20+ Criminal Defence
Lawyers Firm Wide
Over 15+ Years
Experience
330 Jury
Trials
With 9 Offices Across
Victoria & Growing
At Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers, we represent clients throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria from offices in the Melbourne CBD, Ringwood, Dandenong, Frankston, Geelong, Broadmeadows, Moorabbin, Ballarat, and Werribee.
Our firm has 20 criminal defence lawyers, each with a strong record in handling serious and complex criminal matters. We are known across Victoria for the depth of our knowledge and the results we achieve for clients.
While criminal defence is our core practice, we regularly handle the full spectrum of criminal and crime-related matters, including drink driving, drug offences, traffic violations, bail applications, appeals, domestic violence charges, assault, fraud, theft, sex offences, sheriff’s office issues, and infringement warrants.
Our solicitors, paralegals, and client service staff are available seven days a week, from 7am to midnight, so we are there when you need us most. If you need a criminal or traffic lawyer, call us on 03 8357 9163.
David Dribbin is a founding partner of Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers and one of Melbourne’s most respected criminal defence lawyers. With decades of experience in the field, David has appeared in courts across Victoria — from the Magistrates’ Court through to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal — representing clients in serious and complex criminal matters.
David has been recognised in the Lawyers & Barristers Awards 2023 as one of Melbourne’s leading criminal lawyers. His profile on LawConnect reflects the firm’s reputation for accessible, high-quality legal representation, and he maintains an active presence on LinkedIn.
Mike Brown is a founding partner of Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers and brings extensive experience in criminal defence across all levels of the Victorian court system. Mike represents clients in a wide range of criminal matters, with particular expertise in drug offences, fraud, sexual offences, and serious traffic cases.
Mike was recognised in the Lawyers & Barristers Awards 2023 as one of Melbourne’s leading criminal defence lawyers. His LawConnect profile highlights the firm’s client-centred approach, and he is also active on LinkedIn.
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers has been defending clients across Victoria for over 15 years. In that time, we have built a reputation for serious criminal defence work — not just in the Magistrates’ Court, but through to the County and Supreme Courts where the stakes are highest.
Our lawyers handle the full range of criminal matters: assault, theft, drug offences, fraud, sex offences, and serious indictable charges. We know these courts, we know the prosecutors, and we know what it takes to get a good result.
Facing criminal charges is one of the most stressful things a person can go through. We focus on making the process as clear as possible — giving you straight advice about where you stand, what your options are, and what we would do in your position. From early intervention and charge negotiation through to a contested trial, you will always know what is happening with your matter.
We have offices across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Call us today on 03 8357 9163 for a confidential discussion about your situation.
Over 38,000 criminal cases defended in Melbourne.
Fighting and Winning – In Court Every Day.
A Legacy of Defence. A Record of Results.
Strength in Numbers. Excellence in Every Case.
Access our different locations in Victoria.
With 20+ criminal defence lawyers firm wide, our expertise in the area of criminal law is unmatched.
Over 38,000 criminal defence cases handled.
Ballarat Magistrates Court
Geelong Magistrates Court
We have been awarded as one of Melbourne’s Top Traffic Lawyers in both 2024 and 2025. Traffic matters make up a significant part of our practice, and we appear in them across Victoria every week.
We act in drink driving, drug driving, speeding and other major traffic offences, including driving while suspended or disqualified, dangerous and careless driving, and exceeding the speed limit by a large margin. Our solicitors appear in the Magistrates’ Courts at Melbourne, Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Moorabbin, Geelong, Ballarat, Werribee and Broadmeadows. Knowing how a particular court and prosecutor approach a charge is often what separates a licence loss from a good behaviour bond.
A criminal defence lawyer represents people charged with criminal offences. In Victoria that means advising you on the charges and the evidence, appearing for you in the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts, negotiating with police prosecutors or the Office of Public Prosecutions to have charges withdrawn or reduced, and running contested hearings and trials where the charges are disputed.
The work covers everything from drink driving and drug offences through to assault, theft, fraud and sexual offences. The goal is usually one of three things: have the charges withdrawn, secure an acquittal, or, where a plea is the right course, obtain the lowest possible sentence and avoid a conviction being recorded wherever that is possible.
If you have been charged, speak to a criminal lawyer before you speak to police.
If it is a very straight forward matter that is finalised in one day, the fee will usually range from $2000 – $3000 in Victoria. If it requires multiple adjournments or is a serious matter, then the fees will be higher. Every case is different, it depends if the matter can resolve early or will be proceeding to a contested hearing or a trial. The best course, if you have a brief or a charge sheet, make an appointment so one of our lawyers can give you a costs assessment, from there you will know. What you should not do, is not see a lawyer because you think it will cost too much, often a bad outcome can cost you a lot more.
We have several offices located at the following suburbs
You should contact a criminal lawyer immediately. Do not speak to the police without legal representation. A lawyer can guide you on your rights, the charges against you, and how to proceed.
Criminal lawyers handle a wide range of cases including theft, assault, drug offences, fraud, domestic violence, driving offences, and more serious charges like sexual assault or murder.
Not always. Some matters can be resolved without going to court, through negotiations or diversion programs. However, if your case proceeds to court, your lawyer will represent and guide you through the entire process.
Legal practitioner
A lawyer is a professional who has knowledge and skills in the practice of law. A lawyer may also practice as a barrister or a solicitor or work in any other position within the legal field.
In practice a lawyer is someone who provides legal services or practices law in any of its branches.
In the cape of legal practitioners in the countries we discuused about the cape of legal practitioners is the same as in Australia.
Prepares, under the clients’ instructions, legal instruments and other legal documents.
Consults clients and prepares legal proceedings.
Represents clients in a court of law on matters within the lower courts, however, on matters in the higher courts, they are usually required to engage the services of a barrister.
In these jurisdictions Australia, the term solicitor is a professional title which is, in the form described, subject to regulation and has a specific governing body to the title (for example in the UK the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority and the Law Society in Australia).
Learn more about how Dribbin and Brown can help by reading our frequently asked questions.
Need Help? Call our team 7am – 12 midnight (7 days a week)
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