About the Firm | Litigation Background
When taking on criminal cases, Ralls & Wille combine the criminal law experience, confidence, and trustworthiness you expect from a long-established firm with innovative and aggressive litigation techniques you need to challenge tech-savvy criminal investigations.
Stephen G. Rall’s vast experience includes representing some of the most well-known drug traffickers out of Mexico, such as The Queen of the Pacific and Miguel Angel Caro Quintero. Grant D. Wille is dedicated to producing top-notch legal challenges to the government’s surveillance technologies and techniques. Together they strive to provide the best of both worlds, old school and new.
The firm focuses on drug trafficking and conspiracy cases. They’ve made the decision to deliberately limit the firm’s case volume so that each client gets the full attention they deserve.
Meet Our Attorneys
Stephen G. Ralls
Senior Defense Partner
Practice areas: Criminal Law, Trials, Pretrial Litigation
Languages: English, Spanish
A fluent Spanish-speaker, Stephen is one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country. He grew up along the border of Mexico and Arizona, and maintains an office in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico in addition to his Tucson, Arizona law office. Stephen has practiced criminal defense law throughout the United States for over 35 years. The State Bar of Arizona has recognized him as a board-certified criminal law specialist since 1989.
Stephen’s decades of experience allows him to carefully guide clients and develop the most successful strategies for their particular case. He’s successfully resolved criminal cases on his clients’ behalf in almost every courthouse in Arizona.
On the federal front, Stephen has further distinguished himself. He’s handled criminal case litigation in the United States District Courts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Because many of the criminal case litigation he’s been involved with are matters are of public interest, Stephen is skilled at media interaction. He’s diplomatic, showing forethought and wisdom on behalf of clients in these cases. He has been interviewed by national media outlets including the Associated Press, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, and Telemundo, as well as local, national, and international newspapers.
Grant D. Wille
Partner | Defense Attorney
Practice areas: Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Pretrial Litigation
Languages: English, Spanish
Grant is a named partner at Ralls Wille. He focuses on complex criminal litigation regarding constitutional rights and legal procedures. Fluent in Spanish, Grant regularly achieves great outcomes in difficult cases.
He completed undergraduate degrees in Spanish literature and political science, and graduated summa cum laude from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona.
Grant honed his legal research and writing skills on the Arizona Law Review, as an intern for the Honorable Judge Mary Murguia on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and as a clerk for the Honorable Judge Garye Vasquez on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two for three years.
Following his work for Judge Vasquez, Grant practiced as a Public Defender, where he represented immigrants in criminal cases facing felony charges before the Pima County Superior Court. His clients included people charged with crimes ranging from drug sales to homicide. Representing immigrants furthered his understanding of the intricacies of how criminal and immigration law interact. His litigation approach used that insight to achieve favorable results for his clients so they could avoid deportation.
Grant D. Wille is on to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
R. Alex Coomer
Associate Attorney
Practice areas: Criminal Law, Pretrial Litigation, Trials
Alex focuses on pre-trial litigation, case investigation, motion drafting, plea bargaining, mitigation development, and trial work for State and Federal criminal defense cases. He’s shown persistent, creative use of legal resources – like finding and managing great experts such as former federal agents to consult with and advise us during criminal case litigation. His excellent track record reflects his successful, aggressive analysis of law enforcement’s investigations.
Alex’s practical legal experience includes work at the Pima County Superior Court Public Defender representing those charged with felonies. He regularly obtained favorable outcomes for clients due to extensive pre-trial investigation work and pre-trial motion practice. He also clerked for the Honorable Judge Howard Fell and the Honorable Judge Carmine Cornelio (retired).
Prior to joining Ralls & Wille, Alex ran his own private practice. His firm focused on economic hardship cases and estate planning law. His love of travel and other cultures previously led him to a 6-month position as a Professor of Practice at American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) in Cambodia. At AUPP, he developed and taught courses for Cambodian University law students on American Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Cambodian Civil Code. Alex graduated from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law and holds a Certificate in Criminal Law and Policy.
Alex is on to the Top 10 Under 40 for Arizona With the NACDL
Clarissa Todd
Associate_Attorney
Practice areas: Criminal Law, Trials, Pretrial Litigation
Languages: English, Spanish
Clarissa is a bilingual advocate certified in Mexican Public Law and Policy by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the University of Arizona. Her robust understanding of the interplay between American and Mexican law is further supported by her previous work on cases involving federal border crimes and humanitarian immigration, her experience as an editor of the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law, and her time spent living in Mexico. She complements this knowledge with a recognized passion for criminal defense. In 2022, the State Bar of Arizona’s Criminal Justice Executive Council honored her with the Future Practitioner Award for her past and anticipated achievements in criminal law. Since then, Clarissa strengthened her criminal law research and writing abilities by clerking for the Honorable Judge Howard Fell.
She is well known for her skilled oral advocacy, in front of both judges and juries. During her time as a law student, Clarissa won six closing argument competitions, was a member of multiple selective advocacy teams, and served each year as the captain of the nationally renowned trial team. She graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, as the recipient of both the Roger C. Henderson Distinguished Graduating Senior Award and the William T. Birmingham Trial Advocacy Award. Clarissa continues to volunteer with the College of Law’s advocacy program, helping to foster the trial and oral advocacy skills of future attorneys.