A Reputation for Excellence
Creed C. Black, Jr. is a former federal prosecutor and prominent Philadelphia criminal defense attorney with over four decades of proven experience. His practice is limited to the defense of government investigations, grand jury proceedings, civil enforcement actions, and “white collar” criminal prosecutions.
A seasoned courtroom lawyer with decades of criminal justice experience, Creed Black, Jr. provides clients with a rare blend of knowledge, skill, and judgment.
Creed Black is a graduate of Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Following a federal court clerkship, Mr. Black served as a federal prosecutor for five years in the U.S. Justice Department before joining the litigation department of the national law firm Ballard Spahr LLP, where he handled both civil and criminal matters . After more than a decade as a Ballard Spahr partner, he started his own law firm in 1996.
Professional Associations
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL)
Federal Criminal Law Committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (1987-2022)
Education
- Yale College (B.A., magna cum laude)
- University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., cum laude; and Order of the Coif)
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania (1976)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1989)
- U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1981)
- U.S. District Court, E.D. PA. (1977)
- U. S. Tax Court (1991)
Professional Recognitions
Best Lawyers:
Mr. Black has been consistently selected by his peers for inclusion among The Best Lawyers in America, most recently in the 2023 edition in the category of Criminal Defense: White Collar. He was first recognized in 1995 and has now been included among the Best Lawyers in America for over 25 years. For the 2011 year, Mr. Black was also honored to be named as “Philadelphia Best Lawyers Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year.”
Super Lawyers:
For over 20 years, Mr. Black has been recognized as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” in the field of Criminal Defense: White Collar, most recently in the 2023 edition.
Chambers and Partners USA:
Mr. Black has been named in each of the last 18 years by Chambers and Partners’ Publishing as one of America’s top lawyers in “White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations,” most recently receiving a Senior Statesperson ranking for Pennsylvania in the 2023 Chambers USA Legal Guide.
Best Law Firms:
Since 2011, Creed Black’s solo firm has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report in their annual rankings of law firms. In the 2023 edition of Best Law Firms, the firm was again recognized in the Philadelphia metropolitan area as “Tier 1” in the field of Criminal Defense: White Collar.