Listed: 10 up and coming criminal lawyers in SA’s courthouses

From murder trials to High Court appeals, these top young South Australian lawyers are making their mark in the legal system. Read what set them on the path to law.

Lawyers Taylor Johanson, James Caldicott and Christina Chrisakis. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

• Top SA legal eagles revealed

In the world of criminal law no two lawyers have the same origin story.

Some spend time as associates to notable judges or justices, learning from great judicial minds, while others hone their advocacy skills at the Legal Services Commission or the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement.

Yet others start at the other end of the criminal sphere – learning from veteran prosecutors at the Director of Public Prosecutions office or with the police prosecution section.

We have asked ten up and coming criminal lawyers what brought them to the law and how they got there.

Sean Nottle

Adelaide lawyer Sean Nottle. Picture: Supplied

Graduated: University of Adelaide in 2018

Current workplace: Mangan Ey & Associates

Sean Nottle was attracted to the law because of its adversarial nature.

“Be it sport or the law, I enjoy a contest and being able to get stuck into a situation where there is a clear objective to achieve,” he said.

His first role in the profession was as a receptionist at the Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions, before taking on roles including clerk and then solicitor. He later moved to SA Police where he prosecuted summary cases, before moving to his current role at Mangan Ey & Associates early last year.

“I’ve been on this side of the bar table for 18 months now and am looking forward to many more to come,” he said.

He lists working with former prosecutors – now Supreme Court Justice Sandi McDonald and District Court Judge Emily Telfer – in the manslaughter trial of a former midwife and a murder trial involving a bikie gang prospect as “a stark introduction to the trial process proper”.

Other memorable cases include his first appeal before former DPP, now Justice Adam Kimber, and expects a number of upcoming murder trials will occupy much of the latter half of this year.

“I think measuring the success or significance of any particular case is always going to be dictated by the constraints on what you are able to realistically achieve in any given matter,” he said.

“I have been able to secure sentences and outcomes that don’t make the front page but are nonetheless hugely important to those that are involved.”

Taylor Johanson

Graduated: University of South Australia in 2015

Current workplaces: Danni Stephens Legal

As her high school studies neared an end, Taylor Johanson found herself indecisive about her future career path. In the back of her mind she considered law and after continually circling back to the thought she took the plunge and applied to study at UniSA.

Upon finishing her degree she took on a role with the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and “knew from the first day criminal defence work was the right choice” for her future.

“The fast-paced nature of regional and remote court circuit was very much sink or swim and I was able to learn a lot in a short period of time,” she said.

Since her move to Danni Stephens Legal her focus has shifted to more complex cases and she has spent more time in the higher courts in Adelaide than circuit courts on SA’s Far West coast.

Ms Johanson said she finds the joy of an acquittal in a case “quickly fades” as she has to turn her attention to her next case and client.

“The most memorable cases are related to the clients’ who I have seen make real changes in their lives and not return to the justice system,” she said.

Taylor Johanson. Picture: Supplied

Kate Budzynski. Picture: Supplied

Kate Budzynski

Graduated: University of South Australia in 2015

Current workplace: Carter & Co

Dreaming of becoming a court journalist, Kate Budzynski studied both journalism and law thinking the law degree would help her in a reporting career.

After completing her studies she took on an overseas placement at the Office of Legal Aid Scheme in Ghana’s capital, Accra, and then the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Adelaide.

“I knew from then that I wanted to practice law and not just sit on the sidelines per se; I wanted to be involved in the heart of it,” she said.

“I was particularly interested in criminal law and human rights after these placements.”

She landed a job with Stacey Carter at Carter & Co where she has discovered her “true passion lies in criminal defence where we are able to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our community”.

She lists her most memorable cases as those where she has been instructing solicitor in cases that have resulted in acquittals “for people who swore their innocence throughout their proceedings”.

“It really brings home the importance of being a voice for someone and the work that we do,” she said.

She said clients’ often do not feel the fundamental principal of law – that a person is innocent until proven guilty – exists.

“At the end of the day, when our work can change the trajectory of their lives, that is the most important and fulfilling part of our role as defence lawyers.”

Christina Chrisakis

Graduated: Flinders University in 2016

Current workplace: Patsouris & Associates

A dedicated advocate for fair outcomes, Christina Chrisakis developed a passion for the law because she wanted to be able to give people a chance.

“I loved the idea of being able to help people and advocating for people’s rights,” she said.

“I was particularly interested in criminal defence as I like working directly with the client to achieve fair outcomes.”

After graduating from Flinders University in 2016, Ms Chrisakis took on a coveted role as a Judges Associate in the District Court before taking on a role as a Duty Solicitor at the Legal Services Commission. She then moved into her current role, working with highly regarded criminal lawyer Harry Patsouris at Patsouris and Associates.

She is involved as a defence solicitor for a man who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder and lists the case as one of the most memorable cases of her career so far.

Christina Chrisakis. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

James Caldicott. Picture: Supplied

James Caldicott

Graduated: University of South Australia 2012

Current workplace: Caldicott + Isaacs Lawyers

From a young age, James Caldicott had a sense of justice instilled in him along with the importance of right and wrong. His father, Craig Caldicott, is one of the state’s most well-known and highly regarded defence lawyers and his mother, Robyn, a Uniting Church minister.

“I felt fortunate that I had opportunity and ability to help those who needed a voice,” he said.

He has joked that “nepotism” is the reason for his pathway to his current position as partner at Caldicott + Isaacs. But, he used UniSA’s tri-mester system to graduate faster before working with his father. Along the way, he has advanced his skills by taking on other legal roles.

“Over the years I took up other avenues of work to hone that skill set out of courtroom advocacy – joined the RAAF Reserves as a lawyer, assisting defence members, also delegate work for SAAFL and SANFL as a player and league advocate,” he said.

Mr Caldicott has worked on a number high profile matters including the case of Alexander Campbell, who was found not guilty of causing the death of Sophia Naismith by dangerous driving and pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care.

He also acted for Daniel Liddell, a jet ski rider who pleaded guilty to striking and killing Cooper Henke on the River Murray, and said those death by dangerous cases were “emotionally difficult and tense – trying to remain professional and act in your client’s interests in the face of increasing media and public attention”.

He lists the complex cases of Caroline Nilsson, who was acquitted of murdering her mother-in-law, and Zainab Abdirahman Khalif who “for being the first terrorism case tried in SA” as his most memorable. She was convicted of being a member of terrorist group Islamic State.

Emily Cousins

Emily Cousins. Picture: Supplied

Graduated: Flinders University in 2014

Current workplace: Caldicott + Isaacs Lawyers

For Emily Cousins it was the unusual combination of a love for legal studies and a background of performing arts which led her to the law.

After graduating Ms Cousins finished her practical training at D’Angelo Kavanagh, now known as D’Angelo Lawyers, and discovered criminal defence.

She then moved to Calicott + Isaacs Lawyers in 2014. Ms Cousins has carved a niche in the ever expanding area of criminal asset confiscation matters.

Police and prosecutors have been placing a particular focus on assets suspected to be the product of crime, particularly drug trafficking.

Ms Cousins has appeared as instructing solicitor in the High Court as well as junior counsel in several murder trials.

In 2022 her client Terrence Bradley Wilson was acquitted of the murder of Oliver Todd in Murray Bridge.

Mr Cousins said one of her proudest achievements was working some of the best legal minds in the state including David Edwardson KC and the late Mark Griffin QC.

Olivia Fantis

Adelaide lawyer Olivia Fantis. Picture: Jodi Nash

Graduated: University of Adelaide in 2013

Current workplace: Principal of Olivia Fantis Legal

Olivia Fantis began her career in a large commercial law firm but soon realised she wanted more from her chosen profession than sitting in an office with limited client interaction.

Work experience stints with now Chief Justice Chris Kourakis and pre-eminent legal mind Marie Shaw KC exposed her “to a world of criminal law where you are frequently in the courtroom and dealing with various parties”.

“That was it for me, there was no turning back,” she said.

She landed a job with Woods & Co Lawyers where she progressed up the rank from work experience kid up to senior solicitor over a decade “under the stage tutelage of Michael Woods”.

In March this year she formed Olivia Fantis Legal and aims to provide personalised legal help to clients facing challenges in criminal, traffic and disciplinary law.

Ms Fantis said the opportunities she has had to make a real difference for people who are often at their lowest point in their lives when they seek her help has been the most memorable part of her career so far.

“Whilst they might not be the newsworthy cases, it’s the guy sitting in my office in tears who hasn’t slept properly for months, agonising over an alleged assault at Adelaide Oval which he is adamant he did not do,” she said.

“Seeing that through to trial as counsel and getting an acquittal for him is something that will stay with me forever.”

Hugh Woods

Graduated: Flinders University in 2017

Current Workplace: Woods & Co Lawyers

Hugh Woods was exposed to the nuances of criminal law through his father, Michael Woods, the well regarded principal and founder of specialist criminal and traffic law firm, Woods & Co Lawyers.

He has gone on to join his father’s legal practice, where Mr Woods said he has been fortunate to work with pre-eminent counsel and solicitors who have guided and shaped him into his current role as senior solicitor at the CBD-based firm.

“The law is a creative and enjoyable practice, particularly the art and challenge of developing technical legal defences to benefit my clients,” he said.

Mr Woods said many of his client’s cases have had a significant impact on his career. Among the most memorable for him was the recent withdrawal of charges against a client who was charged over the largest cocaine importation in South Australian history.

Hugh Woods. Picture: Supplied

Ben Chehade. Picture: Supplied

Ben Chehade

Graduated: University of Adelaide in 2012

Current workplace: Woods & Co Lawyers

While many of his peers took typical paths into law, Ben Chehade said his journey to the courtroom was “roundabout”. He spent much of his 20s working and living overseas before returning to Adelaide and landing a week of work experience at a legal practice where he learned “just how exciting criminal law really is”.

“There’s a creativity about law that I never expected,” he said.

“Applying that creativity and getting a great result for a client is still the best part about the job.”

He landed a role as a Judge’s Associate, before starting practice with the Legal Services Commission and finding his way to Woods & Co Lawyers.

He said his life as a lawyer has given him “plenty” of memorable moments.

“Whatever criminal law is, it’s not boring.

Among them, he lists his first win as trial counsel as “pretty hard to forget”.

“From a first appointment to the close of a defence case, you really build a relationship with a client,” he said.

“Throughout that whole process my client never once changed his story. Hearing the ‘not guilty’ verdict was a big win for us both.”

Jasmine Daniel

Jasmine Daniel. Picture: Supplied

Graduated: University of Adelaide in 2018

Current workplace: Barbaro Thilthorpe Lawyers

A back handed compliment from a teacher set Jasmine Daniel on the path to a career in law.

“A school teacher told me I was very good at arguing,” she said.

“It was probably more of a scolding than a compliment but it nevertheless planted the seed that led me to apply for law.”

In only her second year at law school Ms Daniel did work experience at Barbaro Thilthorpe Lawyers, the firm where she would eventually be named as a partner.

“I immediately found the work exciting and meaningful and realised I wanted to practise criminal law,” she said.

Among her proudest achievements are working in two cases where her clients were acquitted of murder – including a case where she worked with now District Court Judge Heath Barklay.

“Having the opportunity to learn from him was invaluable,” she said.

She also lists the recent High Court decision to overturn the convictions of four men charged with murder and order a retrial as a career highlight, where she instructed prominent barristers Scott Henchliffe KC and Andrew Culshaw.

Originally published as Listed: 10 up and coming criminal lawyers in SA’s courthouses