Benjamin Brafman

Benjamin Brafman (born July 21, 1948) is an American criminal defense attorney, the founder of the Manhattan-based firm Brafman & Associates, P.C.. Brafman is known for representing many high-profile defendants, including celebrities, accused Mafia members, and political figures. 2Early life and education Brafman grew up in Brooklyn and Belle Harbor, Queens, and was a son of Holocaust survivors. He went to a yeshiva high school and took night classes at Brooklyn College, graduating with a BA, majoring in anthropology.Brafman received his J.D. with distinction from Ohio Northern University College of Law. He also has an LL.M. from New York University School of Law. In May 2014 Brafman was awarded an honorary degree by Ohio Northern University College of Law. 2Career After graduating from law school, admitted to the New York State Bar in 1975, Brafman worked for a criminal defense firm for two years, then became an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. In 1980, Brafman started his own law firm in Manhattan.Brafman has represented a number of notable figures, including Jacob Arabo, James Patino (who was cleared of all charges in the death of Yusef Hawkins), Peter Gatien, Plaxico Burress, Michael Jackson, Carl Kruger, Charles Kushner, Marvell Scott, Sean Combs ("Puff Daddy"), Mafia boss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, online gambling figure Jay Cohen, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Rabbi Menachem Youlus, political pundit Dinesh D'Souza, high-profile attorney Sanford Rubenstein, Martin Shkreli, and Harvey Weinstein. 3Sean "P. Diddy" Combs trial Brafman’s profile rose following his winning the acquittal of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who was acquitted from his 1999 illegal weapons and bribery charges. The criminal charges stemmed from a nightclub brawl, while accompanied by then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez and Combs's usual entourage, and witnessed by over 100 other peopl