Specialist Criminal & Civil Solicitors in Sydney & Nationwide
Your rights deserve our expertise.
Trusted & Recommended by Clients. Led by Accredited Specialists
4.6 – 120 Reviews
Proven Expertise
Our lawyers have decades of experience in criminal and civil law, ensuring the best outcomes for our clients.
Commitment to Justice
We are dedicated to defending your rights with integrity and achieving justice in every case.
Personalised Service
We offer tailored cost effective legal solutions, providing personalised attention to every client.
Award-Winning Practice
Our firm is recognised for excellence in legal services, winning multiple prestigious awards.
Practice Areas
Our experienced criminal defence lawyers provide expert representation for all criminal charges including assault, drug charges, fraud, traffic law and more, ensuring your rights are protected.
We offer comprehensive civil law services, including representing victims of crime, abuse cases, and suing the police. Our team is committed to achieving justice for those who have been wronged.
Our defamation lawyers are skilled in protecting your reputation and handling complex defamation cases. Our specialist team have a strong success with media defamation, social media and other defamation matters.
About O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors
With over twenty years of experience, O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors is a leading law firm in Sydney, dedicated to providing top-tier legal services across Australia. Our Principal Solicitor, Peter O’Brien, and his team have a proven track record in criminal defence, civil law, and defamation cases.
We are committed to justice, integrity, and achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients. Whether you need representation in a criminal matter, civil dispute, or defamation case, our team is here to defend your rights with expertise and dedication.
Our team regularly appears in Australian media to comment as experts in civil, criminal and defamation law and are ready to apply there expertise and winning record to your case.
About O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors
Our team of dedicated lawyers brings a wealth of experience and a passion
for justice to every case. Learn more about our highly skilled and compassionate team.
Peter O'Brien
Principal Solicitor
Stewart O'Connell
Principal Defamation Solicitor
Sidnie Sarang
Criminal Solicitor
Oliver Creagh
Civil Solicitor
Awards and Accreditations
We are proud to be recognised for our excellence in legal services including the NSW Law Society “Presidents Medal” for Peter O’Brien in 2023. Our awards reflect our dedication and success in advocating for our clients.
Voices of Justice: Client Reviews
Read what clients of O’Brien Criminal and Civil Lawyers have said in Google Reviews after we’ve helped clients restore their good names.
Outstanding! Stewart O'Connell embraced my defamation circumstance that harpooned the opposition with the sharpest most professionally refined strategy. O'Brien's result for me included both significant compensation for my damages and reimburse me for O'Brien Solicitors reasonable legal fees.
Thanks for handling a defamation matter for me against Newscorp. Stewart was highly professional and very personable, and worked effectively with all counsel which was integral in achieving the best possible result against a difficult opposition. Highly recommended.
I'd like to thank O’Brien's Criminal and Civil Solicitors for an outstanding outcome to my defamation case. Defamation is a particularly difficult area and not straight forward however Stuart was not only extremely confident he was also supportive and empathetic to the situation i was in.
O'Briens have a very professional approach. In my case they were the second legal firm I used to handle my issue and seemed much more supportive than the first experience. Stewart O'Connell understands strategy and was good to deal with.
I found all the people that worked on my case at O'Brien's very easy to deal with. I can only praise the firm and people involved with O'Brien's. Not only was the outcome fantastic, my appreciation for the help and kindness from O'Brien's is a credit to all.
I recently had the pleasure of working with O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors and cannot recommend them highly enough. Their legal expertise and dedication to their clients are unmatched. From the moment I contacted them, they provided me with outstanding support and guidance.
Latest Insights
Read our latest criminal, civil and defamation related blog posts.
Defamation: Fake TikTok Account Impersonating Our Senior Associate
Defamation: Fake TikTok – At O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors, we take the integrity
Most Common Crimes Over Long Weekend in NSW
Crimes Over Long Weekend: The allure of a long weekend in NSW is hard
Civil Remedies for Domestic Violence Victims’ Families
Civil Remedies for Domestic Violence Victims’ Families: In January 2025, an Aboriginal artist and
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of criminal defence cases can you help with?
At O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, our criminal defence lawyers provide expert representation for various charges, including:
- Serious Crimes: Defense against charges like assault, robbery, homicide, and other serious offenses.
- Drug Charges: Representation for possession, trafficking, and manufacturing of illegal substances.
- Traffic Offences: Assistance with DUI, reckless driving, license suspensions, and other traffic violations.
- White Collar Crimes: Defense for fraud, insider trading, and other financial crimes.
- Domestic Violence: Legal support for those accused of domestic violence, ensuring fair treatment.
- Sexual Offenses: Defense against charges such as sexual assault, indecent exposure, and related crimes.
- Juvenile Offences: Representation for minors involved in criminal activities, focusing on rehabilitation.
What type of civil cases can you help with?
At O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, we handle a wide range of civil law cases, including:
- Seeking compensation for victims of crime, including assault and abuse.
- Pursuing claims for historical sexual abuse against institutions like churches, schools, and government organisations.
- Representing clients in cases against the Police including for false arrest, unlawful imprisonment, and police misconduct.
- Assisting clients with medical negligence claims, seeking damages for inadequate care by healthcare professionals or facilities.
What type of defamation cases can you help with?
At O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, our defamation lawyers specialise in protecting your reputation against:
- Media Defamation: Legal action against false and damaging statements made by newspapers, television, and other media outlets.
- Social Media Defamation: Representation for defamatory posts, comments, and content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Other Types of Defamation: Defence and claims involving slander, libel, and false accusations in personal and professional contexts.
Our skilled team is dedicated to safeguarding your reputation and securing the justice you deserve.
Which locations do you service?
We are located in Sydney CBD, but we assist clients across Sydney, NSW, and Australia-wide. We offer phone and video consultations to accommodate clients regardless of their location."
Do you offer no win, no fee?
Yes, in some circumstances we can offer no win, no fee agreements in several practice areas, including claims against police or corrective services, claims against institutions for abuse, and some defamation matters. This means you will not be charged legal fees unless your case is successful. We will assess your case at the outset to determine its prospects of success and keep you updated throughout the process. While you won't have to pay our legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful, you may still be responsible for your opponent's legal costs in some circumstances. Contact us at (02) 9261 4281 to discuss your case and learn more about our no win, no fee options.
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