About Zak Taylor
Zak Taylor Goldstein earned his Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 2011, after beginning his legal studies in 2008. The law school years shaped his interest in criminal defense and criminal procedure, and they provided the groundwork for the courtroom work that followed.
He began his legal career at the Defender Association of Philadelphia in 2011. As an assistant defender, he handled client intake, pretrial work, and courtroom appearances for people charged in Philadelphia. In 2015 he moved into private practice as an associate at Gordon & Rees LLP. That role brought different pressures and a broader caseload, including matters that required coordination with co-counsel and engagement across jurisdictions. In 2016 he spent time at The Hughes Firm LLC as a criminal defense lawyer. Later that same year he joined Goldstein Mehta LLC as a partner, shifting into a leadership role within a smaller firm setting.
Goldstein is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and he holds admissions to several federal forums, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Those credentials reflect a practice that moves between trial courts and appellate work. His background includes public defense and private criminal defense, which gives him experience on arraignments, motions practice, plea negotiations, and appellate filings.
He has been active in local bar groups and professional circles. He has held membership in the Philadelphia Bar Association since 2011 and joined the Philadelphia Criminal Law Inn of Court in 2013. Since 2016 he has been a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Those affiliations keep him connected to peers and to developments in criminal law practice in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.
Colleagues describe him as someone who came up through public defense into private practice and who now combines courtroom work with law firm responsibilities. He has navigated the differences between large firm systems and smaller, partner-led practice. That experience informs how he manages cases, allocates resources, and communicates with clients.
He currently practices at Goldstein Mehta LLC, handling criminal defense matters in state and federal courts.
