Meet the top lawyers hired by the Alameddine, Hamzy and Ahmad families

When police burst through the front door, these are the men whose phones start ringing — the lawyers not afraid to take on high-profile cases. Meet the lawyers in Sydney’s War.

When alleged gangland ­figures have police burst through their doors, these are the first men they call.

Much of the focus of the underworld war that has seen 14 men shot dead on Sydney’s streets in the past 20 months has been on the cops, the crooks and the Comanchero bikie gang.

But sitting in the middle are the lawyers.

These four men have had some of the busiest years of their careers representing a number of major figures, sometimes from warring factions as well as average folk.

They told The Daily ­Telegraph what it’s like ­handling the cases in all the headlines.

ABDUL SADDIK

Over the years Abdul Saddik has acted for some of the state’s most infamous crime figures.

But in the past 24 months there has been one main name keeping him busy – ­Alameddine.

Abdul Saddik.

Saddik has represented alleged Alameddine clan kingpin Rafat Alameddine, his brother Talal, their cousin Hamdi, and fellow alleged associates Trent Jeske and Assad Alahmad — Rafat’s brother-in-law and accused drug boss.

Another regular client has been rapper Ali “Ay Huncho” Younes.

When Younes recently walked free on bail a day after being picked up by NSW Police’s Strike Force Raptor, he took to Instagram to post a photo of his solicitor with the praising caption: “The fkn goat Abdul Saddik”.

Born and raised in Merrylands — one of the hot spots of the gang war — Mr Saddik said he knew at a young age that law was what he wanted to do, but the past two years had been the busiest of his career.

“I always wanted to do law, I did my Year 10 work experience at a law firm,” Saddik said.

“But this has been the busiest, and I would say as well probably the hardest and most stressful time of my life, particularly considering the types of cases I take on.

“So much community ­attention, police attention, media attention, but it comes with the job and I understand that.”

HISHAM KARNIB

In recent months Hisham Karnib has been one of the busiest solicitors in town.

Hisham Karnib.

First there was Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad who came under heavy police attention until his death, and in the months since, his relatives Youssef “Gags” Ahmad and Yasser Ahmad have also been warned by officers.

But he is also the go-to ­solicitor for alleged senior ­Alameddine clan member ­Rachad Alameddine, who is on remand over drugs charges currently.

Mr Karnib is another solicitor who grew up in a gang war hot spot, and said his close links to the community was a crucial part of his day-to-day work.

“I grew up in and around the suburbs of southwestern Sydney, and I studied and worked around town,” he said.

“Criminal defence is something that’s always been highlighted in my ­community, particularly with people of ethnic backgrounds who we deem culturally disadvantaged.

“Your ability to connect with people in the community and in the courtroom is crucial.

“I have the ability to communicate with people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.”

FADI ABBAS

Fadi Abbas has long been one of Sydney’s most recognisable lawyers, often having to push past the media’s cameras as he leaves court after ­representing a headline-making client.

Among his day-to-day clients have been a number of alleged major players in the gang war.

Former client Ibrahem Hamze, one of the alleged senior players in the Hamzy organised crime network, often called Abbas when police come knocking.

Fadi Abbas walks out of Central Local Court in May 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Abbas also previously represented Ibrahem’s brother Bilal, before Bilal was shot dead in June 2021.

Aside from the gang war, Abbas has also recently kept Monique Nazlioglu — the ex-wife of slain bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu — out of jail on charges of supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs.

His brother Gazi Abbas has also joined his firm, but when contacted by The Telegraph, Abbas said: “I’d rather not comment, I try to keep a low profile, despite the fact I have a lot of matters that are in the news.”

AHMED DIB

Mejid Hamzy’s alleged murder on the streets of Condell Park in October 2020 kickstarted the gang war.

At the time he died, Hamzy was represented by well-known solicitor Ahmed Dib.

Since then two more of Dib’s clients — Ghassan Amoun (Hamzy) and Salim Hamze — have been shot dead.

Ahmed Dib came to Sydney from the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Gosling

From the Gold Coast, Dib passed the bar in 2015 and quickly established himself as one the busiest solicitors in Sydney.

Far from just being a lawyer for the Hamzy family, over the years he has also ­represented various other well-known figures, ­including members of the ­Alameddine clan.

“I got grounded when I was 12 and I read The Power of One,” Dib said.

“I remember reading the book the entire weekend and saying ‘that’s exactly what I want to do’. I used to walk around as a 12 or 13-year-old saying I want to be a lawyer.”