Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers Perth

Karen Espiner is a NSW Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and founding partner at Hugo Law Group. She was named Criminal Law Partner of the Year in the 2020 Lawyers Weekly Awards.

Since 2016 she has been consistently recognised by other lawyers in the Doyle’s Guide as one of the best criminal lawyers in both Sydney and Australia. In 2023 she moved to WA to lead the opening of the Perth office.

Much of Karen’s practice is devoted to representing clients who have been charged with serious criminal offences including murder, sexual assault, drug supply/manufacture, serious assaults and money laundering. She appears in other jurisdictions including the WA Corruption and Crime Commission and State Administrative Tribunal for clients whose professional reputations are at risk. She also has a significant appellate practice, providing advice and representation to clients seeking to appeal their conviction and/or sentence to the Court of Appeal (WA) or Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW).

Recognising the value of professional collaboration and teamwork, she works closely with other lawyers in the firm to ensure her clients receive the highest level of service. Known for her meticulous preparation and persuasive advocacy, she is well respected by other lawyers, barristers and Judges.

Callum’s enthusiasm for the law is fuelled by a desire to protect and defend the rights of each of his clients.

Before joining Hugo Law Group, Callum graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Curtin University. He then worked as an Associate to a District Court Judge. In that role he developed a comprehensive understanding of a wide range of criminal matters and gained valuable insights into court processes and procedures. After finishing his tenure at the District Court, Callum worked as a Lawyer in one of Perth’s most well-regarded private criminal law firms, Seamus Rafferty + Associates. In that role Callum regularly appeared in the Magistrates Court and District Court, managing a busy workload, and further developing his advocacy skills.

As well as being an approachable and persuasive advocate, one of Callum’s main strengths lies in his ability to analyse complex problems and develop a clear and concise case strategy. Callum appears in a range of matters in the Magistrates Court and District Court including serious offences, sentencings, bail applications and traffic matters.

Jack joins Hugo after a near decade experience in the law enforcement sector. He has operated and led response teams in high risk and critical situations and is renowned and respected for his disciplined and calm approach. Most recently, Jack was employed at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) where he supported prosecutors in serious and complex criminal matters, consolidating his knowledge and expertise in Criminal Procedure and Practice.

Experiencing first-hand the injustices people who have been charged with a criminal offence face, Jack’s approach as a criminal defence lawyer is compassionate, methodical and results driven. He understands how challenging and stressful it is to navigate the criminal justice system and uses his previous experiences to provide positive outcomes for his clients.

His strengths in leadership, analysis and his calmness under pressure makes him critical to your success. No matter the situation or trouble you are facing, you can feel confident that Jack will work tirelessly to defend your rights and get you the best possible result.