O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, Sydney

03/09/2026

A bad review stings. But doxxing the reviewer?

That's a whole other problem.

A medical business responded to a one-star Google review by publicly posting the reviewer's full name and email address.

Leaving a review is not consent to being publicly identified.

Anything like this happened to you? 👇

A business exposed your details in its review reply? Learn whether it's an OAIC privacy complaint, an AHPRA issue, or defamation and what to do first.

02/09/2026

NSW has dramatically increased penalties for non-compliance with the Crime Commission, and the impact goes well beyond organised crime figures 👀

False or misleading evidence now carries up to 10 years imprisonment, up from just 2. New laws also give police warrantless access to unlock devices, and your driver's licence photo is now part of the national Face Matching Service.

If you've received a Crime Commission summons, the stakes just got a lot higher 👇

NSW's new organised crime Bill doubles Crime Commission penalties and adds facial recognition and toll camera powers. Here's what it actually means if you're ever investigated.

01/09/2026

How the Walama List helped keep our client out of custody.

The Walama List is a specialist sentencing list, currently sitting in the NSW District Court in Sydney, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who plead guilty.

Instead of a straight hearing, it builds a case plan around rehabilitation and culture before sentencing:

• A tailored Walama Case Plan, not just a hearing
• Support from Elders and Respected Persons
• Progress checked in over months, with the Walama team
• The same sentencing options remain on the table: a bond, an Intensive Corrections Order (ICO), or full-time custody

Our client's case: facing serious health conditions and a difficult personal history, our criminal lawyers built the strongest possible case, weighing those factors against the real risk of full-time custody. The result: an Intensive Corrections Order, served in the community, instead of prison.

Why it matters: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data shows people given an ICO have 11 to 31% lower odds of reoffending than those given a prison sentence of up to 24 months.

If you or someone you know is facing sentencing and this sounds relevant, our first call is free and confidential. Get in touch.

31/08/2026

Two deaths in a facility already flagged as unsafe. It's time for this to change.

We're backing the call to close the MSPC at Long Bay, add your voice and sign the petition below 🔗

O'Brien Solicitors backs calls to close Long Bay's MSPC after a damning conditions report. Read why urgent reform is needed for inmate safety.

29/08/2026

$80M in v**es, gold bullion, and luxury watches 👀

Sydney's latest organised crime bust came with a charge sheet most people don't fully understand, directing a criminal group and proceeds of crime hit very differently to a standard importation charge.

We broke it down 👇

A $80M v**e and to***co bust made headlines, but the charges that matter (directing a criminal group, proceeds of crime) are heavier than the importation offence itself. We explain why.

27/08/2026

You don't need to own a 3D printer, or have ever made anything, to be charged with a serious fi****ms offence in NSW.

Just having the file of a 3D gun on your phone or laptop can be enough to be charged with serious consequences.

We've put together a fact sheet covering what the law actually says, what police look for, and what to do if you're approached.

Worth a read if you work in tech, manufacture, or just want to know where the line is.

Charged over a 3D printed gun or blueprint in NSW? Manufacturing carries up to 20 years, possession of the file up to 14. Know your rights - call O'Brien Solicitors.

27/08/2026

We've spoken before about deaths in custody in NSW, but the issue isn't going away.

A NSW government inspector found ligature points in cells, mould, vermin, and crumbling infrastructure at MSPC, Long Bay Jail. The inspector recommended it be permanently closed.

Months later, a 19-year-old on remand died by su***de there.

Sign the petition below calling on the NSW Government to act. If this matters to you too, add your name.

https://www.change.org/p/close-mspc-at-long-bay-jail

26/08/2026

Another 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I had my first experience in court, Brooke Collins was representing my son on an assault charge. With great advice and confidence, her professionalism is outstanding.

So young and beautifully polished. Brooke excelled and got us the best results. We are very happy. Thank you, Peter and Brooke."

Thank you for trusting Brooke and our Principal, Peter O'Brien, with something this serious.

25/08/2026

Three professional athletes stopped an ABC journalist from publishing their private group chat messages.

Not through defamation.

Here's how that's legally possible 👇



https://obriensolicitors.com.au/private-messages-gag-order-nsw/

23/08/2026

Think a small parcel of steroids means a small charge? Not necessarily.

The offence threshold for steroid importation isn't based on how much you imported, it's based on purity.

A handful of high-concentration vials can breach the "critical quantity" and trigger a far more serious charge than a much larger batch of low-purity tablets.

If Australian Border Force has intercepted a package addressed to you, or you've had a visit from investigators, a seizure isn't a conviction, but how you respond next matters.

Our latest fact sheet breaks down:

🔹 Why steroid importation is charged under the Customs Act (not the drug laws most people assume apply)
🔹 How the "critical quantity" threshold decides which offence, and which penalty, applies
🔹 Why personal use vs. commercial-style evidence changes how a case is treated
🔹 What to do (and avoid) if ABF contacts you

Read the full guide below.

Facing something similar? Our team acts from the moment you're first contacted.

Caught importing steroids into Australia? Learn the Customs Act penalties, your rights with ABF, and how a lawyer can help your case.