The 2025 listing of leading Victorian Criminal Defence Lawyers details solicitors practising in criminal law matters in the Victorian legal market who have been identified by their fellow Victorian criminal lawyers and barristers for their expertise and abilities in the area.
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Una Ebsworth, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O’Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Avi Furstenberg, Doogue & George
Andrew George, Doogue & George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Ruth Parker, Galbally Parker
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Nick Tehan, Slades & Parsons
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
Brett Barratt, James Dowsley & Associates
Holly Boylan, Doogue & George
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
Manny Brennan, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Angus Cameron, Angus Cameron & Partners
Domenic Care, James Dowsley & Associates
Bridget Coath, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Sarah Condon, Robinson Gill
Louise Conwell, Stary Norton Halphen
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Dee Giannopoulos, Dooge + George
Nadia Giorgianni, Giorgianni & Liang
Kartya Gracer, Galbally O’Bryan
Fiona Jenkins, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Adrian Lewin, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Jim McGarvie, Stary Norton Halphen
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca & Zayler
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Felix Ralph, Marshall Jovanovska & Ralph
James Simpson, Simpson Defence Lawyers
Sally Vardy, Balmer & Associates
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyer
Previous editions
2024 edition published July 2024
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Una Ebsworth, Doogue + George
Avi Furstenberg, Doogue & George
Andrew George, Doogue & George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Ruth Parker, Galbally Parker
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Nick Tehan, Slades & Parsons
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
Brett Barratt, James Dowsley & Associates
Holly Boylan, Doogue & George
Mike Brown, Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers
Angus Cameron, Angus Cameron Lawyers
Domenic Care, James Dowsley & Associates
Louise Conwell, Stary Norton Halphen
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
David Dribbin, Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers
Zarah Garde-Wilson, Garde-Wilson Lawyers
Dee Giannopoulos, Dooge + George
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Adrian Lewin, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Jim McGarvie, Stary Norton Halphen
Chris McLennan, Chris McLennan & Co
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Will Parker, Tony Hargreaves & Associates
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Felix Ralph, Marshall Jovanovska & Ralph
Sally Vardy, Balmer & Associates
Zyg Zayler, Zayler Melasecca & Kelly
2023 edition published June 2023
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Una Ebsworth, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Kartya Gracer, Galbally & O'Bryan
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Ruth Parker, Galbally Parker
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Tim Schocker, Stary Norton Halphen
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
Alexis Bebbington, Bebbington Lawyers
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
Domenic Care, James Dowsley & Associates
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Zarah Garde-Wilson, Garde-Wilson Lawyers
Dee Giannopoulos, Dooge + George
Anthony Isaacs, Anthony Isaacs
Fiona Jenkins, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Adrian Lewin, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Chris McLennan, Chris McLennan & Co
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Nick Tehan, Slades & Parsons
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyer
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
Zyg Zayler, Zayler Melasecca & Kelly
2022 edition published August 2022
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Leading
Vincent Azzopardi, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Una Ebsworth, Doogue + George
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Ruth Parker, Galbally Parker
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Tim Schocker, Stary Norton Halphen
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Recommended
Anna Blamer, Balmer & Associates
Alexis Bebbington, Bebbington Lawyers
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Zarah Garde-Wilson, Garde-Wilson Lawyers
Kartya Gracer, Galbally O'Bryan
Anthony Isaacs, Anthony Isaacs
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Adrian Lewin, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Chris McLennan, Chris McLennan & Associates
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Nick Tehan, Slades & Parsons
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyer
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
2021 edition published July 2021
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Una Ebsworth, Doogue + George
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Ruth Parker, Galbally Parker
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
Recommended
Vincent Azzopardi, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Alexis Bebbington, Bebbington Lawyers
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Dee Giannopoulos, Doogue + George
Anthony Isaacs, Anthony Isaacs
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Adrian Lewin, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Chris McLennan, Chris McLennan & Associates
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Tim Schocker, Stary Norton Halphen
Robert Stary, Stary Norton Halphen
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyer
Matthew White, Matthew White & Associates
Zyg Zayler, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
2020 edition published August 2020
Preeminent
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Leading
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Ruth Parker, Galbally Rolfe
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Robert Stary, Stary Norton Halphen
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
Alexis Bebbington, Bebbington Lawyers
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
Nelson Brown, Nelson Brown Legal
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Una Ebsworth, Lethbridges
Simon English, Simon English Lawyers
Xavier Farrelly, Farrelly Legal
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Shaun Pascoe, Pascoe Criminal Law
Chris Stakis, Wisewould Mahony
Nick Tehan, Slades & Parsons
Stephen Andrianakis, Stephen Andrianakis & Associates
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Jim Valos, Valos Black & Associates
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
2019 edition published August 2019
Preeminent
Marita Altman, Lethbridges
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Tim Freeman, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Leading
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Robert Stary, Stary Norton Halphen
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Recommended
Bernie Balmer, Balmer & Associates
David Barrese, David Barrese & Associates
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Simon English, Simon English Lawyers
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Alastair Grigor, Grigor Lawyers
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Tony Hannebery, Tony Hannebery Lawyers
Tony Isaacs Anthony Isaacs Criminal Defence Lawyers
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Martine Marich, Martine Marich & Associates
Chris McLennan, Chris McLennan & Co
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
Thea Milides, Milides Lawyers
Charles Nikakis, Haines & Polites
Ruth Parker, Galbally Rolfe
Tim Schocker, Stary Norton Halphen
Jim Valos, Valos Black & Associates
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyers
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
Alex Wilson, Lethbridges
2018 edition published August 2018
Preeminent
Marita Altman, Lethbridges
Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Andrew George, Doogue + George
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Tim Freeman, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Martine Marich, Martine Marich & Associates
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Robert Stary, Stary Norton Halphen
Josh Taaffe, Doogue + George
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Alex Wilson, Lethbridges
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
David Barrese, David Barrese & Associates
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Robert Galbally, Galbally Rolfe
Alastair Grigor, Grigor Lawyers
Tony Hannebery, Tony Hannebery Lawyers
Tony Isaacs Anthony Isaacs Criminal Defence Lawyers
Kristina Kothrakis, Doogue + George
Daniela Markotich, Markotich Lawyers
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
Andrew Papadimitropoulos, Papa Hughes
Jasmine Pisasale, Slades & Parsons
Mel Walker, Mel Walker Criminal Lawyers
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
Matthew White, Matthew White & Associates
2017 edition published August 2017
Preeminent
Marita Altman, Lethbridges
Bill Doogue, Doogue O'Brien George
Paul Galbally, Galbally O'Bryan
Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Sam Norton, Stary Norton Halphen
Steven Pica, Pica Criminal Lawyers
Leading
Peter Brown, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
James Dowsley, James Dowsley & Associates
Jordana Fayman, Fayman Lawyers
Tim Freeman, Tony Hargreaves & Partners
Avi Furstenberg, Furstenberg Law
Andrew George, Doogue O'Brien George
Andrew Halphen, Stary Norton Halphen
Tony Hannebery, Tony Hannebery Lawyers
Tony Isaacs Anthony Isaacs Criminal Defence Lawyers
Robert Stary, Stary Norton Halphen
Josh Taaffe, Doogue O'Brien George
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Peter Ward, Galbally O'Bryan
Alex Wilson, Lethbridges
Recommended
Anna Balmer, Balmer & Associates
Bernie Balmer, Balmber & Associates
Anthony Brand, Slades & Parsons
Simon English, Simon English
Alastair Grigor, Grigor Lawyers
Theo Magazis, Theo Magazis & Associates
Martine Marich, Martine Marich & Associates
Daniela Markotich, Markotich Lawyers
Rob Melasecca, Melasecca Kelly & Zayler
Peter Murphy, Warren Graham & Murphy
Anne-Marie Stephanides, Doogue O'Brien George
Leanne Warren, Leanne Warren & Associates
Mark Woods, Tyler Tipping & Woods