Bryan Wrench is the star lawyer who celebrities and high-profile people call when they land in hot water

When a celebrity or prominent person lands in hot water, they call Bryan Wrench – the lawyer who has handled a host of high-profile cases.

It’s the catwalk no-one wants to parade down – the running of the gauntlet outside court, photographers’ cameras flashing, reporters yelling, TV news crews jostling for the best shot.

Right there, beside whichever celebrity or public figure is facing the worst day of their lives, you’ll often see prominent criminal defence lawyer Bryan Wrench.

The 36-year-old has become the go-to for footballers, actors, pop stars and millionaires who find themselves in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

Rabbitohs icon Sam Burgess, and his brother George too. Film legend John Jarratt. Australian Idol runner-up Shannon Noll. And currently, veteran broadcaster Alan Jones.

They’re just some of the recognisable names who’ve called Wrench, managing partner at Murphy’s Lawyers, when running afoul of the long arm of the law.

NRL star Sam Burgess leaving court with his with lawyer Bryan Wrench. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

… and Sam’s brother George Burgess with Bryan Wrench. Picture: by Lauren Ferri

Alan Jones leaving Day Street Police Station. Picture: NewsWire / Dylan Coker

“We take everyone,” he’s quick to clarify. “That’s a bit of a mistaken perception – some people think that we only take high profile cases. We take anybody who needs a defence.”

Beneath the impeccably cut Italian suit, usually a double-breasted Zegna, and designer tie, typically Hermes, is a man from modest beginnings who is deeply philosophical, incredibly driven, and uniquely humble.

Coffee boy finds his calling

When he was just 15, Wrench landed work experience during the school holidays at the firm of high-powered criminal lawyer and barrister Chris Murphy.

“I was lucky to have a persistent father who rang up Chris’ secretary and said, can you give me son a start there?” Wrench revealed.

“And luckily, Chris agreed. I was very young, so I was the coffee boy, but they seemed to like what I did and so every holiday, I came back.”

Among his duties was shadowing lawyers and barristers working on major cases, getting an insight into their processes and how courtrooms worked.

One of those giants was the renowned barrister Philip Bolton, who had some life-changing advice for the teenager.

“He told me: ‘If you like it now, you’ll always like it.’ And I did like it. And from then on, I’ve stuck with it.”

While earning his degree at uni, he worked at Murphy’s Lawyers as much as he could, and landed a permanent full-time position after graduating.

The ‘amphitheatre of human life’

Having spent so much time in courtrooms over the past two decades is arguably why Wrench feels more comfortable there than anywhere else.

And the intellectual nous required to argue complex cases also speaks to him.

“A courtroom at its core is a debate. It’s a debate of ideas and persuasion. It really is the amphitheatre of human life. You see people at their highest, people at their lowest, and you’re trying to persuade people of uncomfortable ideas.

“I think central to that is this idea of restraint, because sometimes, like with everything, we have unpopular causes. A courtroom is that battle of ideas.”

Unpopular causes indeed.

Charges like murder, domestic violence, sexual abuse or assault, harassment, drink driving, assault, drug possession and more are par for the course for someone in this line of work.

Bryan with his lifelong mentor, celebrity lawyer and barrister Chris Murphy, who founded Murphy’s Lawyers in the 1970s. Picture: Christian Gilles

“It’s a passport into human lives,” Wrench said.

“I think as a defence lawyer, you develop a sophisticated morality because you realise nothing’s black or white. There is a lot of grey.

“Some people are not perfect, but they can be good people. And some people can make mistakes and are capable of redemption. And those are the tensions that you have, and those are the ones that push you.

“You can persuade somebody to think with restraint, to have a considered judgment when judging this man’s life.”

Bryan with Australian Idol star Shannon Noll. Picture: AAP

Guilty or not, it doesn’t really matter – everyone is entitled to their day in court and a robust defence.

That’s sometimes forgotten in the court of public opinion.

Being the face on a television screen or in a newspaper or magazine spread that’s next to the downfallen celebrity means Wrench is in the limelight just as much as his clients.

“Look, not everybody’s necessarily a fan,” he said of the ‘feedback’ he occasionally cops.

“There’s a little bit of schadenfreude at play. There’s malicious delight seeing people fall from grace, so that’s quite intense.

“But by default, you have to learn to become a stoic. People have their own views.

“I always think you want to walk tall and you just have to keep on marching forward. You don’t want to listen to the naysayers, but yes, it’s not all merry, let’s put it that way.”

A slick suit of armour

Those who know Wrench remark on his meticulous manner when he’s in the midst of battle – precisely prepared, perfectly composed, and confident, but not cocky.

And he looks good doing it, too.

Wrench is almost famed for his penchant for perfectly tailored double-breasted suits and designer silk ties.

“The people at Hermes or Zegna, they know me pretty well there.”

Criminal lawyer Bryan Wrench is known for his slick suits – usually double-breasted. Picture: Brett Costello

Unlike some lawyers and barristers, Wrench doesn’t really have a pre-court ritual per se, except for a really good coffee from his local favourite, PINA in inner-city Potts Point – “going to court without coffee is a big no-no” – and maybe a new tie.

“To give me a bit of confidence,” he said. “You know – fresh tie, fresh idea. Maybe that’s it.”

Does it give him a boost to look so sharp?

“Of course it does,” he said.

“I remember what Oscar Wilde said, if you can’t be good, look good, right? So I try to employ a little bit of that into what I do, and it gives me obviously a bit of confidence.

“It’s the suit of armour, because I’m in the battlefield of ideas, and you need to be fully confident, and that just gives you a little bit of an edge, you know.”

Bryan Wrench relishes his work but then makes good use of his downtime. Picture: AAP

When it’s time to hang up the armour after battle, Wrench prioritises what he calls “peace time” – quiet nights at home, good books, and a focus on health and wellbeing.

“I try to keep things relaxed. I like reading. I’m an avid reader because words are your weapons and you want to read as much as you can.

“And on occasion, I’ve been known to toss a barbell around here and there. It’s one form of meditation, the iron meditation.

“I think it’s a good foundation because I think exercise is natural medicine and it keeps that solid base so I can perform well in court.

“For the gym bros out there, I once did a 300 kilo dead lift. I think it probably speaks to my competitive nature with myself. I like to always push myself and see how far I can go.”

Australian actor John Jarratt leaving court with Bryan Wrench. Picture: AAP

The focus on appearance doesn’t seem to be a sign of arrogance, though, with Wrench equally regarded for his distinct lack of an ego.

Perhaps being a defence lawyer keeps him humble, he suggests.

“And I think because I’ve gone through so many experiences, you learn humility and you learn that you’re not better than anybody else.

“I’m still a servant, I’m a servant of the people as much as I can be, and you can never be bigger than the game. And I’ll never be [unhumble]. I just want to do the best I can.”

Gratitude for luck and opportunity

Death rarely, if ever leaves someone unscathed, but enduring a heavy loss at a young age can have a particularly profound impact on someone.

As it did for Wrench when he was 18.

“One of my best friends passed away. That was obviously a completely negative experience. But what it did was drive me to succeed in life.

“Through tragedy can come growth, you know? And that’s what I think is pretty important to understand.

“Because of that, you appreciate more, you appreciate living in some ways. You would never want to repeat it. But because of that, it helps build you as a person and shift your perspective.

“It reminds you what’s important. You realise what’s important.”

That experience has also highlighted the importance of gratitude, and he’s well aware that to have climbed to where he has, and at his age, is a privilege of sorts.

“Maybe because I started as a coffee boy and I was the runner, I just think I’m the luckiest person in the world to be able to do this and that people trust me.”

The best feeling in the world – and the worst

There’s nothing quite like the rush of winning, particularly after a long and gruelling case.

“There’s no better feeling in the world,” Wrench said. “As much as you can, you’ve restored the status quo.

“In my experience, court cases for the client are the most stressful, difficult things that they will ever experience in their lives.

“It’s the last thing they think about when they go to sleep, it’s the first thing that they wake up to. In my experience, it actually doesn’t matter, the seriousness of the crime – it’s the fact that it is there.”

For the client, it’s like undergoing a major surgery without anaesthetic and while still awake.

“They can see the operation live on them. They’re not sure of the outcome. So, when you get that outcome, it’s quite amazing.”

Bryan Wrench said winning a big case is the best feeling in the world. Picture: Hollie Adams / The Australian

There’s rarely time to savour it, though.

It’s usually not long until Wrench’s phone rings again, sometimes at 11pm or 5am, with someone on the other end who’s about to place their life in his hands.

“You’re in the business of repeating miracles and reputation comes with expectation, so you’re on to the next one. You have to be.”

Of course, sometimes things don’t go to plan.

“I think the myth of a lawyer is that you’re always perfect. But sometimes things do not go your way. The losses drive you. I always think, lose today, win tomorrow, because you might learn something from that.

“It drives you to be better at what you do and understand the importance of what you do.

“For what I do, the consequences are so serious, so you really do think about them all the time. I think the losses do affect me deeply but fortunately, there aren’t too many.”

When someone high-profile is in trouble, you’ll typically find Bryan Wrench next to them. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Every lawyer has to contend with the reality that once the jury retires, all semblance of control goes out the window.

It’s not the best feeling in the world.

“That feeling never goes away – you’re just simply getting better at handling it,” Wrench conceded.

“You can only control the controllables. That’s where stress comes from – trying to control things you can’t control, so all you can do is do the best you can and put the effort into what you can control.

“But it is still highly stressful because as much as you say these words to reassure yourself, there’s still that anxiety when you put everything on the line for the 12 people and one judge who have a determination in your client’s outcome.”