Courtroom and investigative experience across Arizona's most serious criminal and injury matters.
Long & Simmons Law / Phoenix, Arizona
Prosecutorial knowledge, applied to your defense.
The difference between a former prosecutor and a Major Felony prosecutor is not a distinction without a difference.
Long & Simmons Law was built by attorneys who handled homicide, major felony, kidnapping, home invasion, sex crimes, and complex multi-defendant matters before defending clients against them.
Board certified. Former Major Felony prosecutors. Death penalty qualified. Nationally recognized experts.Free Confidential ConsultationCall 602.795.8808
From DUI and serious felonies to first-degree murder and homicide cases.
Extensive experience in complex case litigation.
Criminal Law Specialist designation independently verified by the State Bar of Arizona.
Who We Are
A Partnership Built on Prosecutorial Depth
Long & Simmons Law is not a general practice firm that handles criminal cases among many other areas. It is built around the knowledge, experience, and resources required to defend serious criminal charges and pursue serious injury claims.
Both partners are former Major Felony prosecutors who tried the most serious cases the state brings. That specific background is a working method: start with the investigation, hold every government step to the standard it was required to meet, and make every deficiency matter.
The attorneys at Long & Simmons Law know how cases are built because they built them. They know where those cases fail because they have found every failure.
A Full-Service Practice: Criminal and Civil
Long & Simmons Law handles serious criminal defense alongside personal injury matters including vehicle accidents, commercial trucking, wrongful death, and serious injury claims. Every area of the practice is approached with the same forensic standard.
Access to Investigators and Experts
The firm works with accident reconstructionists, former law enforcement investigators, and forensic specialists who preserve evidence, analyze scenes, and build the factual foundation a serious case requires.
Meet Long & Simmons Law
Jefferson Simmons
Partner / Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist / Former Major Crimes Prosecutor
Board Certified Criminal Law SpecialistFormer Major Crimes ProsecutorMaricopa County Attorney's OfficeSuper Lawyers Rising Star
Jefferson Simmons is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a designation granted by the State Bar of Arizona to attorneys who demonstrate exceptional knowledge, experience, and skill in criminal law through trial experience, peer recommendations, and a rigorous written examination.
Before entering private practice, Mr. Simmons served for nearly seven years as a prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, spending much of that time as a Major Crimes Prosecutor handling serious felony matters, including DUI, homicide, assault, and drug cases.
He worked extensively with the Phoenix H.I.K.E. unit, leading kidnapping and home invasion prosecutions across the greater Phoenix area, complex multi-defendant cases requiring command of investigation and courtroom advocacy.
His work in juvenile courts also gives him familiarity with the judges, prosecutors, and procedures of the juvenile justice system. He approaches juvenile defendants with dignity and honesty, recognizing the significance of what a young person's future holds.
Most people who walk through our door have never needed a criminal defense attorney before. My job is to explain exactly where things stand, what the realistic options are, and what we are going to do about it.
Jefferson Simmons, Long & Simmons Law
Matthew Long
Partner / National Sex Crimes Expert / Former Major Felony Bureau Chief / Death Penalty Qualified
National Sex Crimes ExpertFormer Major Felony Bureau ChiefDeath Penalty QualifiedLaw Enforcement Trainer
Matthew Long is a former Major Felony Bureau Chief who supervised prosecutors in trial, developed training on advanced trial techniques, and led some of Arizona's most complex criminal matters.
The Arizona Supreme Court has determined that Matt Long is one of the Arizona attorneys qualified to serve as lead counsel in death-penalty cases, reflecting decades of work on the most serious matters the system handles.
His expertise in sex crimes, child crimes, and forensic investigation is nationally recognized. He has trained law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and mental health practitioners on investigation, forensic interview protocols, and trial presentation.
Matt Long is a lifelong Arizonan, a Tempe kid, a Mesa father, a child advocate, and a lawyer who starts by hearing the human reality behind every case.
My job is to police the police. The government has enormous power and enormous resources. My job is to make sure they used those resources correctly, constitutionally, and fairly.
Matthew Long, Long & Simmons Law
Claudia Z. Horan Reed
Personal Injury Attorney / Criminal Defense
Personal Injury: All TypesPlaintiff Class Action ExperienceCriminal DefenseTop 40 Under 40 Nominee
Claudia Z. Horan Reed represents clients across serious injury claims including car and motorcycle accidents, commercial trucking litigation, wrongful death, slip and fall, assault and battery, and government liability.
Before joining Long & Simmons Law, Ms. Horan Reed defended hundreds of individuals accused of misdemeanor and felony crimes across Arizona jurisdictions, giving her a broad view of how cases are built and resolved.
She approaches every matter with personal attention and direct communication, understanding that a serious accident or criminal charge can be physical, emotional, and financial at the same time.
Every case is personal to me. When you hire us, you get our time. We meet face to face, and you have access to our direct line when questions arise.
Claudia Z. Horan Reed, Long & Simmons Law
Media & National Recognition
Independently Recognized. Nationally Consulted.
When journalists and national outlets covering significant criminal matters need an expert who can explain forensic investigation, prosecutorial standards, and criminal law with precision, they call Long & Simmons Law.
These appearances are not advertising placements. They are independent validations of expertise by journalists and editors who had every reason to demand the real thing.
National Broadcast & Print
AP, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and the San Francisco Chronicle have relied on Long & Simmons Law for criminal law analysis and case commentary.
Local Arizona Media
The Arizona Republic, 12 News, Channel 3, and Fox News Arizona have featured expert commentary on Arizona criminal law, forensic investigation standards, and high-profile local cases.
High-Profile Case Consultation
The firm's experience has been sought for matters involving prosecutorial standards, forensic investigation, constitutional process, and public-interest criminal cases.
What Every Client Can Expect
The methodology is consistent across every practice area and every case. It begins with the investigation, then builds strategy from the facts, the process, and the law.
The Investigation Comes First
Every criminal defense or personal injury matter begins with an independent assessment of what evidence was gathered, how it was gathered, and whether the process was legally and procedurally sound.
Forensic Resources Applied Immediately
Accident reconstructionists, former law enforcement investigators, and forensic specialists are engaged early when a case requires evidence preservation and technical analysis.
Pre-File Engagement Available
The period before charges are filed or before a claim is formally asserted can be the most valuable time to preserve evidence, conduct a parallel investigation, and shape the case.
Prepared for Trial From Day One
Long & Simmons Law prepares cases for trial, not just settlement. That approach changes negotiations with prosecutors, insurers, and opposing counsel.
Clear, Consistent Communication
Clients should understand where their case stands, what the realistic options are, and what comes next. Direct attorney access is part of the firm's standard.
Criminal and Civil Coverage
A serious event can create a criminal investigation, civil injury claim, MVD proceeding, and insurance dispute at once. The firm understands how those tracks interact.
The clients who come to us are facing the most serious situations of their lives. They deserve to know the difference between a marketing label and real major felony trial experience.
Former Prosecutors. Board Certified. Ready.
Whether you are facing criminal charges, under investigation, pursuing an injury claim, or seeking a second opinion, Long & Simmons Law is ready to hear your situation and tell you honestly where things stand.