Advising Individuals & Business on Criminal Matters
Bastian Hancock Stynes lawyers is not a criminal law specialist Firm – and that is our point of difference and advantage.
Most often, the criminal prosecutions we assist our clients in defending are either quite separate from their business activities and result in day-to-day ‘mishaps’ or as a result of business ‘breaches’ that were unintended and unforeseen by you.
The Firm has a strong focus and is recognised for its considerable success in defending matters arising from the Road Safety Act 1986 and associated regulations, whether they be for allegations for excessive speeding, careless or dangerous driving, driving in a manner causing death or drink/drug driving.
The lawyers at Bastian Hancock Stynes Lawyers have also brokered extraordinarily good deals in circumstances whereby through error or omission, considerable tolls, parking or speeding fines have been accumulated, sometimes resulting in action by the Sherriff’s Office.
The Practitioners at Bastian Hancock Stynes Lawyers have also successfully defended a range of more serious offences under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic); Criminal Sexual Offenders Act; the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth); Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); Bail Act 177 (Vic); Personal Safety Intervention Order Act 2010 (Vic); Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic); and Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth).
Because we are not known as a ‘regular’ or specialist criminal law Firm, and because our clients are most often existing clients or close referrals, Bastian Hancock Stynes Lawyers has enjoyed more deferential treatment from prosecuting agencies and the courts.
In short, the approach taken is not formulaic, but tailored to your unique set of circumstances and undertaken with a balance of empathy and clever thinking, with, when necessary, serious confrontational testing of any Prosecution case.
Parenting Disputes & Arrangements
More often than not, reaching mutually agreeable post-separation parenting arrangements can be challenging due to complex legal considerations and individual expectations. While we are empathetic to the sensitive nature of your situation, our firm also provides objective and direct legal advice tailored to your unique circumstances. Our services include providing preliminary advice, drafting parenting plans and consent orders, drafting and providing advice on child support agreements, representation at mediation and conciliation, and appearing in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Regulatory Body Prosecutions
In an evermore legislated/regulated business operating environment, it is crucial to receive ‘front end’ advice to avoid future pitfalls.
It is also crucial, that if regulatory bodies prosecute you, your Company or employees, a proactive, tailor made defence is mounted by you and/or a very sensible compromise deal is brokered with the prosecuting authority.
Practice areas include:
- Alleged unconscionable dealing, misleading and deceptive conduct;
- Workcover and Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman investigations; and
- EPA prosecutions;
A recent example being, where two directors were charged with 16 offences, each against the Environmental Protection Authority Act, where total fines (including convictions) amounted to in excess of $940,000.00 for each director.
A sentence hearing indication and subsequent plea bargain with Prosecutions achieved a result where each director not only did not get a conviction, but where each was only fined a total sum of $8,000.00.
- ASIC/Ombudsman investigations.
