Sydney criminal lawyers high-profile clients turn to when the police come knocking
Meet the elite group of criminal lawyers and barristers some of Sydney’s most high-profile celebrities, athletes or underworld figures call upon to defend them.
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They’re often seen running from one side of Sydney to the other, working late nights, and always under pressure to get the best outcome for their clients, but these lawyers and barristers continue to lead the way.
Take a look as The Daily Telegraph has detailed Sydney’s best lawyers, briefed in some of the most high profile criminal matters involving underworld figures, sports stars, influencers or rappers.
Ahmed Dib
He’s won 21 professional boxing fights and remains undefeated, but Dib isn’t best-known for his part-time success inside the ring, instead the high-profile lawyer has become a regular name around Sydney’s busiest courts.
Often referred to by his clients as the ‘bail king’ for his successful bail applications, Dib has acted in some of Sydney’s most high profile criminal matters and his clients include underworld figures, NRL players, models and influencers.
Along with his charming personality and deep understanding of the law, it has seen him appear for successful rapper Chillinit when he was disqualified from driving for six months in February last year after he was caught for the fifth time behind the wheel while suspended.
He recently advocated for Alexandra Karanfilovski who was found not guilty of attempting to possess a $2.7m meth parcel.
Dib is no stranger to late nights in the office and has a growing stable at his very own law firm, Dib & Associates, who are ready to take the courtrooms by storm.
Abdul Saddik
Saddik has represented a range of clients and has become hot property for some of the city’s most high-profile alleged underworld figures.
He recently appeared for Bilal Gheneim who police allege was one of four bungled kidnappers whose plot was to steal $1 billion worth of drugs. He is yet to enter any pleas.
Saddik also represented a member of the Australian men’s indoor netball team.
Bryan Wrench
Often seen as the preferred lawyer to the stars, Wrench has represented a long list of high-profile names.
These include NRL stars and brothers Sam and George Burgess.
Sam had driving suspended charges dismissed last month with George waiting on a magistrate’s decision after pleading not guilty to a single charge of sexually touching another person without consent
Wrench has also represented Australian idol runner-up Shannon Noll after he escaped a conviction on a cocaine possession charge in 2018.
He also appeared for Wolf Creek star John Jarratt who was found not guilty of rape in 2019.
The Daily Telegraph previously revealed Wrench was once impersonated by a former client, showing just how popular he has become.
Elias Tabchouri
The principal and founder of Macquarie Law, Elias Tabchouri knows his way around a courtroom and can argue with the best of them.
Much-like many of the lawyers on this list, Tabchouri has been called upon by some of the NRL’s star players, representing Josh Addo-Carr, when he avoided a conviction after pleading guilty to failing to comply with Ministerial orders relating to COVID-19 movement and travel restrictions, Junior Amone, who is appealing his conviction after being found guilty of arming himself with a hammer and chasing a tradesman off a roof.
Tabchouri also appeared for new Dragons signing Luciano Leilua – who had domestic violence charges dropped last year.
Fadi Abbas
Abbas is no stranger to late night calls, often one of the top names for Sydney’s underworld figures to call when the police come knocking.
As one of the more recognisable faces, rushing around Sydney’s busiest courtrooms, and sometimes seen pushing past media cameras and speaking to media scrums outside court, he has represented headline-making clients for years.
Among his most high-profile clients have been a number of alleged major players in the gang war.
He’s also appeared for popular influencers and sport figures.
Some may mistake him for his brother Gazi who is also bursting onto the Sydney law scene.
Lauren MacDougall
If there’s a high-profile athlete facing a serious criminal trial, MacDougall’s name is almost certainly at the top of the list.
She represented Jarryd Hayne, alongside barrister Margaret Cunneen SC, when he was found guilty and sentenced to four years, nine months’ jail for sexual assault last year, however, the fallen former NRL star is fighting to clear his name as he awaits a conviction appeal.
Almost a year later, MacDougall was back in the headlines, again appearing alongside Cunneen, as former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was found not guilty of sexual assault.
MacDougall has also represented high-profile clients outside the sporting world, including Hannah Quinn who was acquitted last year after successfully appealing her conviction for helping her boyfriend hide from police after he killed a home invader with a samurai sword.
Margaret Cunneen SC
Once a senior crown prosecutor, Cunneen switched sides, becoming one of Sydney’s most-well known defence barristers.
Like MacDougall, Cunneen made headlines by appearing for Hayne and most recently Beale in the past two years.
She has also represented Craig Folbigg, the late ex-husband of Kathleen Folbigg, who was wrongfully accused of the deaths of their four children, during an inquiry into Kathleen’s convictions.
Michael Ayache
Another regular face across Sydney’s courtrooms, Ayache is a key fixture in the cases of some of Sydney’s underworld figures.
He’s quiet and often stone faced, but will often captivate a courtroom when defending a client.
Ayache’s long list of high-profile names include former bikie boss, Tarek Zahed who was once dubbed the “Balenciaga bikie”.
He recently had murder charges dropped over his alleged involvement in the murder of Youssef Assoum eight years ago and is waiting to learn his sentence after pleading guilty to hindering the discovery of evidence.
Mohamed Bejjaoui
Since first stepping into the legal game as part of the Abbas Jacobs team in 2017, few have had more high profile cases than Mohamed Bejjaoui.
He is representing a number of names currently in the headlines including Dut Deng, charged with the murder of Alen Moradian at Bondi Junction. No pleas have been entered.
Mostafa Daoudie
A young stalwart with a comprehensive understanding of the law, Daoudie has quickly made his way through the ranks, rushing from one court to another, and racking up a number of high-profile clients.
He represented Mustafa Hafizi when he had charges of resisting police and offensive language charges withdrawn in 2022.
Daoudie most recently appeared for Ismael Ratel, who had 22 drug and firearm offences thrown out by police at Liverpool Local Court.
From representing alleged murderers to bikies to average low-level criminals, Daoudie is fast-becoming one of Sydney’s top lawyers.
Paul McGirr
He’s the lawyer to the sports stars, with an almost permanent smile as he makes his way through Sydney’s courtrooms, defending some of Australia’s best athletes.
When it comes to NRL players facing criminal charges, it’s almost inevitable you’ll find McGirr representing them at court.
Often fronting up to awaiting media outside the courthouse, McGirr has built a strong list of high-profile sports stars, including former and current NRL players Josh Dugan, when he was fined $900 for drink driving in 2022, and Tom Starling, who had a hindering or resisting police in the execution of duty charge dropped last year.
He also represented disgraced former NRL star Brett Finch who pleaded guilty and was convicted of breaching child protection registry rules.
Sharon Ramsden
Sharon Ramsden is an acclaimed criminal law specialist who is no stranger to the spotlight in her long-running representation of troubled television personality Andrew O’Keefe.
Ramsden also appears for William Tyrrell’s foster mother, releasing a statement after police recommended the foster mother be charged with perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse.
Talal Krayem
A western Sydney man through and through, Krayem has fast-became a top name throughout the city’s courtrooms.
He has represented Nedal Haoucher, the brother of Bilal, who is yet to enter pleas to nine charges including large commercial drug supply, dealing with the proceeds of crime and knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group.
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