Ben Watson Email & Phone Number

I am a tenacious lawyer and practice predominately in the area of criminal defence law and quasi-criminal law. I appear in summary and indictable matters triable summarily, instruct in indictable matters in the County and Supreme Courts, as well as Intervention Order proceedings acting for both the Applicant and Respondent. I have appeared in cases relating to all types of offences including assaults, sexual offences, fraud and dishonesty offences, property offences, drug trafficking, driving offences, firearms offences and family violence matters.I have also appeared in regulatory matters relating to prosecutions by organisations such as Local Council Prosecutions, Safe Transport Victoria, RSPCA, Worksafe, TAC and defending working with children check registrations and security licence registrations.I am able to appear in Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal matters, as well as IBAC, Office of the Chief Examiner, Australian Crime and Intelligence Commission and Royal Commission hearings.I have instructed Counsel in Court of Appeal matters (Laa v The Queen [2020] VSCA 136).I have appeared on behalf of an artist who had painted a portrait of the late Shane Warne: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/26/melbourne-street-artist-spared-conviction-over-shane-warne-mural I am the founding member of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Network Victoria and I am also a member of Liberty Victoria and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.I am an Executive Committee Member and Deputy Chair of the Law Institute Criminal Law Section, having been appointed in July 2021. I am also a member of the LIV diversion working group which is attempting to reform the diversion process in Victoria.I have studied International Human Rights Law on exchange in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a focus on the 'dirty war' for the period of state backed terrorism against political dissidents and socialists, with over 30,000 people going missing during the late 70s, early 80s.Cover art by my long time friend Shanai Kellett - https://instagram.com/malogaartPlease feel free to contact me at ben.w@johnstonereimer.com.auhttps://www.johnstonereimer.com.au/criminal-law/

Listed skills include Legal Research, Public Speaking, Legal Writing, Research, and 58 others.