Briana is an experienced criminal defence advocate. She accepts briefs in all areas of criminal and quasi-criminal law, including confiscation proceedings, inquests, disciplinary matters, intervention orders and proceedings conducted pursuant to the Serious Offenders Act 2018 (Vic) and the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic).
Briana has particular expertise and interest in Children's Court practice, often representing children and young people in all types of criminal matters, as well as in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.
Before coming to the Bar, Briana was a lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid, appearing regularly as a solicitor advocate in summary and indictable matters, and was a senior policy officer at the Victorian Law Reform Commission.
Briana was also the Supreme Court of Victoria's Senior Legal Registrar, overseeing applications made in the Criminal Division. From her time in this role, she has specialised knowledge of practice and procedure relating to:
- Post-sentence applications and reviews under the CMIA and Serious Offenders Act;
- Public interest immunity proceedings; and
- Other covert applications such as those under the Major Crimes (Investigative Powers) Act and the Surveillance Devices Act.
She accepts briefs in all of these areas of practice.
Briana was senior associate to the Honourable Justice Hollingworth in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Briana read with Sarah Keating and her senior mentor is Sally Flynn KC.