Top Criminal Lawyers Serving Bendigo and Central Victoria

Bendigo and the Central Goldfields region are served by the Bendigo Law Courts, which sit within the County Court circuit for serious indictable matters. Melbourne-based senior practitioners with experience in the Bendigo courts bring the depth of specialist trial practice that local representation may not provide. 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 is the Director and founding partner of Doogue + George Defence Lawyers, a Melbourne specialist criminal defence firm he established in 1995. It has accumulated a record of more than 40,000 prosecutions defended. His admission in 1991 and Accredited Criminal Law Specialist status since 1998 mark him as a practitioner with both the longevity and the formal accreditation that serious criminal defence demands. The Pre-eminent ranking in Doyle's Guide for Criminal Law Defence is his, alongside a Best Lawyers listing for Criminal Defence (2025).

His practice is built around tax fraud, white collar crime, complex commercial crime, foreign bribery, and cross-border matters. He has appeared before the High Court of Australia and has acted for clients at Royal Commission hearings. His domestic practice spans courts in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia. His advisory work extends to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore.

The C.C.H. Legal Technology Award was won for Crimebase, a relational database he designed for criminal law practice. His national professional activities include founding membership of the Australian Defence Lawyers Alliance and involvement in running the Australian Criminal Lawyers Conference. He served for over a decade as Chairperson of the Broadmeadows Community Legal Centre. His matters have attracted reporting in The Age, The Australian, The Guardian, CNN, and the Daily Mail. A defining feature of his approach is working with clients before charges are laid, when the most important decisions about the defence remain open.

2. Howard Rapke, Holding Redlich

Howard Rapke is Partner and National Head of Disputes and Litigation at Holding Redlich, where more than 30 years of practice in complex commercial litigation, white collar criminal investigation, and regulatory enforcement have produced a recognition record that is among the most extensive in Victoria. Doyle's Guide lists him as a Leading Victorian Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer and as a Leading Australian White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime and Regulatory Investigations Lawyer. Best Lawyers lists him for Criminal Defence, Litigation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution from 2017 to 2026. Who's Who Legal has recognised him as a global leader in Business Crime, Investigations and Asset Recovery since 2019.

He practises across Victorian and Federal jurisdictions with a substantive focus on fraud, foreign bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and enforcement before ASIC and the ACCC. Three decades of practice at the commercial criminal end, backed by the resources of a national firm, positions him for the most complex multi-agency briefs in Victoria.

3. Shaun Pascoe, Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law

A Doyle's Guide Leading ranking in drink driving and traffic for 2025 marks Shaun Pascoe as a peer-recognised specialist in that category. He is Partner and Director of Shaun Pascoe Criminal Law, the Victorian criminal defence boutique that carries his name.

He practises as both solicitor advocate and instructor and conducts matters directly. His specialist Doyle's recognition, direct-conduct model, and dual advocacy-instructor capacity are the primary verified features for referrers placing drink driving and serious traffic briefs in Victoria.

4. Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull and Associates

Emma Turnbull is Partner and Director of Emma Turnbull and Associates, a Melbourne criminal defence boutique she heads. Her practice spans indictable matters and legal aid representation, giving her experience across the Victorian criminal defence profession at both the privately retained and legally aided ends of the market.

She practises as both solicitor advocate and instructor and conducts matters directly throughout. The dual coverage of indictable and legal aid work is relatively uncommon at the senior level. For referrers placing Victorian criminal defence briefs, including those within the legal aid framework, her direct-conduct practice across both categories is the relevant feature.

5. Tony Hargreaves, Tony Hargreaves and Associates

The Doyle's Guide Pre-eminent ranking in Criminal Law Defence for 2026 is the most senior tier the guide identifies, and Tony Hargreaves holds it. He is Principal of Tony Hargreaves and Associates, with at least 30 years of practice in serious criminal defence. The Pre-eminent recognition reflects sustained peer citation within the Victorian criminal defence profession.

He practises as both solicitor advocate and instructor and heads his own boutique where matters are conducted by him directly. Pre-eminent Doyle's recognition, direct-conduct boutique model, and dual advocacy-instructor flexibility define what engagement with his practice offers.

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.