About Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC · San Antonio
Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC (HGC Law Firm PLLC) is an award-winning San Antonio, Texas trial law firm founded in 2017 that focuses on criminal defense and family law, with particular emphasis on high-conflict jury trials, DWI defense, and Child Protective Services cases. Managing Partner Joseph "Joe" Hoelscher and family-law partner Marco Cepeda lead a small, trial-oriented practice that has built a regional reputation for aggressive preparation, media-recognized verdicts, and cutting-edge family-law work. The firm's stated mission is to provide client-centered, results-driven representation throughout San Antonio, Bexar County, and South and Central Texas.
Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC, branded as HGC Law Firm PLLC, was founded in April 2017 in San Antonio, Texas, by trial lawyer Joseph "Joe" Hoelscher II along with his partners Robert "Bobby" Gebbia and Marco Cepeda. The firm concentrates on criminal defense — including DWI, felonies, white-collar crime, federal offenses, drug charges, sex crimes, juvenile matters, and expungement — and family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity, prenuptial agreements, CPS defense, termination-of-parental-rights litigation, and the rights of foster parents and grandparents. It has handled cases of first impression on issues such as parentage of non-biological fathers, assisted reproduction, and same-sex common-law marriage. The firm is known for trying cases to verdict in a variety of Texas counties; on its website it states that all of its lawyers try major cases to verdict regularly, and it does not even track non-jury (bench) trials because of how often it contests matters before judges. Hoelscher's work on forensic alcohol testing has affected DWI practice across Texas, and he is the author of the "Texas Drunk Driving Law" textbook published by LexisNexis/Matthew Bender. The firm is also active in drug-law reform, with Hoelscher serving as a member of NORML's legal committee and the firm being a founding member of the Texas Association of Cannabis Lawyers (TACL). HGC represents individual Texans in personal matters, handling high-profile and high-conflict cases "aggressively and discreetly." Its cases have been covered by America's Most Wanted, Dateline NBC, Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, The New York Times Daily News, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, O: The Oprah Magazine, and U.S. News & World Report. Both named partners have been recognized as Top Criminal Defense Attorneys, Best Family Lawyers in San Antonio, and Best DWI Lawyers by SA Scene Magazine, peer organizations, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. The office is located at 909 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 500A, San Antonio, TX 78209, and serves clients throughout Bexar County and the broader South and Central Texas region.
- In business
- Founded 2017
- Owner
- Joseph "Joe" Hoelscher II (Managing Partner / Senior Manager Attorney), with named partners Robert "Bobby" Gebbia and Marco Cepeda
- Serves
- San Antonio, Bexar County, and South and Central Texas
- Rating
- 4.8/5 stars across 918 reviews on Birdeye; Joseph Hoelscher individually rated 4.8/5 across 145 reviews on Lawbamba (4.7 Google, 5.0 Avvo, 5.0 Lawyers.com)
About HGC Law Firm PLLC
Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC is a San Antonio, Texas trial law firm representing clients throughout the region in criminal defense and family-law matters. According to the firm's website, HGC is known for preparing every case as if it will go to verdict, which it says gives clients real leverage in settlement negotiations. The firm integrates experts and counselors to help clients develop their cases while addressing the underlying problems that brought them into the legal system, and it maintains a holistic, client-centered approach across civil, criminal, Texas state, and federal court matters.
- Founded 2017 in San Antonio, Texas
- Concentrates on criminal defense and family law
- Trial-oriented: prepares every case as if it will go to verdict
- Has handled cases of first impression involving parentage, assisted reproduction, and same-sex common-law marriage
- Active in drug-law reform — member of NORML Legal Committee and founding member of Texas Association of Cannabis Lawyers (TACL)
- Recognized as a Top Criminal Defense Firm by SA Scene Magazine and featured in local, state, and national media
Practice Areas
The firm's two principal practice groups are criminal defense and family law, with substantial overlap in CPS-related matters. The criminal-defense team handles everything from traffic tickets to major felonies and federal conspiracy cases, while the family-law team manages divorce, custody, support, adoption, and an unusually deep bench of child-welfare cases.
Criminal Defense
The criminal-defense practice covers state and federal charges at every level. The firm's website emphasizes that all of its lawyers try major cases to verdict regularly across multiple Texas counties, and it does not even track non-jury trial statistics because of how often its attorneys contest matters in front of judges.
- DWI / DUI (misdemeanor and felony DWI)
- Intoxication Assault & Intoxicated Manslaughter
- Drug Charges (including marijuana reform advocacy)
- Domestic Violence
- White Collar Crime
- Federal Crimes
- Felonies (including aggravated assault with deadly weapon and aggravated sexual assault)
- Misdemeanors
- Sex Crimes / Sexual Assault
- Internet Crimes
- Juvenile Defense
- Expungement & Orders of Non-Disclosure
- Drivers License Suspension / Reinstatement
- Murder / Homicide
- Adjudication & Probation
Family Law
The family-law practice is led by Partner Marco Cepeda and focuses on contested and uncontested divorces, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, and complex child-welfare litigation. The firm has represented clients in cutting-edge cases on assisted reproduction, parentage, and same-sex marriage that have shaped Texas family law.
- Divorce (contested and uncontested)
- Child Custody / SAPCR (Suits Affecting Parent-Child Relationship)
- Child Support (establishment, enforcement, modification)
- Adoption
- Paternity / Father's Rights
- Prenuptial Agreements & Marital Agreements
- Restraining Orders
- Same-Sex Family Law
- Guardianship & Conservatorship
Child Welfare & CPS Defense
Child welfare is a particular focus of the firm. Managing Partner Joe Hoelscher is described on the website as an award-winning child-protection lawyer, and the firm represents parents facing termination of parental rights, as well as foster parents and grandparents asserting their rights. The firm also advises on professional-licensing and state-compliance issues arising from DFPS/DHHS investigations.
- Child Protective Services (CPS) defense
- Termination of Parental Rights defense
- Foster Parents' Rights
- Grandparents' Rights
- Administrative matters involving DFPS/DHHS investigations
- Professional relicensing after criminal accusations
Attorneys
HGC Law Firm PLLC is built around its named partners and their individual practices. The firm was founded by Joseph Hoelscher, Robert "Bobby" Gebbia, and Marco Cepeda in 2017. According to LinkedIn, Robert Gebbia departed the firm in June 2022 to become Trial Division Chief for Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel.
Joseph "Joe" Hoelscher — Managing Partner / Trial Lawyer
Joseph "Joe" Hoelscher II is an award-winning child-protection, criminal-defense, and family-law trial lawyer based in San Antonio. The firm's website recounts that he became involved with the legal system following his mother's disappearance and murder in 1986, and that after being licensed he helped locate his mother — missing for 30 years — so she could be laid to rest. He is the author of the "Texas Drunk Driving Law" textbook (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender), a regular legal-seminar speaker, and a frequent media commentator whose cases have been covered by America's Most Wanted, Dateline NBC, Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, The New York Daily News, and The Washington Times.
- Managing Partner / Senior Manager Attorney
- B.A. (1998) and M.A. (2002), St. Mary's University; J.D. (2006), Baylor Law School
- Licensed in Texas (2007) and U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas (2007)
- Adjunct Professor, Our Lady of the Lake University
- Former Assistant Director of Forensics, St. Mary's University; former teacher at Texas Military Institute
- Member: ABA Advisory Panel; San Antonio Bar Association Mentorship Committee; Co-Chair, SACDLA Retention Committee; Board of Directors, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; NORML Legal Committee; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; National College for DUI Defense; Christian Legal Society
- College of the State Bar of Texas; Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers (2014–present); Top 10 DWI Lawyers in Texas (AIDUIA, 2014–2015)
- Best Family Lawyer and Best DWI Lawyer in San Antonio, SA Scene Magazine (2020)
- Native San Antonian; MacArthur High School class of 1994; wife Melissa; children Louisa, Cecilia, and Wolfgang
Marco Cepeda — Partner, Family Law
Marco Cepeda is the firm's family-law partner. Originally from El Paso, Texas, and the youngest son of Mexican immigrants, he came to San Antonio in 2004 to attend university and graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2014. During law school he volunteered as a student attorney helping indigent clients in family matters through St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice — the experience that inspired his career in family law. He is also an adjunct professor at Our Lady of the Lake University.
- Partner, Senior Attorney, Family Law Division (joined 2018)
- J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (2014) — Pro Bono Services Award
- Texas State Bar #24092237; 11+ years practicing family law
- Adjunct Professor, Our Lady of the Lake University
- Member: Mexican American Bar Association; San Antonio Bar Association; San Antonio Young Lawyers Association
- 10 Best Under 40 Family Law Attorneys, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
- Best San Antonio Lawyers — Family Law & Criminal Law, SA Scene Magazine
- Avvo rating 9.9
Robert "Bobby" Gebbia — Former Partner
Robert "Bobby" Gebbia was a founding named partner and Senior Attorney in the Criminal Division from April 2017 through June 2022. He previously served as a 399th District Court intern at the Bexar County District Attorney's Office and ran his own firm (Law Office of Reece and Gebbia). He left HGC in June 2022 to become Trial Division Chief for Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel.
- Founding partner, Senior Attorney — Criminal Division (Apr 2017 – Jun 2022)
- Practice areas: Drug Crimes, Felonies, DUI/DWI, Expungements, Homicide, Juvenile Law, Misdemeanors, Parole & Probation, Sex Crimes, Theft, Weapons Charges, Drivers License Suspension, White Collar Crime
- Now Trial Division Chief, Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel
Trial Results & Track Record
The firm's homepage highlights a series of representative not-guilty verdicts and dismissed cases across misdemeanor and felony charges. Cases publicized on the website include dismissals of felony DWI, CPS termination-of-parental-rights matters, aggravated assault with deadly weapon, aggravated sexual assault, murder and intoxicated manslaughter, and civil legal actions.
- Aggravated Assault With Deadly Weapon — Not Guilty
- Aggravated Sexual Assault — Dismissed
- Murder & Intoxicated Manslaughter — Not Guilty
- Felony DWI — Dismissed
- CPS Termination of Parental Rights — Dismissed
- Third-Degree Felony — Not Guilty
- Second-Degree Felony — Dismissed
- State Jail Felony — Not Guilty
- Misdemeanor — Dismissed
- Civil Legal Action — Not Guilty
- Sexual Assault — Dismissed
Client Testimonials
The firm's "Client Testimonials" page aggregates Google reviews. Excerpted testimonials include praise for Joe Hoelscher's three-year defense culminating in a not-guilty verdict and a "new lease on life," a client noting that Marco Cepeda is "straight up and honest" and willing to correct his clients' mistakes while still fighting for them, and strong endorsement of Gebbia for getting a family member's case "dismissed and closed" so the family could "stay united."
- "I have been represented by Joe for the past 3 years… He kept me informed every step of the way. You will not find a better attorney." — client testimonial
- "My husband attorney Gebbia worked tirelessly… I would absolutely recommend him to everyone. He truly cares about families."
- "Mr. Hoelscher and Mr. Gebbia are fantastic lawyers. They have a lot of experience and work very hard for their clients." — Jim H.
- Multiple Marco Cepeda testimonials highlighting his honesty, communication, and trial success in family-law enforcement and child-custody matters
Community, Pro Bono & Professional Service
The firm's attorneys are active in the San Antonio legal community and in pro bono work. Joe Hoelscher's pro bono practice focuses on child welfare, the rights of the indigent accused, and First and Second Amendment issues; he has served on a multi-organizational committee raising funds to support the Bexar County Children's Courts and foster children in San Antonio, on the San Antonio Bar Association's Mentorship Committee, and as Co-Chair of the SACDLA Retention Committee. Marco Cepeda received the Pro Bono Services Award from St. Mary's University School of Law for his work as a student attorney helping indigent clients at St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice.
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association — Board of Directors
- Texas Association of Cannabis Lawyers (TACL) — founding member
- NORML — Legal Committee member
- Bexar County Children's Courts / foster children fundraising committee
- Christian Legal Society member (Hoelscher)
- Mexican American Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Young Lawyers Association (Cepeda)
- Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas
Contact & Office Information
The firm's office is on the NE Interstate 410 Loop in San Antonio, easily accessible from across the city and surrounding counties. Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday. The firm offers free initial consultations, and intake is via phone or the website contact form.
- Address: 909 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 500A, San Antonio, TX 78209
- Mailing / secondary address on some directories: 3030 Nacogdoches Rd, Suite 222G, San Antonio, TX 78217
- Phone: (210) 222-9132
- Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Sat–Sun Closed
- Free initial consultation available
- Website contact form: https://www.hgclaw.com/contact/
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hoelscher-gebbia-cepeda-pllc