About Evan
Evan Hughes earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University in 2004. He entered practice soon after and built a career concentrated on criminal defense and trial work. Early in his career he joined local bar projects and professional societies, a pattern that has continued through the present.
Hughes launched his own practice in 2006, founding Hughes Defense, LLC. That firm served as his base for criminal defense work and trial preparation. In 2012 he shifted into a partnership role at Krasner, Hughes, & Long LLC, where he handled serious felony matters and appeals. Two years later he took the title of principal at The Hughes Firm, the office he leads today.
His credentials include certification by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to handle death penalty cases. That certification is rare and requires meeting state standards for capital litigation. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, allowing him to appear in federal appellate matters that arise from the region.
Professional affiliations have been a steady part of Hughes’s career. He has been a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 2006 and joined the Justinian Society in 2007. He began participating in the Philadelphia Bar Association Senior Citizen Judicare Project in 2005 and retains membership there. He also holds membership in the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where his involvement dates to 2009.
Colleagues describe Hughes as a trial lawyer who prefers the courtroom to long negotiations. He has handled cases at multiple stages — investigations, trials, and appeals. The death-penalty certification underscores his experience in capital cases, while his appellate admission signals work beyond state trial courts. Over the years he has moved between solo practice, partnership, and firm leadership, adapting his work style to each setting.
Clients and peers encounter a lawyer who balances courtroom preparation with procedural rigor. He has handled felony trials and post-conviction matters, and he has argued at the state and federal appellate level. He also participates in pro bono and public-interest projects through the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Today he serves as principal of The Hughes Firm. He concentrates his practice on criminal defense, including capital cases.
