Top Criminal Lawyers in Melbourne for White Collar and Commercial Crime

White collar and commercial crime defence in Victoria sits at the intersection of criminal practice, regulatory enforcement, and forensic accounting. Matters in this category are typically document-heavy, multi-agency, and run over extended timelines, with parallel ASIC, ATO, AFP and CDPP involvement common. Specialist counsel matters because charge selection, voluntary disclosure decisions, and bail conditions all flow from how the early stages are handled. All lawyers profiled below are recognised by Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers.

1. Bill Doogue, Doogue + George

Bill Doogue is a Director of Doogue + George and is recognised by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence. He is also listed in Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence (2025). His practice covers tax fraud, white collar crime, complex commercial crime, and cross-border matters, with admissions in Victoria, the High Court of Australia, and New Zealand since 1991.

His work spans multiple jurisdictions including the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. This cross-border footprint is unusual among Australian criminal defence practitioners and is particularly relevant in matters involving overseas evidence, parallel investigations by foreign agencies, or extradition considerations.

What distinguishes Doogue in this category is the combination of senior trial experience, the international practice base, and the systems-driven approach reflected in his CCH technology award for database design. He runs the Australian Criminal Lawyers Conference, which itself reflects standing across the senior criminal defence community in Australia. For matters where the prosecution case is built on documents and cross-jurisdictional evidence rather than witness testimony alone, the ability to manage the brief at scale and across borders is the relevant differentiator.

2. Howard Rapke, Holding Redlich

Howard Rapke is a Partner at Holding Redlich and serves as the firm's National Head of Disputes. He is listed by Doyle's Guide as Leading in administrative law (2023) and was recognised by Best Lawyers for Criminal Defence in 2017. His practice focuses on commercial crime, regulatory matters, and complex fraud.

Rapke practises in Victoria with extension to Federal jurisdiction and brings more than 30 years of experience to serious matters. The combination of a national disputes role and criminal defence work positions him for briefs that straddle regulatory enforcement and criminal prosecution, with a negotiator's approach to resolution where that serves the client.

3. Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves and Associates

Tony Hargreaves is recognised by Doyle's Guide as Pre-eminent in Criminal Law Defence (2026) and practises as Principal of Tony Hargreaves and Associates. He has more than 30 years of experience in serious criminal defence and is admitted across Victoria and Federal jurisdictions.

The Pre-eminent ranking is the highest tier in the Doyle's methodology and reflects sustained peer recognition for senior indictable defence work. Hargreaves operates as both solicitor advocate and instructor. His practice has remained focused at the senior end of Victorian criminal defence over a long career, with continued recognition reflecting the consistency of that focus.

4. Angus Cameron, Angus Cameron and Associates

Angus Cameron is listed by Doyle's Guide as Recommended in Criminal Law Defence (2026) and practises as Principal of Angus Cameron and Associates. He runs his Victorian criminal defence practice as both Partner and Director of the firm.

Cameron operates as solicitor advocate and instructor, allowing direct conduct of contested matters at hearing or briefing of counsel where strategy requires. The Doyle's recognition places him within the published rankings of Victorian criminal defence practitioners, which functions as a peer-reviewed mark of standing in the state's profession.

5. Shaun Pascoe, Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law

Shaun Pascoe is recognised by Doyle's Guide as Leading in drink driving and traffic (2025) and practises as Partner and Director of Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law. He runs his Victorian criminal defence practice as both solicitor advocate and instructor.

The Leading ranking from Doyle's reflects sustained peer recognition in his area of focus. The firm carries his name and matters are run by Pascoe directly. The dual solicitor-advocate role gives him scope to appear personally on contested matters where that fits the case strategy.

Selection of counsel in this category depends on matter type, jurisdiction, and stage of proceedings. Early engagement of senior counsel materially affects outcomes, particularly where decisions made at the investigation or charge stage shape the options available later. The practitioners profiled above represent a starting point for informed referral within Victorian criminal defence.