About Our Criminal Defense Law Firm
Texas Attorneys with Decades of Experience
Botsford & Roark, founded in 2007 by attorney Brian Roark and attorney David L. Botsford, is an Austin, TX law firm with a focus on DWI, Title IX violations, white collar offenses, appeals, and intricate federal and state criminal cases. We proudly stand among the foremost criminal defense law firms in Texas.
“I was completely frantic, and he completely put me at ease with the calm and simple way he explained everything to me.” - Z, review for Brian Roark
Our Austin criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to achieving favorable outcomes for our clients through a strategic and comprehensive approach. The founding partners are both AV Preeminent Peer Rated Attorneys by Martindale-Hubbell, an honor reserved for the most trusted and respected lawyers in the U.S., according to other lawyers.
Our law firm has strong professional connections with prosecutors and judges, which enables effective negotiation when needed. Additionally, we are well-prepared to present innovative legal arguments in court, and we are always ready for trial.
When you’ve been charged with a crime, we are here to help
We proudly serve clients in all legal matters throughout Central Texas while our Title IX violation defense is available statewide and nationwide. Our law firm handles cases involving:
- DWI & DUI
- Title IX violations
- Assault
- Aggravated assault
- Sexual assault
- Drug possession and distribution
- Tax evasion
- Appeals
- White collar crimes
If you have been accused of a crime in Central Texas, contact us for a free case evaluation.
“These guys have the customer experience down!“- Chris C.
Meet the Botsford & Roark team
When you have Botsford & Roark on your side, you get the dedicated efforts of the law firm’s full team:
High-profile cases and clients
Botsford & Roark has historically devoted a significant amount of time to protecting the rights of high-profile individuals accused of crimes, students facing Title IX violation allegations, and Central Texas drivers charged with DWI. Notably, the firm successfully represented Governor Rick Perry from April 2014 to February 2016 and obtained a dismissal of all charges from his indictment. Mr. Roark has also represented the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, the Mayor of Austin, State Senators and Representatives, judges, and fellow lawyers.
Due to the status of our clients and the complexity of the cases we handle, Botsford & Roark and our attorneys appear in the news media often. Past coverage includes:
- Dallas County death row inmate’s case sent back to state court – My San Antonio
- UT-Austin, student settle in sexual misconduct case after suspension reversed – My San Antonio
- Kendall Sanders sexual assault trial begins - KVUE
- Former lawmaker sentenced to six days in jail for drunken driving – The Texas Tribune
- Yassine Enterprises founder cites grounds for appeal of conviction – Austin American-Statesman
For more information, you can watch videos and read articles involving our law firm on our In the Media page and read our staff biographies.
After almost four years prosecuting in the Travis County Attorney’s Office, Attorney Zach Wortham decided it was time to see if “the grass was greener” in private practice and joined Botsford & Roark.
Zach’s journey to the firm’s team began in earnest around 2013, which is when he graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. After much deliberation and soul searching (and pressure from his parents to attend medical school), Zach decided to go to law school. He attended Baylor Law School where he quickly found a love for the courtroom in Baylor’s infamous practice court program.
After graduating law school, Zach served in a federal clerkship in Gulfport, MS for the Chief Judge of the Southern District of Mississippi, the Honorable Lou Guirola. In this role, Zach got a behind the scenes view of federal practice. Upon completion of his clerkship, Zach moved to Austin where he worked as a prosecutor in the Travis County Attorney’s Office and fine-tuned his skills as a trial lawyer.
Zach grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He likes to hunt and fish and spend time with his wife, friends, and two dogs.
A dedicated lawyer with a passion for helping clients, attorney Francisco Martinez developed an interest in the legal field at an early age. He first came to Botsford & Roark as a runner, where he soon gained an interest in criminal defense. Francisco attended St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio where he graduated with honors. During his time there, Francisco worked as a student attorney in the Criminal Justice Clinic. Francisco also worked as a research assistant where he helped with the university’s Wrongful Conviction Project.
When he is not in the office working on a case, you can find Francisco playing soccer, cycling, running, dancing, or playing with his dog, Bexar.
Karina manages the daily operations of Botsford & Roark. She is knowledgeable of the legal proceedings, maintains the lawyer’s calendar, and helps keep things orderly. Karina communicates with our team, court personnel, and clients. Working alongside the lawyers allows her to support clients in the most challenging times in their lives. Karina provides a high level of administrative support in the workplace, has superb people skills, and is reliable. Through exceptional service, Karina's goal is to support clients by making them feel heard and understood.
Karina earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Management degree from Evangel University. In her spare time, Karina likes to explore new adventures with her husband, Daine, attend her children’s extra-curricular activities, or spend time with girlfriends.