To Brief Brendan, contact his Clerk: (02) 9267 4955, clerk@sgchambers.com.au
Brendan practices primarily in criminal law, bringing to the Bar extensive prior experience from within the policing and prosecutorial system that gave him a detailed, practical understanding of how the criminal justice system operates. This background included significant involvement in coronial inquests, parliamentary inquiries, and integrity-related proceedings, including work connected to highprofile inquests and police oversight bodies.
‘I don’t tell people they’ve got a case when they don’t. There’s no benefit in that for anyone.’
In 2007 and 2008, Brendan worked in private practice in Dublin, gaining experience outside the Australian jurisdiction prior to returning and eventually coming to the Bar. Since that time, his practice has evolved into a predominantly criminal trial practice, and he appears regularly in complex criminal matters, including trials involving serious allegations of child sexual assault, large scale drug supplies, and murder.
Brendan is straightforward and pragmatic, known for a nononsense style, clear and realistic advice, and an emphasis on substance rather than theatrics. He is focused on practical outcomes for those he represents.
Brendan has served on committees connected with professional rugby league, including the NRL Player Agents Accreditation Committee, and has appeared in matters before the NRL AntiDoping Tribunal.
Criminal law, including Local Court hearings and District and Supreme Court trials
Sentencing
Criminal appeals, including conviction and sentence appeals
Coronial inquests
Commissions of inquiry, including Royal Commissions, ICAC and parliamentary inquiries
Regulatory prosecutions, including WHS (SafeWork) prosecutions and ASIC prosecutions
Common law, including intentional torts and actions against police
Barrister, 2011
Solicitor, 2005
Accredited Specialist Police Prosecutor, 2007
BA LLB, University of Technology Sydney
Police Prosecutions Command, NSW Police, 2005–2007 and 2009–2011
Legal Executive, Hussey Fraser Solicitors, Dublin, 2007–2008
Lawyer, Civil Law Division, NSW Police Legal Services, 2003–2005
Police Officer, NSW Police, 2001–2003
Legal Aid NSW's Indictable crime barrister panel
Carriage of the NSW Police response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2004 Redfern Riots and subsequent WorkCover prosecution
Counsel for a named person at the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Acquittal on serious drug supply charges, Port Macquarie District Court, on the basis of an illegal police search
Acquittal on sexual assault charges, Sydney District Court, after successfully securing access to subpoenaed exculpatory counselling notes
Acquittal on murder charges based on self-defence: R v Walcott [2019] NSWSC 443
Clerk: Michael Wilcox · clerk@sgchambers.com.au