Top Criminal Lawyers in Australia - Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia

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Australia has some of the most renowned criminal lawyers in the world, men and women who help uphold our country’s ideals of fairness, justice and civil liberties.

A lawyer is a generic title that includes barrister, solicitor, Magistrate, and Judge. Whilst it can be difficult to choose which criminal lawyers to highlight, and not in any particular order, here are eight notable criminal lawyers who have practiced within Australia with an exceptional reputation as one of, if not the best legal practitioners in Australia.

If you wish to discuss this more or have a case that you require urgent advice and representation for, then get in touch with our criminal lawyers team today.

Table Of Contents

1. Robert Richter KC
2. Philip Opas QC
4. Margaret Cunneen SC
5. Justice Michael Kirby
6. Bret Walker SC
7. Edward Broadhurst
8. Joan Rosanove

1. Robert Richter KC

Probably the most well-known criminal barrister to a lay audience, Robert Richter KC, born in 1946, is one of the most sought-after counsel in the country.

Emigrating to Australia in his youth from Israel, Richter overcame language barriers to graduate with honours in law from the University of Melbourne and become admitted to the bar in 1971. Richter built a reputation for defending high-profile and controversial clients, often in cases facing intense public scrutiny. Among his notable cases, he successfully defended Mick Gatto on a murder charge in 2005 and, more recently, represented Cardinal George Pell during his appeal against a conviction for child sexual abuse, which was eventually quashed by the High Court.

Richter became a King’s Counsel in 1985 in recognition of his distinguished career and continues to practice today. Beyond the courtroom, Richter has advocated for civil liberties, serving on the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties and the Law Reform Commission of Victoria.

2. Philip Opas QC

Philip Opas QC (1917–2008) was a prominent barrister who became known for his stand against capital punishment.

He is most remembered for defending Ronald Ryan, Australia’s last person executed, challenging the validity of eyewitness testimony and evidence. Although Ryan was ultimately executed in 1967, this case solidified Opas’s dedication to ending the death penalty and impacted public opinion on the issue.

Opas advocated against capital punishment for the rest of his life and his views were influential the abolishment of the death penalty in all jurisdictions in Australia in 1985.

3. William Wentworth

William Charles Wentworth (1790–1872) was a pioneering figure in colonial Australia as well as one of New South Wales’ first barristers. Born at sea and raised in Sydney, Wentworth was an outspoken advocate for civil rights, focusing on emancipated convict rights and pressing for trial by jury and press freedom. In 1824, he co-founded ‘The Australian’, the colony’s first independent newspaper, advancing press freedom and the right to critique government policies.

Wentworth’s political influence was pivotal, he helped draft New South Wales’ first self-governing constitution in 1853, laying the foundation for representative government. Westworth would go on to become a politician and the President of the NSW Legislative Council.

Wentworth’s legacy of civil liberties advocacy however is tarnished by his writings and advocacy for the subjugation of Australia’s First Nations people, a racism so virulent at the time it was notably cruel even amongst his contemporaries.

4. Margaret Cunneen SC

Margaret Cunneen SC is a Australian barrister, known for her extensive career in criminal prosecution. Born in 1959, Cunneen rose to prominence as a Crown Prosecutor in NSW, handling high-profile cases involving violent crime. Cunneen has been lauded as a pioneering figure for female prosecutors and criminal barristers in Australia, inspiring future generations of women in criminal law. Her career achievements were recognised with her appointment as Senior Counsel in 2007.

Cunneen is also notable for her role as Commissioner of the Special Commission of Inquiry into child abuse allegations within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, further demonstrating her commitment to tackling violent crime in Australia.

CDLA, including Principal lawyer Jimmy Singh has and continues to work with Margaret Cunneen SC across serious and complex sexual assault cases and trials over the years.

5. Justice Michael Kirby

Michael Kirby, born 1939, is probably best known as the “great dissenter” as a jurist on the High Court of Australia, however his Honour began his career at the New South Wales Bar, quickly establishing a reputation for criminal defence advocacy and a principled commitment to justice. His background as a barrister deeply influenced his approach as a judge, particularly in human rights, criminal law, and social justice issues. Known for his progressive views, Kirby’s work as a barrister set a foundation for his later judicial philosophy, emphasising equality and individual rights.

Kirby became Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission in 1975, advancing through roles in the Federal Court and NSW Court of Appeal before being appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1996.

6. Bret Walker SC

Bret Walker SC, born 1954, is a high-profile Australian barrister known for his expertise in constitutional law, criminal law, and public inquiries. Beginning his legal career at the New South Wales Bar in 1979, he was appointed Senior Counsel in 1993. Walker’s influence spans several high-profile cases and public roles, including as president of the New South Wales Bar Association and as editor of the NSW Law Reports.

Outside his role as legal advocacy, Walker has served as the first Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, as a Special Commissioner for the Sydney Ferries inquiry in 2007 as well as heading the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin in 2018.

7. Edward Broadhurst

Edward Broadhurst (1810–1883) was a notable early New South Wales barrister known for his advocacy for criminal justice reform. Born in England, Broadhurst moved to Sydney in 1837 and quickly gained prominence as skilled counsel, handling high-profile criminal and civil cases . Broadhurst was known for promoting jury trials and scrutinising what he believes was the unchecked power of the colonial elite. He is remembered an advocate for protecting the rights of convicts.

Broadhurst was elected as a member of the NSW Legislative Council in 1851 and was appointed Queens Counsel in 1858.

8. Joan Rosanove

Joan Rosanove (1896–1974) was one of the first female criminal lawyers in Australia. Admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1923, Rosanove overcame significant sexism to establish herself as a well-respected barrister in the areas of criminal law and family law.

Rosanove specialised in defending women in cases where the law often favoured men, particularly criminal cases involving domestic violence and divorce cases. Despite repeated gender-based rejections for Queen’s Counsel, she was finally appointed in 1965 as Australia’s second female QC.

By Jarryd Bartle and Jimmy Singh.

Published on 15/11/2024