Firm Profile
The Defense Firm
Section titled “The Defense Firm”| Legal name | Law Office of Ryan Helmick & Associates (dba The Defense Firm) |
| Website | https://thedefensefirm.com |
| Established | 2012 |
| Firm size | 2 attorneys + 4 support staff |
| Focus | Criminal defense exclusively |
| Description | Family-run criminal defense firm focused on quality over quantity |
Market
Section titled “Market”| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 8180 Rafael Rivera Way, Suite 205, Las Vegas, NV 89113 | 702-HELMICK (702-435-6425) |
Note: Same building as Pacific West Injury Law (Suite 200 vs 205)
Phone discrepancy: 702-435-6425 (firm site) vs 725-286-0002 (Super Lawyers) — needs client confirmation
Practice Areas
Section titled “Practice Areas”- Battery & assault
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes / trafficking
- DUI/DWI
- Gun crimes
- Kidnapping
- Murder
- Robbery, burglary & theft
- Sexual assault / sex crimes
- Federal criminal cases
- Felonies & misdemeanors
- Expungement
- Juvenile delinquency
- Probation violations
- Motor vehicle offenses
- Criminal fraud / tax evasion
Attorneys
Section titled “Attorneys”K. Ryan Helmick — Founder & Lead Attorney
Section titled “K. Ryan Helmick — Founder & Lead Attorney”| Full legal name | Kirk Ryan Helmick |
| Bar | Nevada #12769, active since 2012 |
| Discipline | None found |
| Education | J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law (Dean’s List x2) · B.S. Criminal Justice, UNLV |
| Mentorship | Trained under Bill Terry and Gerry Spence (Trial Lawyers College) |
Recognitions (verified): Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2021, 2022, 2025) · National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2023-2025) · NTL Top 40 Under 40 (2015-2016) · LVRJ Best of Las Vegas (2022)
High-profile cases: State v. Kerlus (murder dismissed) · State v. Harlan (1st degree murder) · State v. Telles (LVRJ reporter murder) · State v. Johns (teen murder)
Media: A&E “Accused: Guilty or Innocent?” S4E6 (Feb 2023) · Author, “The Defense Begins” (Amazon)
Notable roles: Member, Office of Appointed Counsel (life sentence cases) · Ombudsman, Police Fatality Fact-Finding Review Board
Branden Helmick — Criminal Defense Attorney
Section titled “Branden Helmick — Criminal Defense Attorney”| Bar | Not found in any public directory |
| Education (per firm site only) | J.D., UNLV Boyd School of Law · B.A., San Jose State University (Cum Laude) |
| Status | All credentials unverified — needs client confirmation |
Critical note: No independent source confirms bar admission, bar number, full legal name, or relationship to K. Ryan Helmick. Kirk Helmick Sr.’s obituary (2020) names only two sons: Kirk Ryan and Kristopher Michael — no Branden.
Support Team
Section titled “Support Team”| Name | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Yadira Ramirez | Firm Manager | B.A. Criminal Justice, UNLV; 2L at Mitchell Hamline; 14 years with Ryan Helmick |
| Jazmin Torres Massey | Senior Case Manager | Legal Assistant Certificate, Northwest Career College |
| Jon Scott | Investigator/Consultant | 30+ year police veteran, US Marine; co-owner DeScotta Consulting |
| Phil DePalma | Investigator/Consultant | 27-year retired detective; homicides, sex crimes, violent crimes |
Review Presence
Section titled “Review Presence”| Platform | Type | Rating | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | 4.9 | 362+ | |
| Avvo | K. Ryan Helmick | — | 73 reviews |
| Yelp | Firm | 3.5 | 3 reviews |
Yelp is a liability — 3 reviews at 3.5 stars vs Google’s 362 at 4.9
Key Facts
Section titled “Key Facts”- K. Ryan Helmick has the strongest verified credential profile among Las Vegas criminal defense solo/small firms
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law lost ABA accreditation (2019) and closed (2021) — Helmick graduated before the decline
- 2013 courthouse gun arrest: misdemeanor, no contest plea, ~$1,500 fine, no bar discipline (LVRJ coverage exists)
- “Lawyer of the Year” (2024, 2025) claimed on profiles but awarding organization cannot be identified
- Multiple duplicate/incorrect directory profiles need cleanup (3 Martindale, 2 LinkedIn, 2 Justia)