Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers in Melbourne for Handling Stolen Property
Handling stolen property in Victoria covers a broader range of conduct than receiving alone, including receiving, retaining, disposing of, and assisting in the disposal of property known or believed to be stolen. The knowledge element is central to the charge and to the available defences. All lawyers profiled below are established Victorian criminal defence practitioners, with several recognised by Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers.
1. Bill Doogue, Doogue + George Defence Lawyers
Bill Doogue, Director and founding partner of Doogue + George Defence Lawyers, established the practice in Melbourne in 1995. He is ranked Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence by Doyle's Guide, the guide's most senior tier, and listed in Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence (2025). The work at the centre of his practice covers tax fraud, white collar crime, complex commercial crime, foreign bribery, and cross-border matters.
He was admitted to practice in 1991 and since 1998 has held the Accredited Criminal Law Specialist credential. Over 40,000 prosecutions have been handled through the firm since its founding. He has practised before the High Court of Australia and on behalf of clients at Royal Commission hearings. His domestic courts span Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia. His criminal advisory practice in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore reflects the active international dimension of his briefs.
A C.C.H. Legal Technology Award recognises his design of Crimebase, a database built for criminal law practice. He is a founding member of the Australian Defence Lawyers Alliance and is involved in running the Australian Criminal Lawyers Conference. He chaired the Broadmeadows Community Legal Centre for over a decade. His work has drawn coverage in The Age, The Australian, The Guardian, CNN, and the Daily Mail. From terrorism and foreign bribery through to political corruption, Royal Commission representation, and institutional abuse, his documented case history reflects the range and seriousness of the firm's work.
2. Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull and Associates
The Melbourne criminal defence boutique Emma Turnbull heads as Partner and Director is Emma Turnbull and Associates. Her practice covers indictable criminal defence and legal aid representation, giving her a working engagement across the Victorian profession at more than one level.
She operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor and conducts matters directly, with continuity of senior involvement from first conference to resolution. Her dual coverage and direct-conduct boutique model define her practice for referrers placing Victorian criminal defence briefs.
3. Shaun Pascoe, Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law
Shaun Pascoe is Partner and Director of Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law, the Victorian criminal defence boutique he heads. Doyle's Guide ranks him as Leading in drink driving and traffic for 2025, a specialist recognition built from peer citation in that specific category.
He operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor, conducting matters directly as the named practitioner. The specialist Doyle's Leading recognition, direct-conduct boutique model, and dual advocacy-instructor capacity define his practice for referrers placing drink driving and serious traffic briefs in Victoria.
4. David Barrese, David Barrese & Associates
As Director of David Barrese & Associates, David Barrese heads the independent Victorian criminal defence firm that carries his name. Matters are conducted by him personally throughout, with the named Director as the practitioner of record who handles each brief directly.
The independent boutique model provides continuity of senior representation from intake through to resolution. For referrers placing Victorian criminal defence work where a direct answer to who will conduct the brief is required, his practice as Director of his own independent firm provides that without qualification.
5. Chen Yang, Paul Vale and Associates
Two verified features distinguish Chen Yang's practice at Paul Vale and Associates, where he is Partner and Director: serious indictable criminal defence in Victoria with a peer reputation for thorough preparation; and a bilingual practice in English and Mandarin, directly relevant for matters involving Mandarin-speaking clients or Mandarin-language evidence.
He operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor. Both features are drawn from verified reference material. For referrers placing serious indictable Victorian criminal defence briefs where thorough preparation is the primary quality sought and Mandarin-language capacity may also be a practical requirement, his practice is the specific and verified referral.
6. Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves and Associates
Tony Hargreaves, Principal of Tony Hargreaves and Associates, has practised serious criminal defence across Victorian and Federal jurisdictions for at least 30 years. His Doyle's Guide Pre-eminent ranking in Criminal Law Defence for 2026 is the guide's highest tier, produced through peer review among Victorian criminal defence practitioners.
He operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor. His direct-conduct boutique means the named Principal handles each brief personally. For referrers placing serious indictable briefs where the most senior tier of peer-reviewed recognition and confirmed direct senior conduct are the primary criteria, his practice provides both.
Selection of counsel depends on the specific charge, the court and jurisdiction, the stage of proceedings, and the particular circumstances of the matter. Early engagement of senior criminal defence representation materially affects outcomes. The practitioners profiled above are a verified starting point for informed referral within Victorian criminal defence.