If police want to speak to you, or you have been arrested, or have been arrested and charged, then you need advice from experienced criminal lawyers. The Dowson Turco Crime Team acts across the spectrum of crime, from serious and complex indictable matters down to summary matters in the Local Court.
Our experience
The Dowson Turco Crime Team’s experience in summary, serious and complex indictable crime is significant. For example, we have successfully defended:
- drug supply charges in the District Court of NSW;
- sexual assault charges in the District and Local Courts of NSW;
- assault and affray charges in the Local Court of NSW;
- voyeurism charges in the Local Court of NSW;
- successfully run conviction and sentence appeals, including fresh evidence appeals, in the District Court of NSW, and the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal;
- successfully mitigated sentences in the District Court of NSW and the Local Court of NSW;
- successfully argued for the withdrawal of charges by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in sexual assault, domestic violence and assault matters;
And successfully argued for the withdrawal of charges by NSW and QLD Police in several matters, including:
- sexual conduct offences;
- drug supply and drug possession matters;
- domestic violence and property damage matters;
- carriage service offence matters, including those involving intimate images;
- drink driving matters;
- assault and failure to follow direction matters.
Our clients
Dowson Turco is an LGBTQA+ law firm for all communities. We have clients across the world, from all walks of life.
Our crime team would generally describe its clientele as middle class people accused of crimes for which they are not, in fact or at law, guilty; or for which they have been charged because of a mistake, drug abuse, intoxication, mental health, childhood trauma or lack of control.
Being charged with a crime is extremely stressful. The justice system is intimidating, the law is complex and police do not always conduct themselves professionally or lawfully. For this reason, we make an effort to support our clients through one of the most, if not the most, difficult times in their lives. This means we make ourselves accessible for conferences and phone calls, ensure clients have access to counselling and social support, work with clients’ families (when permitted) and develop case theories consistent with client instructions.
The Dowson Turco Crime Team is headed by Nicholas Stewart, partner at Dowson Turco. Nicholas has been with the firm since 2012 and has appeared unled (without a barrister) in hearings before the Australian Crime Commission, the District Court of NSW and the Local Court of NSW.
The barristers we work with
The Dowson Turco Crime Team has a strong relationship with Forbes Chambers, Sydney’s leading criminal law chambers. We also work regularly with Joanne Gallagher of Samuel Griffiths Chambers, one of Sydney’s best criminal trial barristers, who is known for her forensic preparation and cross-examination.
High profile cases
The Dowson Turco Crime team has acted in many high profile cases, including (if names are provided it is because the client has been publicly identified and does not take issue with us summarising the case):
- Jesse Willesee, who protested against the criminalisation of cannabis in Sydney in 2015 (DTL successfully persuaded a magistrate not to convict Jesse);
- a Sydney corporate lawyer charged with fire offences (DTL successfully argued that the client benefit from mental health diversion – he was not convicted or penalised);
- a prominent NSW MP fined for disobeying COVID-19 orders regarding places of residence (the fine was withdrawn by NSW Police because our client was not guilty and proved this to police through extensive submissions prepared by DTL)
- one of the men charged with writing “NO WAR” on the Sydney Opera House in 2003 (DTL successfully mitigated the circumstances of the offending but our clients were still punished with a custodial sentence and significant fine);
- a Sydney school student charged with sexual assault offences (DTL successfully defended the matters);
- a prominent member of the LGBT community charged with drug supply offences; and
- a prominent Sydney hairdresser charged with assaulting a hospitality worker.
Contact us
Please contact us at 02 8000 7300 or email enquiries@dowsonturco.com.au to book an initial conference with one of our criminal lawyers. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with our work.
We will act with urgency when required, and can assist you to better manage the stress of criminal proceedings, while also ensuring you are advised by some of the best in the profession.
