Francesca was admitted to practice May 2002 in NSW and has over 20 years experience in the criminal law. Prior to coming to the Bar she was engaged in private practice, with a focus on commercial litigation and regulatory prosecutions.
Fran signed the Bar Roll in March 2006 and read with Mark Rochford QC (now a Senior Crown Prosecutor for the State of Victoria). Since then she has appeared regularly in the Victorian Court of Appeal and the Supreme, County and Magistrates' courts, predominantly as a Prosecutor. Fran has extensive trial experience in the County Court of Victoria, particularly in the area of sexual offences and Commonwealth crime including people smuggling and drug importation.
In recent years Fran has moved her focus to a practice involving public and administrative law as well as commercial equine debt collection cases and cases in the quasi-criminal law jurisdiction. She regularly provides advice to government departments and statutory authorities regarding their regulatory functions, litigation strategy, and the application of model litigant guidelines. She has also advised government agencies in relation to investigations, in particular in relation to the application of the rules of evidence, and considerations of procedural fairness.
Fran also has extensive experience in sensitive witness management, having appeared in many civil and criminal cases involving sexual misconduct and fatalities. Prior to her involvement in the law, Fran completed a science degree specialising in equine science and subsequently worked in the thoroughbred breeding, racing and insurance industries.
Fran appears in all Victorian jurisdictions including the Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates Court and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.