Hanna Legal is one of Australia’s leading boutique law firms. Based in Sydney, we specialise in criminal defence, with a focus on serious and complex matters. We also have extensive experience in regulatory, professional disciplinary and quasi-criminal matters, and act in select civil and employment law cases.
We represent both individual and corporate clients and have appeared in some of Australia’s most highly publicised cases.
Our lawyers are committed to providing first class and fearless representation with uncompromising dedication.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Hanna Legal was listed as a First Tier criminal defence law firm by the Doyles Guide.
expertise
Criminal Defence
Hanna Legal represents individuals and corporations charged with all types of criminal offences, including fraud, drug supply, personal violence, traffic matters, robbery, firearms charges, sexual assault and homicide. We routinely defend clients against State and Commonwealth prosecutions in the NSW Local, District and Supreme Courts as well as courts throughout Australia.
Our lawyers have a track record of success in bail applications, summary hearings, jury trials and sentence proceedings. Hanna Legal has appeared in some of the most high profile criminal law matters in Australia and our cases regularly attract national and international media coverage.
Appeals
Hanna Legal has vast experience and proven success in appeals against conviction, sentence and interlocutory orders to the NSW District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal and Court of Appeal. Notable cases include B v R, where the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned a conviction for murder for which our client had received a sentence of imprisonment of 34 years, and Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd v Ibrahim, which concerned the media’s right to report on court proceedings and the constitutional limits of legislation suppressing media publication.
Corruption
Hanna Legal has represented former Ministers, members of Parliament and government employees on various corruption and public office charges. Recently, we have acted for Edward and Moses Obeid in the prosecutions arising out of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s public inquiry into the grant of a coal exploration licence to a private corporation. We have also acted for Edward Obeid in his appeal against conviction and sentence for the offence of wilful misconduct in public office.
Hanna Legal has appeared for employees of government departments, including the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and Roads and Maritime Services, charged with both statutory and common law corruption offences.
Cyber Crime and Money Laundering
Hanna Legal is Australia’s premier law firm for cyber fraud cases. We have acted in hundreds of matters for persons charged with online and electronic fraud offences by the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police and interstate law enforcement agencies. Our lawyers bring unique experience and insight when representing clients in this highly technical and constantly evolving area of criminal law.
Hanna Legal has vast experience in advising and representing persons charged with various types of proceeds of crime offences, including under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Commonwealth) and Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). We have successfully defended persons alleged to be involved in international money laundering syndicates spanning Asia, the USA and Australia. These clients have included accountants, money mules, bank employees, foreign nationals and registered remitters.
Crime Commission and Other Investigatory Bodies
Hanna Legal regularly provides advice and representation to persons in relation to criminal asset confiscation proceedings commenced by the NSW Crime Commission. We also advise and appear for persons summonsed to attend for compulsory examinations at the NSW Crime Commission and other investigatory bodies, including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Police Integrity Commission and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.
Parole
Hanna Legal regularly appears before the State Parole Authority for clients seeking release to parole or reinstatement of an Intensive Correction Order. We have also successfully appealed to the Supreme Court against decisions to refuse parole, including the high profile cases of Michael Ibrahim v State Parole Authority and Emad Sleiman v State Parole Authority.
Coronial Inquests and Inquiries
Hanna Legal provides advice and representation to persons who have been subpoenaed to give evidence at the State Coroner’s Court of NSW. We have appeared for interested persons at both Coronial inquests into suspicious deaths and Coronial inquiries regarding suspicious fires.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Regulatory Advice
Hanna Legal has experience in advising and appearing for professionals facing disciplinary proceedings instituted by various statutory bodies, including the Medical Council of NSW, Health Care Complaints Commission and the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
We also advise corporate clients on an array of regulatory matters, including compliance with the work health safety regulatory regime and various regulatory regimes enforced by Roads & Maritime Services and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Civil Litigation
Hanna Legal has significant experience in commencing civil proceedings against the police for such claims as unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. We have successfully represented plaintiffs who have sued the police, including in the widely publicised matter of Shayda Ibrahim v State of NSW.
Hanna Legal also advises and appears for both plaintiffs and defendants in various other types of civil litigation, including debt recovery proceedings, contractual disputes and claims for injunctions. Our clients have included celebrities and multinational corporations. In a recent example, Hanna Legal successfully obtained a permanent injunction in the NSW Supreme Court on behalf of Uber BV and Uber Australia with costs.
Other Practice Areas
Hanna Legal also acts in select cases involving various other areas of law, including:
• Representing individual and corporate clients in relation to complaints made to the Australian Human Rights Commission;
• Appearing for clients seeking reviews of administrative decisions, including decisions to suspend or revoke hire car authorities, taxi-cab driver authorities, security licences and firearm licences;
• Representing individual and corporate clients prosecuted by the Office of Fair Trading for alleged contraventions of Australian consumer law; and
• Advising property developers in relation to developments applications and remedies available in the Land and Environment Court.
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team
Nick Hanna
Principal
Nick is the principal of Hanna Legal and has a wealth of experience in a wide range of criminal, administrative, regulatory and select civil litigation. He represents individual and corporate clients and regularly appears in high profile cases.
Nick has vast experience in criminal law and has successfully defended clients facing charges across the full spectrum of offences. He has never lost a murder trial, including in a recent highly publicised case where his client was acquitted and the prosecution was ordered to pay her legal costs.
Nick also specialises in Apprehended Domestic Violence Order applications, parole hearings, NSW Crime Commission proceedings and coronial inquests, appearing for defendants, complainants, witnesses and other interested parties.
Nick has appeared in various high profile civil matters, 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.
Nick has unique experience in complicated RMS matters, including being the instructing solicitor in the legal team which successfully represented all of the Uber partner-drivers prosecuted by the RMS prior to the introduction of ride-sharing regulations in December 2015. In addition, Nick represented the Uber partner-drivers whose vehicle registrations were suspended and he successfully negotiated with the RMS for all of the suspensions to be lifted.
Nick has developed a reputation for his exceptional work ethic, professionalism and advanced legal strategies. In 2017 and 2018, he was listed as one of the top 6 criminal defence lawyers in all of Australia and in 2016, 2017 and 2018 he was named as one of NSW’s preeminent criminal defence lawyers in the Doyles Guide. In 2018, Nick was selected as a finalist for the Lawyers Weekly Criminal Law Partner of the Year Award. 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”.
Abbas Soukie
Solicitor
Abbas is an astute and diligent criminal defence lawyer with expertise in large and complex matters. Abbas’ strength lies in his ability to deconstruct prosecution evidence, develop defence case theories, marshal crucial evidence, and strategically litigate to ensure the optimal outcome for his client.
Abbas has extensive experience in criminal law and has instructed barristers (Queen’s Counsel, Senior Counsel and Counsel) in the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeal. He has played a crucial role in some of Australia’s most serious and highly publicised criminal prosecutions, including charges of murder, drug supply, drug importations, serious assaults, firearm and serious fraud-related matters. Abbas has also instructed Senior Counsel in interstate jurisdictions, such as Victoria and Queensland. In addition, he appears as advocate on bail applications, sentence proceedings, administrative review hearings and stay applications in various jurisdictions.
Abbas is particularly experienced in advising and appearing for clients charged with political corruption, including charges of misconduct in public office. He has advised clients in relation to investigations and/or prosecutions by the Independent Commission Against Corruption as well as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Abbas has represented clients in relation to investigations and proceedings instituted by the Australian Taxation Office, as well as proceedings instituted by the New South Wales Crime Commission for the recovery of alleged proceeds of crime.
Abbas is also an accredited mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Heidi Heathcote
Solicitor
Heidi has appeared in hundreds of State and Commonwealth matters in the Local Court, District Court and Supreme Court. She has also instructed Senior Counsel in hearings in the Court of Criminal Appeal and in High Court special leave applications. In addition, she has instructed in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Heidi is an excellent advocate and works together with her clients in the preparation of matters to get the best results. She cares for her clients and is passionate about defending their rights.
Heidi is well-respected by the legal profession and was named one of Australia’s Criminal Law Rising Stars in both 2016 and 2017 in the Doyle’s Legal Guide.
Before being admitted as a solicitor, Heidi was a forensic DNA scientist and she utilises this specialist knowledge to successfully defend clients facing prosecutions involving DNA evidence.
Sabrina Wong
Solicitor
Sabrina is a valued member of Hanna Legal, having commenced in 2017. Diligent and with keen eye for detail Sabrina is particularly skilled at legal research. Approachable and with strong initiative, Sabrina contributes to all the cases which she is involved in.
Sabrina completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Criminology at the University of New South Wales.
Joshua Ibrahim
Legal Secretary
Highly organised, Joshua has proven himself to be a proficient legal secretary and office manager at Hanna Legal. Prior to working at Hanna Legal, Joshua performed legal secretarial roles at various law firms. With high energy and meticulous attention to detail, Joshua is the first point of contact at Hanna Legal and can assist you in finding the appropriate lawyer to represent you in your legal matter.
Joshua is also a Justice of the Peace.
media
2020
Footage Of NSW Police Officer Slamming Aboriginal Teenager To The Ground Goes Viral
Huffington Post, 2 June 2020
The Daily Telegraph, 23 May 2020
The Daily Mail, 14 May 2020
Fadi Ibrahim settles civil dispute with Grant Edward Simpson
The Daily Telegraph, 23 April 2020
Disgraced financial services director of CFS Private Wealth Graeme Walter Miller back at Court
The Daily Telegraph, 30 March 2020
Adam Freeman bailed twice in a week after alleged hotel damages
The Daily Telegraph, 29 January 2020
2019
Ishayat Hayat sentenced for high-speed Connells Point crash
The Daily Telegraph, 16 December 2019
Sydney men in Centennial Park arrest charged with supply of almost one tonne of cocaine
The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 December 2019
Plutus Payroll founder pleads guilty to tax fraud plot
The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 November 2019
Adelaide Now, 12 July 2019
Maha Al-Shennag pleads not guilty to manslaughter over fatal Sydney school crash
ABC News, 15 May 2019
Partner of the Year Awards finalists revealed
Lawyers Weekly, 9 April 2019
British man who spent two years in prison acquitted of raping Australian backpacker
The Telegraph, 28 March 2019
Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim challenges gun ban
Press Form, 21 March 2019
Brother of Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja allegedly bashed in jail
The Daily Telegraph, 28 February 2019
Jason Drollet allegedly caught trying to smuggle 2.7 tonnes of drugs changes guilty plea
The Daily Telegraph, 11 February 2019
Sydney teenager charged after flipping car in alleged drag race
The Daily Telegraph, 29 January 2019
2018
‘Significant crime’: Sydney woman charged over $450k cryptocurrency theft
The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 October 2018
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers – Australia
Doyles Guide, 15 August 2018
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers – New South Wales
Doyles Guide, 3 August 2018
Leading Criminal Defence Law Firms – New South Wales
Doyles Guide, 3 August 2018
‘Sustained harassment’: John Ibrahim’s lawyer hits out aver police search
The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 2018
Money laundering charges laid against accused Plutus tax fraud conspirators
Australian Financial Review, 31 July 2018
Brit expat caged over rape of American backpacker in Australia has conviction quashed after new DNA evidence emerges
The Sun, 31 July 2018
Chinese billionaire to keep his identity secret in dinner party rape trial
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 July 2018
ACCC loses coal tender cartel case, but reason suppressed
Lawerly, 6 July 2018
Alleged syndicate linked to Ibrahim family will face hearing before Christmas
The Daily Telegraph, 27 June 2018
William Siryani jailed over Sydney drug syndicate
The Daily Telegraph, 7 May 2018
Sisters arrested in $5.4 million day care fraud case free on bail
The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May 2018
Ibrahim family reunion in Court with various cases heard
The Daily Telegraph, 2 May 2018
Finalists revealed for Partner of the Year Awards
Lawyers Weekly, 26 April 2018
Finks bikie boss Troy Albert Fornaciari ‘punches injured associate or crashing his Harley’
The Daily Telegraph, 25 February 2018
Operation Veyda: Ibrahim relatives accused of involvement in alleged drugs and tobacco racket
The Daily Telegraph, 7 February 2018
Salim Mehajer’s sister lodged insurance claim after brother’s crash
The Daily Telegraph, 27 January 2018
2017
8 landmark decisions that made headlines in 2017
Lawyers Weekly, 20 December 2017
Sydney men in Centennial Park arrest charged with supply of almost one tonne of cocaine
The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 December 2017
Fadi Ibrahim no longer under house arrest after court win
The Daily Telegraph, 14 December 2017
Centennial Park arrests: Former Eels players to apply for bail
The Daily Telegraph, 14 December 2017
Sydney school crash: Maha Al-Shennag fronts court for first time over two child deaths
ABC News, 29 November 2017
Secretary who stole $500,000 from Sydney doctor jailed
Yahoo!7, 13 November 2017
School crash driver apologises ‘with all of her heart’ to family of victims
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 November 2017
Mother-of-four charged over Greenacre school crash deaths ‘deeply sorry’: lawyer
The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 2017
Fashion, tans and celebs for Ibrahim court date
The Daily Telegraph, 1 November 2017
Fadi Ibrahim to remain on bail after court finds his guarantors to be suitable
The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2017
Friends put up $2.2 bail so that Fadi Ibrahim can leave Silverwater jail
news.com.au, 28 September 2017
Ibrahim’s son denies police threat
The Daily Telegraph, 26 September 2017
Fadi Ibrahim granted $2.2 million bail following arrest over alleged role in crime syndicate
The Daily Telegraph, 18 September 2017
This is how evidence is being held back from defence lawyers at parole board hearings
Buzzfeed, 29 August 2017
Convicted NSW killer fights to be free
Channel 9 News, 25 August 2017
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers – Australia, 2017
Doyles Guide, 18 August 2017
‘King of the Cross’ John Ibrahim emerges from home following arrest of brothers, son and girlfriend
The Daily Telegraph, 16 August 2017
Clarifications and Corrections: Apology to John Ibrahim
Daily Mail Australia, 15 August 2017
John Ibrahim’s son Daniel reports into police on bail
The Daily Telegraph, 13 August 2017
Ibrahim brothers’ ‘money-man’ faces court after arrest off Dubai flight
The Daily Telegraph, 11 August 2017
John Ibrahim son’s Daniel still behind bars as he tried to make $630K bail
The Daily Telegraph, 10 August 2017
Lawyer says case against Ibrahim’s son ‘extremely weak’
9 News, 9 August 2017
Leading Criminal Defence Law Firms – New South Wales, 2017
Doyles Guide, 8 August 2017
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers – New South Wales, 2017
Doyles Guide, 8 August 2017
Bikie boss’s sister avoids jail after admitting to gun supply plot
9 News, 3 August 2017
Croom man accused of second pub bashing released on $1 million property bail
Illawarra Mercury, 11 July 2017
Anti-Uber activist Russell Howarth ordered to pay $400,000 in legal costs
Sydney Morning Herald, 9 July 2017
Fadi Ibrahim, Jamelie Lahood in court over mysterious mansion bargain
Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2017
‘No duty’ to act in public interest, Eddie Obeid’s lawyers tell court
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 June 2017
Ibrahims murder plot trial amounted to little except lawyer being struck off
The Daily Telegraph, 4 June 2017
Rose Tattoo rocker sentenced over gun plot
Channel 9 News, 2 June 2017
Sex assault victims failing to see justice done because of victim-blaming attitude
The Daily Telegraph, 5 May 2017
Anti-Uber activist banned from harassing drivers
BBC News, 4 April 2017
Andrew McManus walks free over suitcase full of cash
The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2017
Eddie Obeid blames ‘incompetent’ lawyers for his conviction
The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2017
‘If I go, you’ll go down too’: Obeid
The Daily Telegraph, 11 March 2017
Kidnap ‘victim’ defends alleged attacker
Sky News, 1 March 2017
2016
Killer cabbie jailed for leaving elderly woman to die in hit and run
7 News, 14 December 2016
Husband ‘cut open’ after wife’s ‘black magic’ curse
News.com.au, 4 December 2016
Doctor’s overdose death prompts warning over misuse of anaesthetics
The Guardian, 24 November 2016
John Ibrahim’s sister and her partner plead guilty to gun charges after police find 18 weapons in 2014 house raids
The Daily Mail, 14 November 2016
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers 2016
Doyles Guide, 1 September 2016
‘Killer-for-hire’ Maximilian Mazzilli guilty of murdering crown witness Gemahl Maika
The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 August 2016
NSW man charged over machete attack
NSW man charged over machete attack, 7 News, 20 April 2016
‘Killer for hire’ allegedly murdered witness as retribution
The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2016
Anaesthetist admits disposing of drug paraphenalia following fiancee’s death in Neutral Bay home
The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 February 2016
Albanian accused: $600,000 safe and ATM spree leaves alleged blowtorch gang feeling the heat
The Sunday Telegraph, 23 January 2016
2015
Top cop ordered Ibrahim Star ban
The Sunday Telegraph, 11 October 2015.
UberX case broadens into quasi-class action
The Australian Financial Review, 6 October 2015
UberX car suspensions delayed, rental cars promised to drivers
The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October 2015.
Promoter Andrew McManus has had his passport returned to go to NZ with KISS
The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 September 2015
Melbourne music promoter Andrew McManus charged in FBI, NSW Police sting
The Daily Telegraph, 11 September 2015
Charges dropped against uberX drivers but government warns of campaign to come
The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 2015
Cyber fraudsters rack up 150 offences
7 News, 24 July 2015
Masters of defence: The Sydney lawyers acting in some of the state’s biggest drug cases
The Daily Telegraph, 12 July 2015
Uber wins injunction to stop vigilante driver making citizen’s arrests
The Australian, 1 July 2015
Linfox employee charged with extortion
The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2015 (Representing the victim and a third party in relation to an application for non-publication orders)
2014
Underworld “enforcer” may be out by Xmas
The West Australian, 28 November 2014
Kings Cross identity Adam Freeman jailed over 19kg ecstasy drug haul
ABC News, 27 October 2014
Shayda Ibrahim settles wrongful arrest and false imprisonment lawsuit against NSW Police
The Sunday Telegraph, 19 October 2014
Marsfield man detained but not charged during recent raids is considering legal action
Northern District Times, 8 October 2014
Guns case may have missed the mark
The Sunday Telegraph, 14 September 2014 (paper edition only).
Extract:
“… But the case is heading into “uncharted territory”, say legal insiders, with lawyers for Khoder Elali, one of the men charged, challenging the constitutionality of the way the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is running their case against him. Elali’s lawyers Nick Hanna and Peter Lange have launched a bid to have the CDPP thrown out of the matter, arguing it is unconstitutional for the commonwealth authority to prosecute his client on charges that come under state legislation.”
Convicted killer Michael Ibrahim granted parole under strict conditions
The Daily Telegraph, 22 August 2014
Adam Freeman in custody ahead of sentencing hearing for making 19.2kg of ecstasy
The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 August 2014
Balcony plunger trying to handstand
The Australian, 4 August 2014
Convicted killer Michael Ibrahim to get new parole hearing, costs
The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 July 2014
Wife of Kings Cross identity Fadi Ibrahim claims police threatened her baby would be taken away unless she told them ‘everything you know’
The Sunday Telegraph, 26 July 2014
Australians ripped off in cyber sting as police reveal criminals hack into webcams to spy
Herald Sun, 23 July 2014
How a breath test popped Freeman’s pill plot
The Sunday Telegraph, 15 June 2014
Strange bedfellows arrested in massive crackdown on Sydney’s underworld
The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 2014
Third man charged over double shooting in Merrylands during botched robbery
The Daily Telegraph, 8 April 2014
Father and son sold pills worth thousands
Illawarra Mercury, 30 January 2014
2013
Sydney’s top barristers, solicitors and lawyers who handle the city’s biggest cases
The Sunday Telegraph, 19 October 2013
Second man arrested over sex club shooting
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 October 2013
Kings Cross club owner Adam Freeman admits to $3m drug manufacture
The Daily Telegraph, 4 September 2013
Man threatened with a machete, shot at, hit by a car in Parramatta
news.com.au, 8 August 2013
Report details corruption among Customs officers at Sydney international airport
ABC News, 22 June 2013
How elite police stopped heavily-armed men from hit on armoured van
The Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2013
NSW Police nab alleged Liberty Reserve fraudster
ITnews, 11 June 2013
Bail revoked for al-Ahmadzai over ATM theft
The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 2013
Radical Milad Bin Ahmad Shah Al-Ahmadzai threatened to slash intelligence officer’s throat
The Daily Telegraph, 29 May 2013
Police raids aim to cripple Middle Eastern crime families
The Daily Telegraph, 10 May 2013
Key Ibrahim witness fled the country before trial
The Sunday Telegraph, 31 March 2013 (paper edition only).
Extract:
“The missing witness was just one of several issues faced by prosecutors, who last month withdrew charges against [Fadi] Ibrahim despite it appearing to be a strong case. The withdrawal received scant media attention due to a mountain of suppression orders associated with the case. It was the latest failure in a long line of failed prosecution attempts against different members of the Ibrahim family. … A jury took seven hours to acquit Michael [Ibrahim] and [Rodney] Atkinson. Fadi was to be tried separately for medical reasons. His lawyer Nick Hanna said the case against Michael Ibrahim and Atkinson wasn’t strong and that the case against Fadi was ‘even flimsier’”.
Murder case against Fadi Ibrahim dropped
The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 2013
2012
When the borders break down this nation is in serious trouble
The Daily Telegraph, 21 December 2012
Ibrahim acquitted of murder plot charge
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 December 2012
Prosecutors given more time in AusPost Glock Case
ABC News, 17 July 2012
Court overturns ban on Ibrahim web articles
The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2012
Bail for man ‘weak’ in drugs case
The Border Mail, 9 November 2014
Murder plot was payback for Ibrahim shooting, court told
The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 April 2012
Ibrahims walk after kidnap case thrown out
The Daily Telegraph, 21 February 2012
2011
Cage-fighting Ivy bouncer given bail
ABC News, 1 September 2011
Skipper jailed over boat deaths
The Australian, 9 September 2011
Crime gang’s key ring guns racket
The Daily Telegraph, 11 September 2011
“Fadi Ibrahim ordered to stand trial”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 2011
Hoxton Park High School a ‘safe, caring’ place after brawl
Liverpool Leader 9 March 2011 (online edition no longer available)
Fadi Ibrahim’s baby bail reprieve
news.com.au, 20 January 2011
2010
‘Party animal’ Fadi Ibrahim told he risks losing bail
The Daily Telegraph, 3 December 2010.