Top Criminal Appeal Lawyers in Sydney
Leading Criminal Appeal Lawyers in Sydney
Court is stressful as it is — receiving an undesirable result can be even more so. The good news is that you may be entitled to appeal the decision of a Judge or Magistrate.
There are two types of appeals – appeals against conviction and appeals against a sentence. You may want to appeal against a conviction if:
You don’t think you should have been found guilty;
You don’t think you should have been found guilty;
You believe that the Magistrate/Judge didn’t properly consider all of the facts or evidence;
You believe that the Magistrate/Judge misunderstood or misapplied the law;
There was an error or unfairness in the proceedings;
New evidence has since arisen after the trial which should have been before the Court.
You may want to appeal against a sentence if:
You believe the sentence was too severe;
You believe that the Magistrate/Judge failed to take into consideration all of the relevant information, including your unique subjective circumstances;
You received a drastically more severe sentence than any other co-offenders or of other people charged with the same matter; or
You believe the Magistrate/Judge was unfair or biased.
To submit an appeal, it’s important to have an experienced criminal appeals lawyer on your side. Green & Associates Solicitors is in your corner. With more than 41 years of experience and 1,700+ cases throughout Sydney and New South Wales, we can prepare the documentation and defence to lower or overturn your conviction.
Contact us to book an appointment with our criminal appeals lawyers in Potts Point today. The sooner we act, the more compelling and successful our defence will be.
Green & Associates Solicitors Experience and Success
Client Charged with 21 Separate Fraud Charges – Sentence Negotiation and Successful Appeal
In a recent fraud matter that carried significant financial implications on our client, our criminal defence lawyers immediately set to work, conducting a comprehensive review of the evidence, and exploring potential avenues for mitigation. The facts alleged that the accused worked as an office manager and misused company credit cards to purchase personal goods and goods of value that were returned for the value of the discount. In order to cover their tracks the accused doctored invoices and receipts to make these transactions to appear as genuine office expenses.
Through skilful negotiations with the prosecution, we were able to reduce a significant amount of the monetary sanction.
The case then proceeded to the Local Court, where our client was ultimately sentenced to a Community Corrections Order for a period of nine months. While this outcome represented a positive step in reducing the impact of the charges, we believed that a more favorable resolution was possible.
With this conviction in mind, our defence team appealed the sentence to the District Court, seeking a more lenient outcome that would not result in a criminal conviction for our client. Our efforts were rewarded with a Conditional Release Order for two years. This result was particularly significant as it meant that our client could move forward without the burden of a criminal record and its associated consequences.
Our success in negotiating the reduced charge and securing a Conditional Release Order in the District Court marked a significant legal victory, allowing our client to put this legal ordeal behind them and maintain their future prospects and opportunities.
- Our lawyers have worked on appeals of life sentences to the High Court of Australia;
- Our lawyers have successfully appealed prison sentences over stalk, intimidate and harass Police charges, even obtaining appeal bail immediately;
- Our lawyers have successfully obtained dozens of non-convictions and s 14 orders on appeal
Obtaining non-convictions is a consistent theme in our practice.
At Green & Associates Solicitors, we act for a wide range of matters. We provide in-house advice to sole traders and companies on a range of matters, including:
- employment-law issues (i.e. enforcing or dispute a restraint of trade clause for previous or new employees);
- compliance and regulatory issues (i.e. licencing and underquoting breaches)
- criminal matters;
- property matters;
- defamation proceedings; and
- all types of commercial matters (i.e. drafting shareholder agreements).
Contact us (02) 8080 7585 if you require support with any commercial matters or legal advice.
Why choose our criminal appeals lawyers?
Green & Associates Solicitors have a combined experience of more than 41 years. During this time, we have worked on more than 1,000 cases and achieved a notable 97% success rate for our clientele.
How?
We cultivate close connections with our clients. Our criminal appeals lawyers will gain an in-depth understanding of your case and the reasoning behind your conviction so we can sift through the finer details and find a new angle to overturn your conviction or reduce your sentence.
We will cut through the red tape and focus on saving time, money and stress for everyone involved — we’re for the local underdog and we will do everything we can to make the process as simple, streamlined and stress-free as possible for you.
We are transparent about our fees. We will provide accurate pricing from day one. Plus, we offer a 10% discount for fees that are paid within seven days.
We take a strategic and tactical approach to all criminal cases. We’ll do everything we can to get the results you desire.
We maintain open communication at all times. We’ll keep you updated so you feel confident and comfortable at all times, and we’re always available to discuss your case.
We are compassionate. We understand that our clients are under a considerable amount of stress which is why we take the time to forge a strong relationship with all of our clients.
We are honest and approachable. We’re focused on achieving results through practicality and simplicity. You can always count on us to pick up the phone.
We are based in a central location in Potts Point. Our criminal appeals lawyers are never too far away, so you can drop in for meetings and consultations with ease.
Contact our criminal appeals lawyers today. We’ll provide an obligation-free quote and consultation so you feel confident choosing Green & Associates Solicitors.
Our Connections
Our contact base includes:
Highly skilled barristers
Industry experts
Cocaine
Forensic psychologists
Scientific experts in both criminal and commercial matters
Accountants and financial analysts
Other domestic and international collaborators (available on a case-by-case basis).
Contact our criminal appeals lawyers today. We have the valuable connections and wealth of knowledge to find a solution for your case.
Our Team
Our team is made up of talented criminal appeals lawyers, paralegals and business professionals, all with a laser focus on getting the results you desire.
Dominic Green
Principal Solicitor
Specialising in: Litigation & Disputes, Criminal Law, Commercial Law, Property Law and Wills & Estates
Language spoken: English
William Martyr
Senior Associate
Specialising in: Criminal Law
Language spoken: English
Spyridon Augoustinos
Associate
Specialising in: Property Law and Wills & Estates
Languages spoken: English, Greek
Anthony Kuschert
Associate
Specialising in: Litigation & Disputes, Criminal Law, Commercial Law and Wills & Estates
Language spoken: English
Pamela Katsantonis
Associate
Specialising in: Property Law and Disputes & Litigation
Languages spoken: English, Greek
Riva Thapa
Paralegal
Languages spoken: English
Sophie Wu
Accounts Manager
Languages spoken: English
Ivy Green
Debt Collection & Security
Since joining the firm in 2021, Ivy has become an integral part of the team. She is responsible for debt collection, office security and the mental wellness of both staff and clients.
What people are saying about our criminal appeals lawyers in Potts Point
“Dominic was able to resolve my matter quickly and achieve a fantastic result. Green & Associates handled everything so well. It was really reassuring to be dealing with such genuine and professional people. Would highly recommend Dominic and the team at Green & Associates.”
— Matt
“I was extremely happy with the way my case was handled and the way I was represented. Green & Associates had a great plan of action and worked hard to provide the best outcome for me which I truly felt was achieved. I would not hesitate to contact them again if I had other legal issues and I wanted representation. I know Green & Associates have my back.”
— Miles
What it’s like to work with Green & Associates Solicitors
Our process is exceptionally simple.
We will complete a free 15-minute consultation. You will talk to a criminal appeals lawyer who understands the law on a deeper level and will provide some perspective on where you stand with your appeal.
We will provide a transparent fee estimate. We will provide a cost estimate for your approval before we move forward with your case. We will always act on your instructions and your best interests with informed consent.
We will meet to discuss your matter. Once we have received your approval to commence, we will make ourselves available to meet with you in person and via phone. We will provide expert advice throughout the process and take action to achieve the results you desire.
Book a free consultation with our criminal appeals lawyers in Potts Point. We are in your corner.
FAQs about criminal appeals
How soon should I submit an appeal?
Generally speaking, you have 28 days to submit an appeal from the Local Court to the District Court.
With this in mind, you should submit an appeal as soon as possible. In the recent Court of Appeal decision in Bolton (a pseudonym) v The Queen [2021] VSCA 117 and Cavanaugh (a pseudonym) v The Queen [2021] VSCA 347, for example, the Court of Appeal made it very clear that an inordinate or unexplained delay may lead to the refusal of an application for an extension of time.
The Court of Appeal seeks to finalise proceedings and not have appeals drag on — this can affect the convicted and sentenced person as well as the victim of the offence. If you are unhappy with your sentence or conviction, please contact our criminal appeals lawyers as soon as possible.
How does an appeal work?
Sentence appeals are filed with the County Court or Court of Appeal. In Court of Appeal matters, a sentence appeal can either be filed by the accused or the prosecution because the appealing party thinks the sentence was too harsh/too lenient.
Conviction appeals are filed with the County Court or Court of Appeal when the accused has pleaded not guilty at trial and is convicted by the jury.
What are the most common grounds for a criminal appeal?
- Improper admission or exclusion of evidence
- Insufficient evidence
- Ineffective assistance of counsel
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- Jury misconduct
- Misuse of discretion by the Judge.
What happens if the Court makes a decision in my absence?
If for whatever reason you are not present at the sentencing, you can apply for the decision to be annulled under Section 4 of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001. The annulment application should be submitted within two years of the decision being made.
When determining the outcome of the application, the Court will consider the following:
- Whether the applicant was aware of the Court proceedings
- Whether the applicant was sentenced in their absence
- Whether the applicant could not take part in the original Court proceedings due to illness, accident, misadventure or some other significant cause
- Whether it is appropriate to grant the application in the interest of justice.
If the application is successful, the decision of the Court does not stand and you will need to be prepared to plead guilty or not guilty so that the matter can proceed in Court.
Our criminal appeals lawyers can achieve the results you desire
With a success rate over 97%, we are confident we can have your sentence reduced or conviction overturned. Contact our criminal appeals lawyers in Potts Point, Sydney, today. We offer free 15-minute consultations to ensure you feel confident moving forward with Green & Associates Solicitors.