Max Frizalone — Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney
Max Frizalone is a founding partner of FrizWoods LLC and a Maryland criminal defense attorney with experience on both sides of the courtroom. A former Prince George's County prosecutor and Maryland Public Defender, Max has represented hundreds of individuals charged with serious criminal offenses, from first-time DUI to armed felonies, in District and Circuit Courts across the state. He has been selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2024 to 2026 and recognized by What's Up Annapolis as an Up and Coming Lawyer in Criminal Defense for 2025.
Leading FrizWoods: Results-Driven, Client-Focused
Since launching FrizWoods, Max has led the firm to remarkable success, overseeing the defense of more than 800 clients in District and Circuit Court. Under his leadership, the firm has:
- Achieved hundreds of case dismissals, including in DUI, handgun, domestic violence, and felony matters
- Contested over 100 cases in hearings, securing dismissals, acquittals, and favorable verdicts through relentless cross-examination and legal challenges
- Resolved dozens of cases pre-charge, preventing charges from being filed altogether
- Secured release or bond modifications for more than a hundred individuals facing pretrial detention
- Filed well over 150 expungements, helping clients move forward with clean records
These outcomes reflect not only Max's litigation skills but his deep commitment to proactive, personalized defense strategies. Every case is prepared for trial, whether it resolves through negotiation or verdict.
Significant Cases
Max's trial and litigation record spans serious felony and misdemeanor charges across Maryland. Below are selected results that highlight his approach to criminal defense. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
- Armed Robbery (5-Day Jury Trial) — Carroll County — Not Guilty. Client facing up to 20 years. Defense centered on challenging eyewitness identification and surveillance footage interpretation. The jury returned a full acquittal.
- Firearm & Drug Charges — Baltimore City — Mandatory Minimum Avoided. Client charged with firearm and drug offenses carrying mandatory minimum sentences. Through mitigation efforts, the client was sentenced to probation on reduced, non-mandatory charges.
- DUI (Breath Test Over Legal Limit) — Washington County — Not Guilty. Client charged with DUI per se after providing a breath sample over the legal limit. The sample was excluded based on the State's failure to authenticate the testing instrument, and the Court found not guilty.
- Felony Theft (3-Day Jury Trial) — Prince George's County — Not Guilty. Client charged in a federally led white-collar fraud investigation. Defense investigation revealed the client had attempted to report the fraud to police and was ignored. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.
- Firearm Charges (Fourth Amendment Suppression) — Prince George's County — Evidence Suppressed & Case Dismissed. Stop and search challenged under the Fourth Amendment. The Court excluded all evidence after granting the Defense motion to suppress.
For a full list of case outcomes from both Max and Luke Woods, visit our Notable Case Results page.
A Dual-Sided Perspective: Prosecutor Turned Defender
Before founding FrizWoods, Max built his courtroom skills on both sides of the aisle. He served as a senior trial attorney in the Juvenile Division of the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, handling violent felony cases from investigation through verdict. Prior to that, Max served in the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, where he represented clients in hundreds of contested matters and gained extensive experience in DUI, weapons, and drug prosecutions.
This rare blend of prosecutorial and defense experience allows Max to anticipate the State's strategy and craft defenses that challenge both the facts and the law.
Government & Professional Service
- Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office — Senior Trial Attorney, Juvenile Division. Prosecuted violent felony cases from investigation through verdict.
- Maryland Office of the Public Defender — Staff Attorney. Represented clients in hundreds of contested criminal matters across multiple jurisdictions.
- Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association (MCDAA) — Active member and conference participant.
- Prince George's County Bar Association — Member.
- Anne Arundel County Bar Association — Member.
Awards & Professional Recognition
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars — Selected 2024, 2025, and 2026. Awarded to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
- What's Up Annapolis: Up and Coming Lawyer — Criminal Defense, 2025.
- National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) — Member. The NCDD is a professional organization dedicated to the improvement of the criminal defense bar and its focus on DUI defense. Membership reflects a commitment to staying current on the science, law, and trial techniques unique to impaired driving cases.
- Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Reviewed.
Accessible, Aggressive, and Relentless
Clients who work with Max benefit from more than just courtroom experience. They gain a tireless advocate who prioritizes transparency, responsiveness, and results. Whether challenging unlawful searches, suppressing statements, or negotiating favorable resolutions, Max puts his clients' interests first.
At FrizWoods, Max continues to deliver on the firm's mission: fearless advocacy, backed by experience, and guided by results.
Want to see Max in action? Explore our case results or contact us to schedule a consultation.
DUI Training Certificates
Professional Profiles & Recognition
Bar Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Florida - Inactive
Education
- University of Miami School of Law, Juris Doctorate
- University of Miami, Bachelor of Arts & Sciences
Memberships & Bar Associations
- National College for DUI Defense, Member
- Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association, Member
- Prince George's County Bar Association, Member
- Anne Arundel County Bar Association, Member