Christopher Combs brings preparation, direct communication, and trial-focused defense to clients facing criminal charges across Missouri.
Criminal charges often come with confusion, fear, and the need for urgent decision-making. They interrupt work, family life, finances, and a person’s sense of control. For someone accused of DWI/DUI, a serious felony, a white-collar crime, a federal offense, or an order of protection violation, the first questions are often immediate and practical: What happens next? What are my rights? Who can help me make sense of this?
Christopher Combs has built his Missouri criminal defense practice around those moments. As a founding partner of Missouri and Illinois criminal defense law firm Combs Waterkotte, he represents individuals facing difficult legal circumstances, with a focus on strategy, preparation, and clear communication. His work reflects a simple but important idea: people under accusation need more than legal answers. They need a defense plan they can understand and an advocate prepared to act.
A Lawyer Known for Precision Under Pressure
Chris Combs is recognized for handling complex and high-stakes criminal matters with determination and care. His work covers a broad range of criminal defense matters throughout Missouri, including DWI/DUI charges, serious felonies, federal charges, white-collar crimes, orders of protection, and other cases requiring close attention to detail.
That range of work calls for more than a standard approach. A DWI/DUI case may require analysis of the stop, testing, officer conduct, and procedural issues. A felony or federal case may involve substantial evidence, witness statements, timelines, and constitutional questions. St. Louis and Missouri criminal attorney Chris Combs approaches these matters with trial-ready preparation, giving each case a strategy shaped by its facts rather than a template.
For clients, that preparation can make the process feel less uncertain. Combs emphasizes communication, helping people understand their options, the risks involved, and the legal steps ahead in a system that can feel intimidating; that clarity matters.
The Firm Behind the Defense
Steven Waterkotte and Christopher Combs founded Combs Waterkotte with the belief that every person deserves a fair trial and a vigorous defense, regardless of the accusation. That belief shapes the firm’s work as one of Missouri’s top criminal defense firms, serving clients during some of the most stressful periods of their lives.
The firm emphasizes trust, transparency, personalized legal strategies, and consistent support. Those values matter because criminal defense lawyers in Missouri often work with people who are not only worried about court, but also about their jobs, families, reputations, and futures. Combs Waterkotte’s model is built around helping clients stay informed while pursuing the best possible outcome through tailored legal strategies and strong advocacy.
For individuals seeking criminal defense or leading Missouri DWI attorneys, the firm’s approach centers on preparation before the courtroom and forceful representation when a case demands it.
Recognition With a Broader Purpose
Christopher Combs’ professional recognition includes Super Lawyers in Missouri, Kansas Rising Star, Top 10 Under 40 by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and 10 Best Attorneys in Missouri by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys. These honors reflect the reputation he has developed through criminal defense work and courtroom advocacy.
His work also extends beyond the legal process. Combs is active in the St. Louis community and involved with the National Peer Recovery Alliance, where he supports individuals affected by substance use disorders and mental health challenges. That community involvement connects with a broader view of justice, one that recognizes the human circumstances often surrounding criminal cases.
Advocacy That Starts With the Client
Christopher Combs’ larger goal is to continue strengthening Combs Waterkotte’s role as a leading Missouri criminal defense firm while promoting fairness, justice, and strong advocacy within the legal system. His practice is grounded in preparation, but also in the people behind each case.
When someone faces criminal charges, the legal strategy matters. So does the ability to explain it, defend it, and stand by the client at every stage. That is where Chris Combs has built his reputation: in the space between legal pressure and personal uncertainty, where a steady defense from leading St. Louis and Missouri criminal defense attorneys can help clients move forward with a clearer understanding of what comes next.