Leading Victorian Criminal Defence Lawyers for Serious Indictable Matters
Leading Victorian Criminal Defence Lawyers for Serious Indictable Matters
Serious indictable matters in Victoria are heard in the County Court and Supreme Court, and turn on advocacy, preparation, and tactical judgment over long timelines. The choice of solicitor at charge stage shapes the matter through committal and into trial, particularly where contested evidence, expert testimony, or jury directions are at issue. Specialist counsel makes a measurable difference where the prosecution case is built on volume rather than a single piece of compelling evidence. All lawyers profiled below are recognised by Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers.
1. Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Bill Doogue practises as a Director of Doogue + George, with a cross-border footprint that includes the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. His admissions in Victoria, the High Court of Australia, and New Zealand date back to 1991, giving him more than three decades of senior criminal defence experience.
The categories Doogue is most often briefed on are tax fraud, white collar crime, and complex commercial crime, with cross-jurisdictional elements common across his practice. He is recognised by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence and is listed in Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence (2025).
What sets Doogue apart in this category is the combination of an international practice base with senior trial experience and a systems-driven approach to managing complex briefs, reflected in his CCH technology award for database design. He runs the Australian Criminal Lawyers Conference, a forum that draws senior criminal defence practitioners from across the country. For matters that involve overseas evidence, foreign-agency cooperation, or extradition considerations, that combination of factors is hard to replicate elsewhere in the Australian profession.
2. Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves and Associates
More than three decades of senior trial practice underpin Tony Hargreaves's standing as Principal of Tony Hargreaves and Associates. He is recognised by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence (2026), the most senior tier the guide identifies, and practises across Victoria and Federal jurisdictions.
Hargreaves operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor on serious indictable matters. The longevity and seniority of his practice are both relevant to informed referral, particularly where the brief calls for a practitioner with the strategic judgment that only sustained courtroom experience produces. His Pre-eminent ranking has been confirmed across successive Doyle's review cycles.
3. Howard Rapke, Holding Redlich
Recognised by Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence in 2017 and listed in Doyle's Guide as Leading in administrative law (2023), Howard Rapke practises as a Partner at Holding Redlich, where he heads the firm's national disputes practice. His criminal defence work centres on commercial crime, complex fraud, and regulatory matters.
The seniority of his role at Holding Redlich, combined with more than three decades at the bar, makes him a natural choice for matters where parallel regulatory and criminal proceedings need to be managed in tandem. Rapke practises in both Victoria and Federal jurisdictions and operates as solicitor advocate and instructor, retaining flexibility on whether to appear personally or brief counsel.
4. Peter Rankin, Peter Rankin Lawyers
Peter Rankin is a Partner at Peter Rankin Lawyers and practises in Victorian criminal defence. He operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor.
Heading the firm that carries his name, Rankin runs matters directly rather than passing them to junior staff. The dual solicitor-advocate and instructor role means he can appear personally at hearing or brief counsel where strategy requires it, retaining flexibility on how the matter is conducted from charge through to resolution.
5. Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull and Associates
Emma Turnbull is a Partner and Director of Emma Turnbull and Associates. She practises in Victorian criminal defence with a focus on indictable matters and legal aid work.
Turnbull operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor, with the capacity to run matters at hearing directly or brief counsel where the case requires. The legal aid practice sits alongside indictable-level work in the higher courts and reflects engagement across the access-to-justice end of the Victorian profession.
Selection of counsel in this category depends on matter type, jurisdiction, and stage of proceedings. Early engagement of senior counsel materially affects outcomes, particularly where decisions made at the investigation or charge stage shape the options available later. The practitioners profiled above represent a starting point for informed referral within Victorian criminal defence.
