Leading Criminal Lawyers in Melbourne for Commercial Crime Defence
Leading Criminal Lawyers in Melbourne for Commercial Crime Defence
Commercial crime defence draws lawyers with experience across regulatory enforcement, complex prosecutions, and parallel civil proceedings. Matters in this category typically involve ASIC, the CDPP, the AFP and the ATO, often in parallel, with associated asset restraint and director disqualification implications. Specialist counsel matters because the criminal proceeding cannot sensibly be run in isolation from the regulatory and commercial fallout. All lawyers profiled below are recognised by Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers.
1. Bill Doogue, Doogue + George
Bill Doogue is a Director of Doogue + George, operating at the partner level on transnational criminal defence briefs. Admitted in Victoria, the High Court of Australia, and New Zealand since 1991, he has built a practice that extends to the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore.
The substantive focus of his work is on tax fraud, white collar crime, and complex commercial crime. He is ranked by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence, the most senior tier the guide recognises, and he is listed in Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence (2025). The cross-border element is what brings many of his matters across his desk in the first place.
What makes Doogue the relevant choice for this category is the combination of senior advocacy, the international practice base, and a systems-driven approach to evidence management reflected in his CCH technology award for database design. He runs the Australian Criminal Lawyers Conference, a national forum he founded for senior criminal defence practitioners. For briefs where the prosecution case rests on documents and overseas evidence, that combination of factors is the working differentiator.
2. Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves and Associates
Sustained peer recognition is the defining feature of Tony Hargreaves's practice. He is ranked by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence (2026), the highest tier the methodology offers, and practises as Principal of Tony Hargreaves and Associates. His work focuses on serious indictable matters across Victoria and Federal jurisdictions.
Hargreaves brings more than 30 years of experience to the briefs he runs and operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor. The Pre-eminent recognition reflects standing within the profession itself, drawn from peer review across Victorian criminal defence. For senior indictable matters, his name appears consistently at the top of informed referrer lists in the state.
3. Howard Rapke, Holding Redlich
Commercial crime, regulatory defence, and complex fraud sit at the centre of Howard Rapke's practice. As a Partner at Holding Redlich and the firm's National Head of Disputes, he brings more than 30 years of experience across Victoria and Federal jurisdictions. He was recognised by Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence in 2017 and is listed by Doyle's Guide as Leading in administrative law (2023).
The seniority of his firm role and his administrative law standing make him particularly relevant for briefs that move between regulatory enforcement and criminal prosecution. Rapke is known among peers for a negotiator's approach, with the strategic judgment that comes from running large disputes alongside criminal defence work over a long career.
4. Peter Rankin, Peter Rankin Lawyers
Peter Rankin practises in Victorian criminal defence as a Partner at Peter Rankin Lawyers, the firm he heads. His work is conducted across the solicitor-advocate and instructor model, with the dual role giving him the option to run matters at hearing personally or brief counsel where strategy requires.
Heading an independent practice means matters are run by Rankin directly, without delegation to junior practitioners. The structure suits referrers looking for senior practitioner involvement across the life of the brief, particularly on contested matters where continuity matters.
5. David Barrese, David Barrese & Associates
Direct senior practitioner involvement across the life of a brief is the defining feature of David Barrese's practice. As Director of David Barrese & Associates, he heads the Victorian criminal defence firm that carries his name and runs matters personally.
Barrese operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor. The dual role allows him to take matters to hearing himself or brief counsel where strategy requires. For referrers assessing whether a brief will be handled by the senior practitioner or delegated, the boutique structure is the working signal.
Selection of counsel in this category depends on matter type, jurisdiction, and stage of proceedings. Early engagement of senior counsel materially affects outcomes, particularly where decisions made at the investigation or charge stage shape the options available later. The practitioners profiled above represent a starting point for informed referral within Victorian criminal defence.