We have assembled a highly experienced, capable team of legal practitioners, committed to delivering you expertise across all legal services. Find your local office:
We’re a full service law firm which has provided comprehensive legal services to Brisbane and its surrounding suburbs for more than 30 years.
Michael Mapp in Arana Hills, and Matt Hunter based in Cleveland, are the solicitors who have expertise in dealing with criminal & DVO matters.
Michael has particular experience in corporate fraud and breaches of company Director’s duties, and previously worked for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as an Enforcement Officer prior to taking his role at McCarthy Durie. While at McCarthy Durie, Michael has overseen a number of criminal matters and has obtained very favourable results for the clients. The results that Michael has obtained from his clients range from a full withdrawal of criminal charges to a wholly suspended sentence on a plea of guilty for a serious indictable offence, where there were relevant mitigating circumstances.
Matt has overseen a wide range of criminal matters and domestic violence matters and has obtained excellent results for his clients.
Both Michael and Matt are able to travel and are able to appear in any Court in Brisbane, the Redlands, Moreton Bay Region, Caboolture, or surrounding areas.
What to consider if you are charged with a criminal offence
Case conferencing is an extremely important part of the criminal law trial process. It is in this stage that there is significant leeway in being able to reduce the gravity of the charges brought by the Police or the severity of the penalty that the Police are seeking. Accordingly, it is imperative that due care and attention is put into the case conferencing stage as this will have a dramatic effect on the ultimate outcome.
Issues for Traffic Matters
In traffic matters, it is an essential part of the process to obtain advice as soon as possible, because depending on which course of action you decide to take, there is significant documentation required in order to put your case in the best possible light for the Court. It is also critical that you obtain legal advice as to the potential risks of choosing a certain path. For example, depending on your circumstances, it may be better to accept a short suspension of your licence as opposed to applying for a Restricted Licence or a Special Hardship Order, which would only enable you to drive to and from work at certain times of the day over an extended period of time.
In some circumstances, lengthy submissions should be made to the Court when pleading guilty to a charge of drink or drug driving to give the best chance of receiving the most lenient penalty. If no submissions are made that would persuade the Court to exercise leniency, the Court will decide the penalty solely based on the facts as presented by the Police and will not be able to properly take into account your personal circumstances, which might justify a more lenient penalty.
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Protection Orders can be a very useful tool if someone is in a difficult relationship, but can also be a harsh imposition on a person who has been wrongly accused. It is critical to seek legal advice prior to applying for or responding to an application for a Domestic Violence Protection Order, as an Order lasts for five years and can have some serious unexpected consequences.
Looking for a team that values strong client relationships? Choose the law firm that genuinely looks out for your best interests, protecting your business and personal legal needs.
We have assembled a highly experienced, capable team of legal practitioners, committed to delivering you expertise across all legal services. Find your local office:
We’re a full service law firm which has provided comprehensive legal services to Brisbane and its surrounding suburbs for more than 30 years.
Need expert legal assistance? Contact the Brisbane legal firm that genuinely looks out for your best interests. Call our team or use this form to speak to a team member.
If your matter is in progress or time sensitive call 07 3370 5100.
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