Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. is a nationally recognized boutique law firm dedicated exclusively to federal criminal defense, appeals, post-conviction relief, and federal prison matters. The firm combines over twenty years of high-stakes appellate advocacy with deep federal prison expertise, so that a client is advised not only on the courtroom phase of a federal case but on everything the Bureau of Prisons controls afterward.
Our Mission
The firm’s guiding principle — “no stone unturned” — reflects a commitment to meticulous research, creative legal strategy, and impassioned advocacy. In appellate and post-conviction work the winning issue is usually already somewhere in the record; finding it is a matter of reading everything.
What Sets Us Apart
Appellate depth. Elizabeth Franklin-Best has been counsel of record in sixteen published decisions and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and twelve of the thirteen federal circuits. She is named in The Best Lawyers in America 2027 in three categories and ranked in Chambers USA 2026.
Federal prison knowledge under the same roof. Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, author of the Federal Prison Handbook, brings command of BOP designation, sentence computation, RDAP, and First Step Act credits — the decisions that determine what a sentence actually looks like.
A federal-only practice. Federal criminal law has its own sentencing guidelines, its own procedure, and its own appellate rules. The firm does not divide its attention with state or civil work.
Our Team
Elizabeth Franklin-Best
Founder & Principal Attorney
Federal appeals, § 2255, compassionate release. Co-Vice Chair, NACDL Amicus Curiae Committee (Fourth Circuit); author of Reversing Your Criminal Conviction (2023); 2010 South Carolina Public Defender of the Year.
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Christopher Zoukis
Managing Director
Federal prison policy, BOP designation, First Step Act. JD, UC Davis School of Law — Articles Editor, UC Davis Law Review; author of the Federal Prison Handbook and four further books; featured by CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post and USA Today.
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Kimberly Zoukis
Operations Manager
Client care, intake, firm operations. With the firm since 2019, managing intake and operations so that every new matter reaches the right attorney quickly.
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LaDonna Falvey
Lead Paralegal & Firm Administrator
Brief preparation, post-conviction motions. More than 15 years supporting federal post-conviction and appellate practice, after a career as an award-winning investigative journalist.
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How We Help — At Every Stage
The firm handles federal appeals, § 2255 motions, compassionate release, clemency petitions, federal sentence mitigation, and white-collar and financial-crime defense. See all practice areas.
A nationwide federal practice
The firm represents individuals across the United States who are facing federal investigations, charges, sentencing, and post-conviction matters. Because federal-court admission — not state licensure — governs where a lawyer may appear, our work regularly takes us well beyond South Carolina, including New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
By maintaining a deliberately small caseload, the firm devotes exceptional time and precision to every client. Cases are selected to align with our strengths in federal appeals, post-conviction relief, and prison matters — which is what makes that level of attention possible.
Investigative rigor. The firm applies investigative-journalism principles to legal advocacy, leaving no detail unexplored when challenging a wrongful conviction or an unjust sentence. We believe everyone deserves strong, effective representation — and a real opportunity for a second chance.
Contact us to schedule a consultation, or call (843) 620-1100.
Visit Our Offices
Read the firm’s Google reviews — verified client reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Columbia, South Carolina
3710 Landmark Dr #113
Columbia, SC 29204
(843) 620-1100
The firm is based in Columbia, South Carolina — the practice itself is nationwide.
Practicing in Texas and beyond. Elizabeth Franklin-Best is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which covers Houston, and appears in other federal districts pro hac vice. Federal cases are litigated where the case is filed, not where a lawyer keeps an office, so clients in Houston and elsewhere are represented without the firm maintaining a local address there. See our page on FDC Houston for the federal detention facility serving that district.
Request a consultation to discuss a federal matter in any district.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of law firm is Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C.?
It is a boutique firm devoted exclusively to federal criminal defense, federal appeals, post-conviction relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, compassionate release, clemency, and federal prison matters. The firm does not handle state criminal matters or civil litigation.
Does the firm take cases outside South Carolina?
Yes. This is a nationwide federal practice. Elizabeth Franklin-Best is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, twelve of the thirteen U.S. Courts of Appeals, and seven U.S. District Courts — including the Southern District of Texas, which covers Houston — and appears in additional federal courts pro hac vice. The firm has offices in South Carolina only; federal cases are litigated where they are filed.
How much experience does the firm have?
Elizabeth Franklin-Best has practiced law for over twenty years, focused on high-stakes federal appellate and post-conviction advocacy, and has been counsel of record in sixteen published decisions.
What does “no stone unturned” mean in practice?
It means the record gets read completely — every transcript, every exhibit, every procedural step — because in appellate and post-conviction work the winning issue is usually already in the record and was simply missed.
How does representation begin?
With a paid, one-hour initial consultation: a substantive working session in which the attorney reviews where the case stands and what options remain, rather than a sales call.
Is the firm recognized independently?
Yes. Elizabeth Franklin-Best is named in The Best Lawyers in America 2027 in three categories and ranked in Chambers USA 2026 for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations. A full list appears on the Awards page.
Take the First Step
Whether the case is at investigation, sentencing, appeal, or post-conviction, the first step is the same: a paid, one-hour consultation in which the attorney reviews the record and tells you honestly what is still possible.
Nationwide federal practice. Offices in Columbia and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.