Sydney’s lawyer power list: State’s most influential legal representatives
Meet the elite group of powerful criminal lawyers that Sydney’s most high-profile figures call on when they wind up in court — find out who made the city’s legal power list.
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When the biggest legal cases land in court, these are the lawyers who get the call up to act in the case.
Criminal law is a game of power and influence as much as it is based on ability and knowledge of the law.
The Sunday Telegraph has compiled a list of the most powerful operators in the state’s criminal defence law scene.
We consulted with current and former defence lawyers as well as prosecutors who revealed who they hated going up against in court.
The result is the following list of NSW’s most powerful defence lawyers.
AVNI DJEMAL, STEPHEN ZAHR and KIKI KYRIACOU
Leading the legal challenge to Australia’s biggest organized crime case.
They represent a large portion of the accused crime figures caught in the AN0M sting where encrypted phones were revealed to be a trojan horse set up by the cops.
The High Court of Australia challenge hit a hurdle when the government legislated to close a loophole.
They are now looking at challenging the legislation.
Djemal and Zahr represent one of ANOM’s highest profile scalps, ex-Comanchero boss Mark Buddle.
Kyriacou is involved in some of the country’ most high profile cases, including the alleged kidnapping of cricket legend Stuart MacGill and the alleged yellow card betting affair that resulted in multiple A-League stars being charged.
GREG GOOLD
One of Sydney’s most sought after lawyers.
Goold is the longtime lawyer of ex-Olympic swimmer turned drug supplier Scott Miller.
He also represented drug boss Alen Moradian before the gangster was gunned down in the car park of a Bondi apartment block.
Last year, he ensured Sydney businessman Fadi Ibrahim avoided jail over a $600,000 payment from his brother Michael. Fadi pleaded guilty and was convicted of receiving the money but the court accepted he didn’t know it was obtained illegally.
PAUL MCGIRR
If you’re a rugby league player with a proclivity for getting in trouble, you’ve likely got McGirr on speed dial.
McGirr’s NRL clients have included Brett Finch, Josh Dugan and others.
He’s also running a civil action for Raider’s player Josh Starling.
McGirr is a legal Mr Fixit and a brutal cross examiner in court.
“Anyone who’s had a chat with McGirr at the pub knows that it’s a nitpicking affair where he’s always got you on the back foot probing for inaccuracies,” one source said. “It’s pretty clear he enjoys it.”
LEO PREMUTICO
The deal maker of the Sydney legal fraternity.
A notorious hitman who shot a gangster at his front door is about to finish his jail sentence because of the negotiations Premutico did on his case.
It’s left many criminals to wonder why they should cop the crippling expense of a trial when they could get a lawyer to negotiate a favourable deal.
Sometimes there’s no deal to be made. He also didn’t lose a trial in 2024.
SIMON JOYNER
Mr Right for Mr Bigs, Joyner has been representing the country’s most dangerous criminals for two decades.
This includes underworld apex predator Reynold Glover who is planning to challenge his sentence for shooting the aunt of gangster Bassam Hamzy.
Joyner also represents former Brothers for Life leader Farhad Qaumi who is serving 60 years jail for a murder committed in a notorious gang war.
OMAR JUWEINAT
Known for his forensic preparation in trials, Juweinat is a first choice lawyer for high-level white collar clients in Australia and internationally.
This includes an Australian based in Hawaii who is accused of using $47 million siphoned from company profits to purchase a massive property portfolio.
Another is a US based Australian worth about $100 million accused of mishandling $300,000 in a previous career as a mortgage broker.
CHRIS MURPHY
Just landed Australia’s biggest legal client in the form of broadcaster Alan Jones.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to historical indecent assault and sexual touching charges.
The broadcaster’s legacy now rests on Murphy’s considerable legal abilities.
MARGARET CUNNEEN SC and LAUREN MACDOUGALL
Likely received Christmas cards from rugby star Kurtley Beale after a jury found him not guilty of rape.
MacDougall and Cunneen have become a power team since the latter switched from prosecution to defence in recent years.
MAHMOUD ABBAS
The comeback story of the year — Abbas is one of the leading lawyers on Sydney’s biggest organized crime cases.
Many thought he wouldn’t return from overseas following an incident where he was shot.
“He has come back as if he never left,” one lawyer said.
His client, ex-NRL star Jamil Hopoate, was sentenced to two years and three months jail over a 514kg cocaine import.
MOHAMMAD CHAHINE
Has stepped into the biggest gangland case since the Mick Hawi murder trial - which he also acted in.
Chahine is representing the feared gangster — who can’t legally be named — accused of orchestrating the assassination of drug boss Alen Moradian.
Chahine also acted successfully in three other murder cases in 2024.
One included that of Tarek Zahed whose murder charge was dropped.
RICK KORN AND ABDUL TLAIS
This duo specialise in high-level cases and high-level clients.
One is a Sydney man charged over a drug sting who claims he was raped by the undercover operative working for the police.
If the claim is successful, prosecutors will have to drop the commercial drug supply charges.
They will also appear in the case involving Eastern Suburbs multi-millionaires accused of illegally sending more than $1 billion overseas.
ZALI BURROWS
Has arguably Australia’s toughest legal gig: Convincing an appeal court Bruce Lehrmann is a person of good character.
Burrows has stepped into the Lehrmann defamation appeal marking a distinct turn from her usual style of cases, which includes acting for gangsters and terrorists
ABDUL SADDIK
Saddik got under the skin of police so badly that they charged him with releasing the name of a sexual assault complainant.
The case was flimsy and was dropped two months later.
Before that, police submitted a dossier to the NSW Supreme Court accusing him of being a member of the Alameddine crime organisation — which also went nowhere.
All in a day’s work for a high-profile lawyer.
LISA-CLAIRE HUTCHINSON
Silky smooth in front of a jury. One trial Judge recently referred to Hutchinson’s representation of her client as “immaculate”.
Members of the underworld are now lining up to hire Lisa-Claire having secured acquittals in six trials over six months.
AHMED DIB
When there’s a super-sized underworld arrest, it’s a safe bet Dib will be on the case.
The professional boxer had a 15-year-old released on bail after the teen was accused of being a member of an alleged terror cell linked to the stabbing of a Western Sydney religious figure.
ABDUL RESLAN
Acting on a case that could change the NRL.
His client, Jackson Topine, is suing the Canterbury Bulldogs for deprivation of liberty alleging he was forced to wrestle up to 35 teammates as punishment for turning up late to training.
PETER KATSOOLIS
Takes on cases others wouldn’t dare touch.
That included Justin Stein who stood trial for the horrific murder of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten.
Also represented long-time client, disgraced cop turned killer Roger Rogerson, until the former detective’s death last January.
MAGGIE STEN
One of the mainstayers of the Sydney legal fraternity.
Sten has long had a large section of the city’s wealthy clients on her books.
This includes one of the heirs to the Grace Bros fortune, Douglas Drew, who was acquitted of affray after someone attacked him at Kings Cross McDonald’s.
PETER LANGE
Barristers accept work on the principle of the ‘Next cab off the rank’ rule.
But Peter Lange always seems to be at the front of the rank.
That’s because he is in such high demand.
One of his recent cases included that of Comanchero bikie Tarek Zahed’s whose murder charge was dropped before he was sentenced to three years for hindering an investigation.
JESS FAHMY
Jess Fahmy is known as “the Subpoena Queen”.
That’s because she has mastered the art of strategic subpoenas to unearth undisclosed evidence in her cases.
Ms Fahmy acted for a member of bikie assassin Abuzar Sultani’s hit squad who murdered five crime figures.
One of her subpoenas revealed her client could not have been bashing a Crown witness because he was playing soccer for a team known as “Ghost Squad”.
TALAL KRAYEM
Krayem is one of the leading lawyers for Sydneys’ gangland figures.
His clients include crime boss Bilal Haouchar and his brothers Nedal and Omar.
He also represents the men accused of plotting to assassinate a high-profile Eastern Suburbs individual who can’t legally be named.
MOSTAFA DAOUDIE
Will appear in two of Sydney’s biggest criminal cases in 2025.
That includes acting for one of the men accused of kidnapping cricketer Stuart MacGill and another who is accused of assassinating big time gangland figure and drug importer, Alen Moradian.
MICHAEL BOWE
A rarity in the world of solicitors in that he runs jury trials and gets on his feet instead of briefing a barrister.
He did almost half the advocacy in the trial of disgraced former politician Eddie Obeid.
WINSTON TERRACINI SC
One of Australia’s great cross examiners, “Terra” is a natural born performer who attacks inconsistent witnesses with force.
In December, his client was awarded full costs in a double rape case after Terracini exposed the flaws in the complainants’ accounts.
JOHN SUTTON
About to take the legal fraternity into uncharted waters when his client is sentenced for posting plutonium to his parents’ home.
Emmanuel Lidden will be the first Australian sentenced on offences under the country’s nuclear non proliferation act.
The offences carry a maximum 10 year jail term, so he will need Sutton to work some magic.
BEN JAMIESON
Has fashioned himself into a murder specialist.
Represented Daniel Bushell who was acquitted of murdering ex-Rebels bikie Ricky Ciano before he was convicted of manslaughter.
PHIL BOULTEN SC
Ex-bar association president who commands a lot of respect and gets the call up for Sydney’s biggest cases.
His clients have included ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne and Hillsong Church boss Brian Houston.
BRET WALKER SC
Arguably Australia’s most revered barrister.
Walker is rumoured to charge up to $25,000 a day.
He has been sought out for advice by the ANOM 50 to challenge the admissibility of the evidence collected in the police sting.
MARK CARMODY
A fraud specialist, who prosecutes and defends in cases where high financial stakes are the common theme.
Recently, he represented high-profile jeweller Michael Germani, who is set to plead not guilty to staging a robbery at his Sydney store.
SIMON BUCHEN SC
Very Detail oriented with a style that juries can follow.
His skills resulted in Sarah Budge, the wife of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, being found not guilty of gun possession.
MURUGAN THANGARAJ SC
The legal system’s answer to an NRL block play.
You might know what’s coming, but you are powerless to stop it.
It might be his unique and listenable delivery style. But it’s likely more to do with his Olympic-level mastery of the law.
ROBERT DAOUD
The state’s answer to the Lincoln Lawyer. Covers every court from Bega to Byron Bay.
Negotiated a plea deal for the radio executive who oversees The Kyle & Jackie O Show, resulting in his client being fined $1000 for a nasty assault.
TIM GAME SC
Got NRL star Jarryd Hayne out of jail — twice.
The state’s most in demand appeals specialist.
JOHN KORN
Considered one of the best ever cross examiners to set foot in a courtroom.
In high demand because of his courtroom presence and respect he commands.
GREG JAMES KC
Ex-Supreme Court judge who gets results.
One lawyer said, “I can give him material on the day and he will read it once and nail it”.
STEPHEN ALEXANDER
One-time Ibrahim family lawyer who has been making a name for himself in the commercial law game while still acting in noteworthy criminal cases.
ELIAS MATOUK
Represented gangster George Alex who called the shots on one of the biggest tax frauds in recent history.
ABBAS SOUKIE AND NICK HANNA
Professional punter Eddie Hayson has been accused of running an interstate ice and MDMA supply ring.
He has hired well known Sydney lawyers Abbas Soukei and Nick Hanna to fight the case for him.
Originally published as Sydney’s lawyer power list: State’s most influential legal representatives
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