Kristina Kothrakis is a highly skilled criminal defence lawyer with over 18 years of experience. An Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, Kristina appears daily in the Magistrates’ and County Courts of Victoria, defending clients in a wide range of criminal matters. Her areas of expertise include sexual offences, white-collar crime, drug trafficking/importation, family violence charges, driving charges, and all forms of summary crime.
Kristina has built a strong reputation for her strategic thinking, persuasive advocacy, and unwavering dedication to her clients. She defends clients charged by various authorities, including Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force, and Worksafe. Kristina also represents clients at Royal Commissions, ASIC hearings (both public and private), and the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).
Her work extends to professional misconduct hearings, particularly at VCAT and submissions to AHPRA. Kristina’s ability to navigate complex legal issues in both criminal and regulatory settings makes her a trusted advocate for individuals and organisations, alike.
A significant part of Kristina's practice involves sexual offence cases. She understands the sensitive and often stigmatised nature of these charges and provides her clients with a compassionate, non-judgmental approach. Kristina works closely with her clients to build a strong defence, carefully reviewing the details surrounding the allegations and formulating a counter-narrative to demonstrate reasonable doubt. Kristina’s skill in strategizing for jury trials sets her apart.Â
Kristina is highly successful in achieving non-conviction outcomes, and her clients appreciate her direct and empathetic communication. Kristina understands that being on the Sex Offender Register can be restrictive and prevent people from moving forward in life. She assists clients in making application for their reporting obligations to be suspended and makes applications for permission to travel overseas, with great success.
In addition to sexual offence cases, Kristina is experienced in defending clients in white-collar crime cases, including fraud, deception, and WorkCover fraud. She regularly appears in ASIC and IBAC hearings, handling complex corporate crime matters. Kristina also represents professionals in disciplinary proceedings, providing expert advice and representation in matters of professional negligence or misconduct.
Kristina’s strong advocacy skills, are complemented by her client-centred approach. She works closely with counsel from the Victorian Bar, ensuring the right barrister is briefed for each case. Her focus is always on achieving the best outcome for her clients, whether that means preventing charges from being laid, persuading the police to recommend diversion, or securing non-conviction results. Kristina never loses sight of what is truly important to the client in each case. She is a steady hand that is an asset to any case.
Her expertise in the appeal jurisdiction has led to numerous successes in both conviction and sentence appeals, offering clients a second chance to correct perceived injustices.
Kristina is an active contributor to the legal community. She has served as the co-chair of the Executive Committee of the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV), advocating for reform and opposing proposals that would limit judicial discretion.
Her background in psychology provides invaluable insight when working with clients facing mental health challenges, further enhancing her ability to support and guide her clients through the legal process.
Kristina was ranked as a Recommended Criminal Defence Lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide 2024, and Doogue + George was listed as a First Tier Criminal Law Defence Firm.
