About Cates & Reed, PLLC

Criminal Defense Is About More Than the Charge. It's About Your Future.

When people hire Cates & Reed, PLLC, they are often having one of the worst days of their lives. They may be facing an arrest, an investigation, serious criminal charges, or consequences they never expected. They may not know what happens next—or who they can trust to help them through it.

Our job is to change that.

Cates & Reed, PLLC is a Phoenix-based criminal defense firm built around a straightforward philosophy: prepare relentlessly, protect our clients' rights, and treat every person who walks through our doors like a person—not a case number.

With more than 28 years of dedicated criminal defense experience, we represent clients throughout Arizona in cases ranging from misdemeanors and DUI charges to the most serious felony allegations. But the charge is only part of the picture. We take the time to understand the person behind it, explain what is happening at every stage, and build a defense around the circumstances of each individual case.

Attorney Dwane Cates is Board Certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Criminal Law, a distinction that reflects rigorous knowledge and experience in the field. Our attorneys have also earned recognition from organizations including the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell, including AV Preeminent and Super Lawyers recognition.

We believe those distinctions matter less as trophies than as a reflection of the standard we hold ourselves to on every case: thorough preparation, personal attention, and an unwavering commitment to protecting our clients' rights.

We Prepare Every Case for Trial

One of the most important decisions we make happens at the beginning of every case: we prepare as though the case is going to trial.

When discovery comes in, our attorneys don't simply skim the allegations and wait for the next court date. We examine the evidence carefully, look for details that may have been overlooked, evaluate the State's case, and begin preparing with trial in mind.

That approach matters even when a case ultimately resolves without a trial.

Thorough preparation gives us a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a case and puts our clients in a stronger position to make informed decisions about what comes next.

As Dwane Cates explains:

"We prepare every case as if it's going to trial. When we first get the discovery, we get everything. We go through it with a fine-tooth comb with an eye for going to trial."

This is also why the firm takes on difficult cases. As Hayley Worrell puts it, "This firm takes on the harder cases because they are the ones that need the constitutional right to defense the most."

You Get a Team, Not Just a Lawyer

When you hire Cates & Reed, you are not simply hiring a name on a letterhead.

Dwane Cates personally describes the firm's attorneys and staff as a handpicked team. Each person brings a different role and experience to the defense, but everyone shares the same focus: taking care of the client and preparing the case thoroughly.

That team approach continues throughout the case. Attorneys and experienced criminal defense staff work together to examine the details, keep communication moving, and make sure clients understand what is happening.

As Dwane says:

"When somebody hires us, you got to understand you get a good team, not just a good lawyer."

And that distinction matters. Criminal cases rarely fit neatly into a single person's job description. Strong defense requires preparation, communication, organization, legal judgment, and attention to the details that can affect a person's future.

Your Lawyer's Number. Not an Answering Machine.

Being available to clients isn't something we consider an extra service.

Every Cates & Reed client receives their lawyer's cell phone number.

When you have a question about your case, something happens unexpectedly, or you simply need to understand what comes next, you shouldn't have to wonder whether anyone will call you back.

The firm deliberately maintains direct access between attorneys and clients because criminal proceedings can be confusing and stressful enough without feeling like you're trying to get through to your own lawyer.

As Dwane puts it:

"When you're a client at this firm, you're just not a case number. In fact, we don't even keep case numbers. You know you're not a number here, you're a person."

That personal accessibility is reflected in what clients tell us, too.

We Help You Understand What Happens Next

For many clients, this is their first experience with the criminal justice system.

You shouldn't be expected to understand every court procedure, legal term, or decision you may have to make. Part of our job is to explain what is happening in plain language so you can make informed decisions about your case.

That means keeping you informed rather than leaving you wondering.

It means answering your questions.

And it means recognizing that the emotional side of a criminal case matters, too.

As Aaron Reed explains, many clients have never been through the criminal process before. The firm's responsibility is to help them navigate that unfamiliar territory while working to ease the uncertainty and build trust.

Experience With the Cases That Matter Most

Cates & Reed focuses exclusively on criminal defense, representing clients facing charges ranging from misdemeanors and DUI to serious felony allegations, including violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenses, homicide, weapons charges, and federal criminal matters.

The firm's attorneys bring extensive criminal defense experience to those cases.

Dwane Cates is Board Certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Criminal Law, a distinction that reflects demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field. The firm's attorneys have also received professional recognition from organizations including the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Super Lawyers.

But credentials are only useful if they translate into how a case is handled.

For Cates & Reed, that means careful preparation, attention to detail, direct communication, and a willingness to put in the work a difficult case demands.

The Standard Is the Same on Every Case

Attention to detail isn't reserved for the cases that make headlines.

Aaron Reed describes the firm's approach this way:

"It doesn't really matter whether it's a serious felony or a misdemeanor. Anybody that works cases here, they pay attention to details and their client focus."

That philosophy is important because every criminal case matters to the person facing it.

A misdemeanor can affect someone's job, family, driver's license, finances, or future just as a serious felony can change the course of someone's life.

We don't decide how much a case matters based solely on the charge.

We understand that it matters because it is happening to you.

A Firm That Cares About What Happens After the Case

A criminal charge doesn't exist in a vacuum.

It can affect a person's family, career, reputation, finances, relationships, and future. That's why the goal isn't simply to get through the next court appearance.

Dwane Cates describes the firm's responsibility this way:

"We actually care about you and your family and how this is all going to affect you when it's all done."

That perspective influences the way we communicate with clients, prepare cases, and approach difficult decisions.

Our clients aren't just dealing with a legal problem.

They're dealing with something that can change their lives.

We take that seriously.

Why Clients Choose Us, and Why We're Worth Calling

You have choices when you need a criminal defense attorney. We believe you should choose a firm based on more than a list of charges it handles or logos displayed on a website.

Choose a firm that will:

• Prepare your case as though it will go to trial.
• Pay attention to the details, regardless of the size of the charge.
• Give you direct access to your attorney.
• Explain what is happening instead of leaving you guessing.
• Treat you as a person, not a case number.
• Put an entire team behind your defense.
• Care about what the outcome means for your life and your family.

That's the standard we've built Cates & Reed around.

If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges anywhere in Arizona, we encourage you to call us directly at (480) 864-3807 to discuss your case and see how we can help.