Sydney female criminal lawyers to watch in 2022
In a crowded field, several women – solicitors, prosecutors, barristers and senior counsel – are making their mark at the bar table. These are Sydney’s female lawyers to watch in 2022.
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The world of law and order was historically a bloke’s world – but female lawyers with decades of experience between them have blazed a trail with their work as solicitors, prosecutors, barristers and senior counsel.
These are Sydney’s female criminal law experts to watch in 2022.
SHARON RAMSDEN
Sydney solicitor Sharon Ramsden is an accredited criminal law specialist with more than a decade’s experience in criminal law. Ms Ramsden is currently representing troubled former television personality Andrew O’Keefe.
SOPHIE TOOMEY
Sophie Toomey is the principal of Toomey Defence Lawyers, established in 2011. Ms Toomey has acted in a number of high profile cases over her years of experience, including teen terrorist Alo-Bridget Namoa and a father and son charged last year with allegedly supplying stolen high-performance cars to underworld figures.
MAGGIE STEN
Maggie Sten has more than 30 years’ experience as a criminal lawyer and has represented the who’s who of Sydney’s underworld over her illustrious, trailblazing career. Ms Sten famously got Brothers For Life gang leader and convicted murderer Farhad Qaumi acquitted in a double murder trial in 2009.
AMANDA PAPPAS
Amanda Pappas is an associate at Macedone Legal, where experienced criminal law specialist Sam Macedone is the principal. Ms Pappas assisted Mr Macedone in representing NRL player Curtis Scott after he was controversially charged with assaulting police after he was tasered while handcuffed and heavily intoxicated. The charges were ultimately dismissed.
JESSICA FAHMY
Jessica Fahmy is the principal at Fahmy Defence Lawyers, which she established in 2022 after 12 years’ experience at other firms. In 2021 Ms Fahmy represented Mirwais Danishyar, who is serving a minimum of 11 years in jail after being found guilty of being an accessory to Sydney underworld figure Pasquale Barbaro’s murder.
MADELEINE AVENELL
Madeleine Avenell is an experienced criminal lawyer who was appointed senior counsel in 2020. She represented Alex Dion, who murdered a man during a botched drug deal, and is currently representing Joshua Lucas – a man accused of plotting a right wing terror attack – at trial.
HELEN ROBERTS
Crown prosecutor Helen Roberts has prosecuted some of Sydney’s most high profile cases, including that of slain Comanchero bikie boss Mick Hawi when he was charged with murder over a brawl at Sydney Airport. She was appointed senior counsel in 2021.
CHAUNTELLE INGENITO
Chauntelle Ingenito was among the youngest of 14 women called to the NSW Bar as a barrister in 2021. She appears in all levels of court in Australia and is based at Chalfont Chambers in Sydney.
BRIDGET BARNETT
Bridget Barnett runs her own criminal law practice in Sydney’s south. She has extensive experience in all types of criminal law matters and appears in all levels of court including local, district, Supreme and children’s court.
ZOE WHETHAM
Zoe Whetham is the principal at W & Co Lawyers, specialising in criminal and traffic law. She was recognised by Doyle’s Guide 2021 and represented infamous Sydney graffiti artist Gong – known formally as Jarrod Harland.
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