Lawyers at National Criminal Lawyers
Principal Lawyer (LLM, LLB, GDLP)
Michael Moussa
Michael Moussa is the Principal Lawyer of National Criminal Lawyers® and exclusively specialises in Criminal Law. He is the force and drive of the firm and is responsible for some of Sydney’s most high-profile matters.
CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER
Matthew Fernandez
Timothy Stern commenced his legal practice at National Criminal Lawyers® in 2023, with his sole focus being criminal and traffic law. Tim graduated with Juris Doctor at UTS in 2019 with graduate legal practice certificate in 2022.
Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer
John Amiradakis
John Amiradakis is an experienced solicitor with over 20 years of experience in various fields within the legal profession, working abroad in South Africa and locally within Australia now for 8 years. He is National Criminal Lawyers’® Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer.
Michael Moussa
Michael Moussa is the Principal Lawyer of National Criminal Lawyers® and exclusively specialises in Criminal Law. He is the force and drive of the firm and is responsible for some of Sydney’s most high profile matters.
Michael is both a member of the Law Society and also a member of the Criminal Division of the legal aid panel.
Michael has worked with and managed some of Sydney’s best Criminal Law firms and has obtained outstanding results in what others may describe as some of the most complex of cases.
Michael is a renowned criminal lawyer for his advocacy skills and putting the prosecution to vigorous testing. Michael’s courtroom style and demonstrated ability to crack even the most compelling witnesses has led to him being nationally recognised as an outstanding criminal defence lawyer.
Michael has appeared in high profile criminal cases, including Indecent Assault charges, Acts of Indecency charges, Fraud charges, Manslaughter charges, and Abduction charges. Appearing daily in the Local Courts, District Courts, Supreme Court of NSW, and the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Michael is passionate about ensuring that justice is seen and served for all his clients and gains no better satisfaction than winning his cases, regardless of how small or complex the matter is.
Michael also specialises in Apprehended Domestic Violence Order applications, parole hearings, NSW Crime Commission proceedings and Coronial Inquests. Some of the best advocates of our time, including Supreme Court Judges and Senior Counsel, have mentored Michael’s rise as a criminal lawyer. He is only one of the very limited criminal lawyers in Australia who has completed a Masters in Law (Criminal Practice).
Michael has an Egyptian Australian background and speaks Arabic fluently. He has a large middle eastern clientele in Western Sydney. He has a wealth of experience in complex and serious criminal cases and possesses the skill to digest enormous amounts of material, and issue resolve, whilst formulating the best of case strategies that will result in the dismissal of charges and not guilty verdicts. Michael has conducted a number of presentations for advocacy which has allowed him to be a highly respected courtroom lawyer.
Michael has become an advocate for those mistreated by the police. His passion is helping those who have been made vulnerable and aggrieved by the improper conduct of police during a person’s arrest. He is an advocate who ensures that both the NSW and Federal Police conduct their inquiries within the parameters of the law.
Michael prides himself on providing clear and accurate legal advice, with a careful assessment of each case. He takes pleasure in securing the best possible result for his clients, helping to bring them a step closer to putting their lives back on track. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the criminal field ensuring that all clients are treated fairly during all proceedings. He continues to strive to protect the rights of those who have been accused of criminal offences. Michael is a dedicated, focused, and ambitious Criminal Lawyer who is a defender of the rights of those charged with Criminal and Traffic offences.
If you wish to get in contact with Michael for a FREE consultation for any of your legal issues, contact National Criminal Lawyer’s office on 1800 CRIM LAW and our warm and caring administration team will schedule an appointment that’s suitable for both parties.
Matthew Fernandez
When you are charged with a criminal offence, you do not need false reassurance. You need to know where you stand, what the evidence says, and what can be done about it.
Matthew Fernandez is a Criminal Defence Lawyer at National Criminal Lawyers® who combines experience in criminal defence with previous work inside the prosecution and corrections systems. That experience gives Matthew a unique perspective when assessing a criminal matter: he understands not only how a defence lawyer approaches a case, but how the prosecution and corrections system assess the people and evidence in front of them.
Before entering private criminal defence practice, Matthew worked as a Solicitor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). During his time at the ODPP, Matthew worked with criminal matters from the prosecution side, including assessing briefs of evidence and considering the issues that arise when a matter is prepared for hearing or trial. He now brings that experience to the defence of his clients.
When reviewing a prosecution case, Matthew looks beyond the allegations themselves. He examines the evidence supporting each allegation, the consistency and reliability of the material, what may be missing from the brief, and whether the prosecution can establish the offence it needs to prove.
That work can sometimes identify issues that are better addressed before a matter reaches a defended hearing or trial. Where appropriate, Matthew makes representations to police or the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking the withdrawal, reduction or resolution of charges on more favourable terms.
Where there are genuine concerns about police conduct or the way a person’s legal rights have been treated, Matthew also considers whether applications for costs or other appropriate remedies should be pursued.
For someone facing a serious sentence, the prospect of imprisonment can be the most frightening part of the criminal process. Matthew has particular experience that is relevant to this stage of a matter. Before practising as a lawyer, he worked as a Community Corrections Officer with the Department of Communities and Justice.
In that role, Matthew was involved in the preparation of reports and assessments used in the corrections and sentencing process. He therefore understands the practical considerations that can arise when a person is assessed by Community Corrections.
This experience is particularly useful when preparing clients for interviews and assessments. People can sometimes give answers that they intend to be helpful but which do not communicate their circumstances, rehabilitation or level of insight in the way they intended. Matthew is careful to explain these important details to clients, so that they understand what they are being asked, what information is relevant, and how to explain their circumstances accurately and honestly.
He then works to ensure that the Court has the material it needs to properly consider the alternatives to full-time imprisonment, where those alternatives are available on the facts of the case.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology as well as his law degree. His psychology background is particularly relevant to criminal defence because clients do not give instructions in a vacuum. They may be frightened, embarrassed, angry or under enormous pressure. That can affect how they remember events and how they communicate them. Matthew takes this into account when obtaining instructions. He does not approach a client by assuming that a person who is struggling to explain an event is necessarily being evasive or dishonest. Instead, he takes the time to establish what happened and to distinguish mere allegations and assumptions from provable facts corroborated by evidence.
His approach is non-judgmental and practical. Clients need to be able to tell their lawyer the difficult parts of their story. Matthew understands that his job is to listen carefully, test the evidence and give honest advice, not to judge the person sitting across the desk.
Matthew has experience as a solicitor in complex criminal matters reserved for the District Court and Supreme Court, including the most serious of criminal offences punishable by life imprisonment. His experience means that clients can speak to him about difficult allegations without worrying that the nature of the allegation itself will affect the quality of the legal advice they receive.
Matthew’s approach is straightforward: understand the allegation, understand the evidence, identify the issues that matter, and determine the strongest course available in the circumstances. Sometimes that means fighting a charge at hearing or trial. Sometimes the better result comes from identifying a weakness in the prosecution case and addressing it before a hearing is necessary.
Where a client is facing sentence, the focus may be on presenting the circumstances of the offence, the client’s personal history, rehabilitation and prospects in a way that gives the Court a proper basis to consider the available sentencing options. Matthew does not believe clients are helped by being told what they want to hear. They are entitled to candid advice about both the strengths and weaknesses of their case.
A criminal allegation can make everything feel uncertain at once. Matthew’s role is to bring some structure to that uncertainty: to understand what has happened, assess the evidence, explain the risks and opportunities, and work with you on what should happen next. You do not have to work out the criminal justice system on your own. The first step is getting someone who understands the system to look carefully at your case.
John Amiradakis
John Amiradakis is an experienced solicitor with over 20 years of experience in various fields within the legal profession, working abroad in South Africa and locally within Australia now for 8 years. He is National Criminal Lawyers’® Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer.
He obtained his law degree from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2003 and was admitted as an Attorney in the High Court of South Africa in 2006. He later did his law conversion through the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW in 2016. His years of experience as a legal professional both abroad and locally, enables him to provide sound legal advice and deliver exceptional results to all his clients.
John’s experience in litigation has allowed him to use his skills in various areas of the law which include commercial law, liquidations, employment law, criminal, and traffic law. He has practiced exclusively in criminal and traffic law for several years of late and has a passion in this field.
John strives to achieve excellent outcomes for all his clients as he is a good communicator and gives honest and upfront advice, so clients feel at ease and there is a “no surprises” approach. He is both professional and personable at the same time.
John, as a Senior Criminal defence Lawyer for National Criminal Lawyers®, holds a large caseload filled with various different criminal and traffic matters, including various high profile cases.
He is able to relate to people from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. John understands that when people are charged with criminal offences that this causes them stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in their lives. He is thorough and diligent and goes out of his way to make clients of National Criminal Lawyers® feel comfortable, well informed, and prepared. He is with them every step of the way.
John’s extensive experience has made him an effective and fierce cross examiner and his success in conducting Local Court Hearings and District Court all grounds appeals and severity appeals is testament to his strong work ethic and dedication to his clients and his work. His experience and preparation, no matter how big or small the matter is, is key to him achieving fantastic outcomes.
John has conducted numerous Local Court hearings all over Greater Sydney and NSW. In the last few years, he has a achieved a win ratio of 85% of all defended hearings. He is meticulous and analyses briefs of evidence thoroughly. His attention to detail is exceptional and this allows him to carefully absorb and dissect his cases, identifying both strengths and weaknesses in every matter he deals with.
Where a prosecution case is strong and the evidence is not in favour of the accused person, he negotiates the charges and the facts with the police and/or the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that the most lenient outcome can be achieved for his clients.
He also conducts numerous sentencing hearings, mental health applications and release applications on behalf of National Criminal Lawyers®. He instructs both psychiatrists and psychologists in matters where mental health is an issue and ensures that psychological reports are used effectively as and when required. His matters range in various complexities and types and he has dealt with inter alia domestic violence matters, including defending of Apprehended Violence applications, drink driving and drug driving, assaults of all nature, affrays, drug possession and drug supply, aggravated break and enters, driving whilst disqualified and suspended and license appeals.
John’s passion for people and the law and obtaining outstanding results for his clients is testament to his strong work ethic and communication skills.
An example of one of John’s successful outcomes within National Criminal Lawyers® was a case where a father was charged with assaulting his son of 8 years of age causing actual bodily harm. The bruising to the child was extensive and a court would generally find that a term of imprisonment would be warranted. This is because domestic violence offences are of a serious nature. The offence was committed in the home of the child, a place where he is supposed to feel safe and secure and due to the vulnerability of the young child. Upon taking instructions from the father, it appeared he may have significant mental health issues which have been ignored and pushed aside for a number of years. John instructed a psychologist to prepare a psychological report and it transpired that the father had complex PTSD along with depression and anxiety. The father was himself subjected to physical, verbal, and emotional abuse as a child at the hands of his stepfather. Whilst his actions to his son were unlawful and could in no way be regarded as lawful chastisement, the court placed great weight on the psychological report of the psychologist as a mitigating factor in his sentencing. This enabled the father to commence counselling to address his mental health issues and complete a domestic violence programme. In the absence of the psychological report, the father would almost have certainly been sentenced to a term of imprisonment. This was avoided and he received a good behaviour bond.
Another example is where a person was found guilty at the conclusion of the local court hearing. Advice was given to the client to lodge an all-grounds appeal which John did. John argued that the complainant in the matter was not an accurate, honest, and reliable witness. John pointed out all the contradictions and inconsistencies in the complainant’s evidence including her prior inconsistent statement. The District Court agreed and upheld the appeal. The final AVO was further dismissed by the Court. The client was relieved and could apply for his Australian citizenship and his good character was maintained.
Outside of work, John is a devoted family man, and his focus is on his two sons, his wife, and his beloved sausage dogs. He is an avid golfer and has represented his golf club at a scratch league level for a number of years.
