails and any other means of contact with the office.

I am now relieved to put this behind me and pay whatever I need to pay and take whatever classes I need to in order to move on from this life experience. Please do not feel like Philip is not attentive to your every texts, calls, needs, etc because even though we want a rapid response to our questions and concerns in our times of vulnerability, trust and have faith in Philip, for he is on our side fighting for our rights to not let the system take advantage of us. Not having a DUI on my record is what inspires me to share with you guys the results of what Philip has done for me and I will never forget that. Thanks again Philip, you’re a true undisputed CHAMPION in my book.”

David K.

“You are obviously on this site looking to make a most important decision: To Stand Up for Your Rights.

I consulted with Philip Gagnon during a difficult time- and I had sat down with several lawyers as well. I did start working with another lawyer initially, but when I came upon his Yelp page it was during a time to make a change in who would be handling my case. He was much more seasoned than the original lawyer I had began to work with–but most importantly, Philip understands the intricacies of the law.

Thanks to Philip Gagnon I do not have a DUI on my record. He is so focused and dedicated I highly, HIGHLY recommend him. It seems hopeless when you find yourself getting pulled over and you don’t think there’s a possibility to challenge and step up to assert your rights. As a result of working with Philip; I never lost my license, and was not charged with a DUI. Instead it was the experience of taking a comprehensive fast course in this area of law.

Philip is more than just a seasoned lawyer, he is passionate about his work and is ridiculously detailed.

This life event was more then stressful for me but I knew I had to get in focus the events of that evening and trust that I could find the best, effective council to dissect the nuances of my case.”

Jaz A S.

Philip Is The BEST!!!

“I had the misfortune to get a DUI back in October of 2009. It was my first arrest/offense ever, and I was really scared and didn’t know what to do. My friend told me to get a lawyer ASAP, and my neighbor (also a client of Philip’s) gave me his business card and said that he was great and that he would take good care of me. And that he did.

Philip walked me through everything step by step and kept me well informed every step of the way. Because this was my first time having to deal with all of this, he explained everything very well and let me know my options of how things could possibly go. He is very thorough and because of that, he was able to find a discrepancy in my police report which saved me from having my license suspended and not I might not have to go to court at all (hopefully!!). But even if I did he said the chances of me getting off anyway are very good.

Philip was also great enough to work with my budget (or lack thereof) because I have been unemployed for months now… I would definitely recommend Philip as the absolute BEST DUI lawyer in San Diego!! If I ever have a legal issue such as this again (which hopefully I don’t!!) I would definitely want Philip by my side again!! Thank you so much, Philip!!! :-D”

Lauri

Philip Gagnon Is The Best!

“I don’t have a DUI on my record and Attorney Philip Gagnon is the reason for that. In my younger and more careless days, I was cited for being over .01 BAC as a 20yr old. In the state of California, Zero Tolerance dictates that any traceable amount of alcohol in a “minor’s” system is grounds for a serious legal beat down.

At the time, I was a junior in college and was working full time. The night I was pulled over I wasn’t the slightest bit intoxicated. In fact, I was on my way to my apartment to get intoxicated in an environment where driving would not be part of the equation. My mistake was that I had had a beer with a friend before heading home and I had beers in my possession. Instead of celebrating the end of the semester with friends that night, I celebrated my accountability as a half-adult in jail. I say half-adult because I was old enough to be locked up with the dregs of society but was not old enough to drink a beer.

The officers were “charming”, as per usual in San Diego. I would love to give them the benefit of the doubt by saying they were just doing their jobs but I won’t because they weren’t. Instead of arresting prostitutes, drug dealers, and violent criminals, eight SDPD officers spent several hours arresting me, impounding my vehicle, and trying to charge me with driving under the influence. I spent the next 18 hours locked up in the downtown jail and wasn’t released until 3 pm the next afternoon.

When finally released, I was a mixture of pissed off and scared; pissed because of what had happened and scared because I knew how expensive DUI’s were. On my way home from the adult timeout, I flipped through a copy of “The Daily Aztec”. I was never an avid reader of the aforementioned periodical but I needed something to take my mind off having spent the night in jail. About half way to the Olive Garden, I saw an ad for “The DUI Guys”. Having never needed legal representation or advice for that matter, I decided to give it a go and set up a meeting. The rest is history; a history that undoubtedly favored me and my being wrongfully accused.

Philip Gagnon is an OG DUI defense attorney, fighting the good fight and keeping the SDPD honest. He is the undisputed heavyweight champion of making sure you’re treated fairly, the Michael Jordan of negotiating plea bargains, and the Laurence Olivier of courtroom theater. If you find yourself in a precarious situation and your “get out of jail free card” is expired, give Philip a call and thank your lucky stars you read this review. You’re Welcome!”

A Satisfied Client

Best of the Best

“Philip is by far one of the best DUI defense attorneys in San Diego. I had over 2 years hanging over me for multiple DUI’s and Philip was able to get all jail time stayed. This was not one of my best moments in life and beyond getting me a great deal he was able to advise me on numerous items regarding the law.

I also referred him a friend that had his first DUI and he was able to get the DUI dismissed. If you’re looking for great results I highly recommend the DUI GUYS.

Thank you very Philip”

Mark

Absolute Life Saver!

“I met Philip at a school function. He was the DUI GUY with all the knowledge. He gave a great presentation about what to, and more importantly, what not to do if one is pulled over for a DUI. He explained to me my rights, and best of all…everything you need, it’s all right there on the back of his business card!!

I never thought I would get pulled over for this crime, but, guess what? I was! I remembered everything Philip told me about not giving the cops “probable cause,” not to take Field Sobriety Tests and NOT to take the breath tests at the scene of the arrest.

I gave the cop his card with everything all written down for me and guess what? IT WORKED!!!! HE WAS RIGHT!!!! A case was NEVER filed against me!!!!

Thanks Philip!!!”

Mr. Thankful

Simply the BEST!

“Mr. Gagnon is not only an amazing lawyer to work with professionally, he is also a fantastic mentor. I was pulled over for and arrested for a DUI while I worked for him (ironic, I know). I followed the advice I learned from him, all of which is conveniently on the back of his business card. To make a long story short, his advice and expertise kept me from being prosecuted.

Philip is a great guy too. He goes out of his way for his clients. He treated me the same way he treats any of his clients, with prompt, respectful, knowledgeable guidance and legal support. If you are anywhere near the San Diego area, THIS IS THE DUI GUY TO HIRE!!!!”

Movses

Can’t Find Any Better

“I hired Mr. Gagnon from reading reviews and was the best decision I’ve ever made. he’s an expert in DUI cases and really knows everything there is to know and then some which in my case may be arresting officers look like morons. he’s a very busy attorney but he will give you 110% effort and he’s amazing. don’t waste time looking for another one you want Philip Gagnon.”

Amy

Bail Bondsman And President Of A Youth Soccer League

“I have done business with Philip as a bail bondsman, President of a soccer gaming league and as an Attorney for a family member. He has always been an Attorney that I could trust in taking care of my clients in a very professional manner but mostly he defends his clients with a fervor that you don’t see in many Attorneys.”

Bob

Astute, Perceptive & Effective Attorney

“Upon hiring Philip as my attorney I was quickly calmed by his demeanor and knowledge of the laws surrounding my case which are his areas of specialty. He informed me of specifics regarding police records and written documents that were not handled correctly as he researched my specific incident.

I had a strong feeling that I should challenge and put forth a fight against a pair of officers who were defeated by Mr. Gagnon’s articulation of events, which informed the jury. Philip Gagnon communicated verbally, and by use of exhibits, to the jury who were engaged and interested while he spoke. I was faced with a charge of law enforcement that felt unjustified and unlawful so I made the huge decision to challenge it in court. Sitting in court being represented by Mr. Gagnon gave me a secure and even confident feeling while going through this challenging ordeal.

Philip never made any promises of the outcome, but was thorough in his overview of my case and communicating to me the consequential results that could be the result. Bringing his years of experience in the courtroom, he presented the facts and variables in a highly skilled manner. In the end, the jury found me not to be at fault. I would highly recommend Mr. Philip Gagnon to anyone needing help and a solid defense in the area of DUI or other criminal areas. Philip is an outstanding attorney; he is passionate about fairness and justice which is derived from his decency as a person in standing up ethically for his clients. I am extremely thankful I hired Mr. Gagnon and recommend him highly.”

Val

The best DUI lawyer in San Diego

“I do not casually say that Philip is the best. I met with other highly rated lawyers in SD, I have talked with others about their experience, and (most importantly) I have seen Philip’s skill and dedication first hand.

It is important to note, that some DUI lawyers do not even go to court themselves, and some do not personally handle your case.

Really, the court just wants you to roll over and admit guilt, so they can move on to convicting others. If you want a lawyer that will FIGHT for you, please take my advice and choose Philip Gagnon.

My story:

I was arrested, taken in, and let the Police trick me into giving a blood sample (big mistake!). The BAC came back as a 0.24, which is very bad (and wrong!).

Because of this BAC, I was given no mercy in the court system. Philip initially won the Motion to Suppress (ruling that the Police unlawfully arrested me), but a 3 judge panel later overturned it.

Philip stuck with me, and fought by my side the whole time.

We eventually went to trial. Even though I had no prior arrests or convictions, I was guilty in everyone’s eyes from the moment I stepped into the court room. The prosecuting attorney let Philip know that my case was a slum dunk for him. He was 100% certain that I would be convicted on both counts.

Philip worked with me to calm my nerves so that we could present a sharp and accurate defense. After 3 hard days of trial, we got word that Philip hung the jury (11-1 against me).

Guess what, our wonderful justice system decided to take me to trial again! Philip was Mr. Johnny on the spot, always showing up on time and prepared for everything the court put me through.

In the second trial, the judge was even MORE difficult to work with. Even though the prosecuting attorney stepped up his game against me, Philip fought tooth and nail. The result: Philip hung the jury again (this time 8-4 against me, even better!).

Philip then worked to get my charge reduced down to a traffic violation. Well done!

I am so happy I chose Philip Gagnon, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

A Satisfied Client