About The Firm

Dedicated Service From Start to Finish

There is a moment that happens in every criminal case, usually early, usually in a hallway outside a courtroom. Someone who has never been in trouble before realizes that the machinery around them is not going to slow down, is not especially interested in the details of their life, and has already assigned them a place in a process that will keep moving with or without their understanding of it.

Forza Legal Defense was founded on a straightforward reaction to that. If the difference between a dismissed case and a conviction that follows someone for thirty years often comes down to whether an attorney had the time and the will to fight it, then the answer is to build a firm where the attorney has both.

“Forza” means strength. Not the loud kind. The kind that means you have someone in your corner who is genuinely prepared.

Our Practice Areas

Miguel Tovar

Co-Founding Attorney, Forza Legal Defense

When you’re facing a criminal charge, experience in the courtroom matters. Miguel Tovar has been defending clients in Southern California since 2010, with most of his career devoted exclusively to criminal defense in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Miguel is fluent in Spanish and works directly with Spanish-speaking clients and their families, without an interpreter. Clients can explain their situation in their own words and understand every step of their case.

Miguel has handled cases at every level, from traffic tickets and misdemeanors to DUIs, serious felonies, and murder charges. For years he managed heavy daily caseloads in courthouses throughout the region for several law firms. That experience gave him something clients benefit from directly: detailed knowledge of the local courts, judges, and prosecutors who will be handling their case.

Miguel is a trial lawyer. He has taken numerous cases in front of juries and has won multiple not-guilty verdicts. * He has handled a large number of preliminary hearings and regularly challenges the prosecution’s evidence through pretrial motions, including motions to suppress evidence obtained through unlawful searches and motions to dismiss when a client’s right to a speedy trial has been violated. He also represents clients at DMV hearings to protect their driving privileges after a DUI arrest.

For the past several years, Miguel has served as a managing attorney, leading and supervising a team of defense lawyers. He founded Forza Law Firm to offer clients something different: the experience of a seasoned trial attorney who personally handles their case from the first meeting to the final result.

*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Education

Admitted to the State Bar of California, 2010
La Verne College of Law
Fluent in English and Spanish

Miguel Tovar es un abogado bilingüe de defensa criminal que ha representado a clientes en los condados de Riverside y San Bernardino desde 2010. Es un abogado con amplia experiencia en juicios con jurado y ha obtenido múltiples veredictos de no culpable. * Ha manejado todo tipo de casos, desde DUI y delitos menores hasta delitos graves y casos de homicidio. En Forza Legal Defense, Miguel atiende personalmente el caso de cada cliente de principio a fin, en inglés o en español.

Los resultados anteriores no garantizan un resultado similar.

Michael K. Athari

Lead Counsel, Forza Legal Defense, P.C.

Michael Athari has dedicated himself and his practice to fiercely advocating for individuals facing criminal charges and protecting parents in complex juvenile dependency proceedings. Licensed to practice law in California since 2017, Michael leverages his background as a former Deputy District Attorney to deliver a strategic, insider’s advantage to every case he handles.

An Insider’s Perspective on Criminal Defense

Having served on both sides of the courtroom, Michael possesses a comprehensive understanding of how the government investigates, evaluates, charges, and litigates cases. He utilizes this invaluable dual perspective to anticipate prosecutorial tactics, expose weaknesses in the government’s evidence, and construct highly effective defense strategies. From misdemeanor offenses to serious felony charges across California, Michael approaches every case with meticulous preparation and a commitment to protecting his clients’ constitutional rights and futures.

Fierce Advocacy for Parents and Families

Beyond criminal defense, Michael is a steadfast advocate for families facing government intervention. Drawing on his significant experience with the Orange County Children’s Advocates Unit, he represents parents navigating the emotionally charged landscape of juvenile dependency proceedings. He aggressively challenges allegations made by child protective agencies to defend against the removal of children, restrictions on custody, and threats to parental rights.

Additionally, Michael is highly experienced in handling restraining order matters from both sides. This unique intersection of criminal defense, juvenile dependency, and restraining order experience allows him to recognize how allegations in one courtroom can impact proceedings in another, ensuring a cohesive and global legal strategy for his clients.

A Career Dedicated to Justice

Michael’s commitment to his community began during his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from Trinity Law School. His deep interest in criminal law was solidified early in his career while serving as a law clerk with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where he gained critical firsthand exposure to California’s criminal justice system.

Before founding Forza Legal Defense, P.C., Michael honed his aggressive litigation skills serving as a Senior Associate Attorney at The Matian Law Firm and My Rights Law Group. Today, he combines his comprehensive experience as a prosecutor, trial attorney, and family advocate to provide results-driven, compassionate representation. Whether negotiating with the government or fighting at trial, Michael’s singular focus is placing his clients in the strongest possible position to protect their rights, their families, and their freedom.

Why Forza Exists

Most people who call us have never needed a criminal defense attorney before. They are not looking for a legal philosophy. They want to know if they are going to lose their job, their license, their family, or their freedom, and they want someone to tell them the truth about it.

Forza Legal Defense was built for that conversation.

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Hablamos Español · We Speak Spanish

Si usted o un ser querido ha sido arrestado, puede hablar directamente con un abogado en español. No necesita traductor. No necesita que un familiar hable por usted. El abogado Miguel A. Tovar atiende a clientes y a sus familias en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la resolución de su caso.

La consulta es gratis y confidencial

Llame Ahora: 951-567-1972

Attorney Miguel A. Tovar personally assists Spanish-speaking clients and their families in Spanish. No interpreter needed.