Nick Hanna
Criminal Lawyer

Nick Hanna is widely recognised as one of the leading criminal defence lawyers in New South Wales, having appeared in many of the State’s most high-profile and complex matters. Based in Sydney, he also regularly represents clients in interstate jurisdictions including Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

 

Nick represents individual and corporate clients and has an exemplary track record of defending persons facing charges across the spectrum of offences. He has never lost a murder trial, including several cases where the prosecution was ordered to pay the legal costs of his clients following their acquittals. While Nick often represents well known individuals such as celebrities, athletes and company executives, he is also passionate in fighting for the “little guy” and those who face disadvantage in the criminal justice system. Nick has significant expertise in AVO applications, parole hearings, Crime Commission proceedings and coronial inquests, appearing for defendants, complainants, witnesses and other interested parties.

 

In addition to his broad criminal and quasi-criminal law practice, Nick has extensive experience in civil litigation and professional disciplinary matters. He has acted in various civil matters that have generated media attention including civil claims brought against the NSW Police Force as well as successful applications for injunctive relief brought in the Supreme Court on behalf of Uber. He has advised and appeared for numerous medical practitioners and solicitors against whom claims of misconduct have been made.

 

Nick has developed a reputation for his exceptional work ethic, professionalism and advanced legal strategies. In every year from 2016-2022, he has been listed as one of Sydney’s preeminent criminal defence lawyers in the Doyle’s Guide. Nick has also been selected as a finalist for the Lawyers Weekly Criminal Law Partner of the Year Award on multiple occasions. He has been described by the Daily Telegraph as one of Sydney’s top criminal lawyers as well as one of Sydney’s “masters of defence”.

 

Solicitor details

(02) 9268 0444

nick@hannalegal.com.au

Notable Cases

click here

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/property-developer-avoids-prison-for-15m-loan-scam/

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/murder-charge-dismissed-after-trial/

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/alleged-drug-trafficker-found-not-guilty-after-perth-district-court-trial/

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/man-sentenced-after-laundering-almost-6-million-in-bitcoin/

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/big-win-for-drug-trafficker-brother-of-kings-cross-identity-john-ibrahim/

 

https://hannalegal.com.au/in-the-news/child-sexual-touching-charge-dismissed-against-mona-vale-man/

 

CASES

Area of speciailty 1
R v CD
CD and ED were brothers and co-accused. I represented both of them in circumstances were there was no conflict of interest. In February 2021, my client was charged with multiple offences of publishing false statement with the intention of obtaining a financial advantage, contrary to section 192G of the Crimes Act 1900. The charges related to an alleged home warranty insurance scam that aimed to defraud a bank by $14.7 million. I represented my client at the Case Conference and in negotiations leading up to the Case Conference, which resulted in all of the publish false statement offences being withdrawn. For more information, see: DPP drops charges against Charbel Douna in LuxLiving $14.7m housing fraud case, Illawarra Mercury, 16 March 2022.

R v Elie Douna (ED)
ED was also charged with 20 counts of publishing false statement with the intention of obtaining a financial advantage in relation to the same alleged home warranty insurance scam. I engaged in negotiations with the prosecution, which resulted in all of the publish false statement offences being withdrawn in exchange for our client pleading guilty to three counts of make false document for financial advantage, contrary to section 253(b)(ii) of the Crimes Act 1900. Under the plea agreement, the DPP agreed for the charges to remain in the Local Court instead of being dealt with in the District Court. I negotiated the statement of facts in ED’s favour and assisted in the preparation of extensive subjective material on his behalf in order to mitigate his sentence. I represented ED at his sentence hearing at the Wollongong Local Court, where it was successfully argued on his behalf that he should not be sentenced to full-time imprisonment. Instead, the Magistrate agreed that it was appropriate for our client to be dealt with by way of an Intensive Corrections Order, which was made for a period of 14 months. For more information, see: Elie Douna: Illawarra property developer sentenced for $15m loan scam, The Daily Telegraph, 21 September 2022.

Area of speciailty 2
R v PW (Sexual Offences)
In January 2021, my client, who is a child, was charged with multiple charges, including, two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, contrary to section 61JA of the Crimes Act 1900. This is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. After reviewing the police brief of evidence as well as evidence obtained from my client’s clinical psychiatrist and psychologist, I formed the view that the defence of mental health impairment was open to my client due to her pre-existing mental health issues. Accordingly, I engaged a forensic psychiatrist, who provided a report opining that it was open to the Court to find that she was not criminally responsible for her actions due to her mental health impairment. The case proceeded to an application at the Sydney District Court for a special verdict under section 31 of the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020. In November 2022, the Court granted the special verdict and the Court then received evidence and submissions regarding the consequential orders to be made. I relied on a further report from the forensic psychiatrist discussing the significant progress that my client had made since her arrest and stating that she posed a low risk of reoffending if she remained in the community subject to a mental health treatment plan. I also relied upon further evidence demonstrating that the community would not be endangered were she permitted to remain in the community. Ultimately, the Court accepted the submission that she be conditionally discharged and allowed to remain in the community as a forensic patient. She will continue to be overseen by the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
Area of speciailty 3
R v YZ(Drug Offences)
In February 2021, my client was arrested and charged with 27 offences, including: • Supply a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug (methylamphetamine), contrary to section 25(2) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985; • Supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug (cocaine), contrary to section 25(2) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985; and • Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime with intent to conceal, contrary to section 193B(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (x 22). The proceeds of crime offences pertained to my client’s involvement as the alleged ringleader of a syndicate responsible for laundering almost $6 million of the proceeds of large-scale drug trafficking via the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. I engaged engaged in extensive negotiations with the prosecution, leading to 16 of the knowingly deal with proceeds of crime offences being withdrawn and the statement of facts being amended to my client’s advantage. This assisted me, when instructing Philip Strickland SC at our client’s sentence hearing at the Sydney District Court, to secure a lenient sentence for my client.

Awarded Criminal Lawyers 2024

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