English-Speaking Criminal Defense Lawyer in Haifa
Criminal defense, the law of evidence and privacy. Adv. Dr. Liran Ohayon, Doctor of Law, an English-speaking advocate who conducts every matter personally.
When you are summoned for police questioning, placed under investigation or served with an indictment, the decisions taken in the first days frequently determine the course of the entire matter. The law office of Adv. Dr. Liran Ohayon in Haifa is devoted to criminal defense. Dr. Ohayon is an English-speaking advocate who conducts every matter personally, so that you may set out your position, in confidence and in your own words, directly to the lawyer who will defend you.
About Adv. Dr. Liran Ohayon
Liran Ohayon is an advocate, a notary and a Doctor of Law. He has been a member of the Israel Bar since 2011. His doctoral dissertation examines decision strategies in the post-indictment stage of criminal proceedings. In practice, this translates into rigorous analysis at every stage of a matter: which decisions must be taken now, which are better deferred, and how each will bear on what follows.
His practice centres on criminal defense, the law of evidence, and privacy matters that carry criminal law implications.
Dr. Ohayon's book in Hebrew, "Ikarim BaHagana Al Hafim" (in English: "Principles of Defending the Innocent"), is forthcoming from Nevo Publishing and is expected at the end of 2026.
Areas of Practice
Police Questioning
Counsel before questioning, a clear account of your rights, and careful preparation for the interview with investigators. Questioning as a suspect (known in Israel as questioning under caution) is one of the most important stages of a criminal case: what you say is recorded and may be used as evidence.
Arrest
Assistance upon arrest, and representation at hearings on extension of detention or on release on bail and conditions.
Indictment and Trial
Defense after an indictment has been filed: review of the case file, assessment of the evidence, and choice of strategy at every stage of the proceedings.
Evidence
Methodical scrutiny of the evidence, including digital evidence: how it was obtained, whether it is admissible, and what it actually proves.
Privacy Protection
Cases in which questions of privacy have criminal law implications.
Criminal Record and Police Records
Finding out what information about you has actually been recorded, and assessing the possible legal options.
Your Rights During Questioning and Arrest
The following is general information. It is not a substitute for advice on your specific case.
- Language of questioning. A suspect must be questioned in his or her own language, or in a language that he or she understands and speaks.
- The right to remain silent. You have the right to remain silent during questioning, and you are not required to answer questions whose answers may incriminate you. At the same time, the court may take silence into account, especially when it is not accompanied by a convincing explanation. Silence alone is not enough for a conviction, but it may strengthen other evidence against you. The decision whether to remain silent is therefore best made after consulting a lawyer.
- Record of the questioning. What you say during questioning is recorded and may be used as evidence. Read the statement carefully before you sign it.
- Rights upon arrest. A detainee must be told of the arrest and the reason for it, in a language he or she understands, as far as possible. The detainee must also be told of the right to have a relative and a lawyer notified of the arrest, and of the right to meet with a lawyer. The detainee must further be told of the right to defense counsel, in certain cases counsel from the Public Defender's Office, and of the period for which he or she may be held before release or being brought before a judge.
- Meeting a lawyer. A detainee has the right to meet with a lawyer and consult him or her. The law allows the meeting to be postponed only on grounds set out in the law and only by a reasoned decision. In most cases the postponement is limited to a few hours, and its maximum is 48 hours. In cases of suspected offenses against state security, the law allows a longer postponement.
- Being brought before a judge. A person arrested by the police without a court warrant must be brought before a judge as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours. The law provides exceptions, relating among other things to the Sabbath, holidays and urgent investigative actions, and in such cases being brought before a judge may be delayed. Special rules apply to suspected offenses against state security.
- Detention by court order. A court may order a suspect's detention only if there is reasonable suspicion that he or she committed an offense that is not a minor offense (a contravention), if one of the grounds set out in the law exists, and only if the purpose of detention cannot be achieved by release on bail with conditions that restrict liberty to a lesser degree.
Criminal Record and Police Records: What Is the Difference
The criminal record is kept by the police. It includes, among other things, convictions and the sentences imposed, as well as certain decisions made without a conviction, such as a probation order or a community service order.
Separately from the criminal record, the police keep records of closed cases, for example a decision not to investigate or not to prosecute. The law allows information about such decisions to be disclosed only to the bodies listed in it.
The periods after which information about a conviction is no longer disclosed, and after which the conviction is expunged, are set by law and depend, among other things, on the sentence imposed. The first step is therefore to find out exactly what decision was made and what has actually been recorded. Closing a case or ending proceedings without a conviction does not in itself mean that no record will remain.
How to Get in Touch
- Call 04-9999244 (from abroad: +972-4-999-9244), write on WhatsApp to 052-5857010, email office@lawliran.com, or fill in the form on this page. You are welcome to write and speak in English throughout.
- Dr. Ohayon personally reviews every enquiry left through the website and replies within 24 hours at most. In urgent matters the office is available around the clock, 24/7.
- The first step is a telephone conversation, conducted in English by Dr. Ohayon himself, in which he learns the circumstances and assesses whether there is a possible solution.
- If a solution appears possible, a meeting is arranged. As a rule, it takes place in person at the office: 32 Y.L. Peretz St., Haifa. Clients who live far away may be offered a video meeting, where needed and at Dr. Ohayon's discretion.
At the first stage, it is enough to leave your contact details and briefly describe the situation. Documents and case details are best sent after coordinating with the office.
A criminal matter touches upon a person's liberty, reputation and future. For that reason, I review every enquiry personally and reply within 24 hours, and in urgent matters I may be reached at any hour. From the first call, you will be speaking with me directly, in English, and your matter will remain in my hands throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have been summoned for police questioning. What should I do?
It is best to consult a lawyer before the questioning. A suspect must be questioned in his or her own language, or in a language that he or she understands and speaks. You have the right to remain silent during questioning. At the same time, the court may take silence into account, especially when it is not accompanied by a convincing explanation. Silence alone is not enough for a conviction, but it may strengthen other evidence against you. The decision whether to remain silent is therefore best made after consulting a lawyer.
Does a detainee have the right to meet with a lawyer?
Yes. A detainee has the right to meet with a lawyer and consult him or her. The law allows the meeting to be postponed only on grounds set out in the law and only by a reasoned decision. In most cases the postponement is limited to a few hours, and its maximum is 48 hours. In cases of suspected offenses against state security, the law allows a longer postponement.
How long can the police hold a detainee without a judge's decision?
A person arrested by the police without a court warrant must be brought before a judge as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours. The law provides exceptions, relating among other things to the Sabbath, holidays and urgent investigative actions, and in such cases being brought before a judge may be delayed. Special rules apply to suspected offenses against state security.
What is the difference between a criminal record and police records?
The criminal record includes, among other things, convictions, as well as certain decisions made without a conviction. Records of closed cases are kept separately by the police, and the law allows information about them to be disclosed only to the bodies listed in it. It is therefore important to find out exactly what decision was made and what has actually been recorded.
How does the first contact work?
Dr. Ohayon personally replies to every enquiry left through the website, within 24 hours at most. The first step is a telephone conversation. If a solution appears possible, a meeting is arranged. As a rule, it takes place in person at the office: 32 Y.L. Peretz St., Haifa. Clients who live far away may be offered a video meeting, where needed and at Dr. Ohayon's discretion. In urgent matters the office is available around the clock, 24/7.
Can I work with the office in English?
Yes. Dr. Ohayon is an English-speaking advocate and provides the legal service himself, directly in English, without an interpreter. You can reach the office by phone at 04-9999244 (+972-4-999-9244), on WhatsApp at 052-5857010, by email at office@lawliran.com, or through the form on this page.
Speak With Dr. Ohayon in Confidence
Dr. Ohayon will review your enquiry personally and reply within 24 hours. An initial telephone conversation comes first, followed, where a solution appears possible, by a meeting at the office in Haifa. In urgent matters, please call at any hour.