Paul Blake

Paul has practiced in criminal defence law in Sydney for nearly 20 years, and legal employment here generally for nearly two decades.

After graduating from University of Sydney Law School, Paul was Tipstaff for a year to Justice Virginia Bell of the Supreme Court of NSW and Court of Criminal Appeal.

He holds three university degrees: Bachelor of Arts (hons), Bachelor of Laws (hons), and Master of Arts (British history).

He has been designated since 2013 as an Accredited Specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of NSW, meaning he is recognised officially as a practitioner of special competence in this field.

He has served recently on professional regulatory and certification committees, including two years on the Law Society’s Criminal Law Advisory Committee, and four years on the Specialist Accreditation Sub-Committee (as a member & examiner).

Paul has run scores of criminal hearings himself to not guilty verdicts and appeared in Local Courts across Sydney and regional NSW for clients in bail applications, sentencing pleas and mental health diversion applications. He appears regularly as advocate in conviction and sentencing appeals to the District Court of NSW. Paul also acts for young defendants in the Children’s Court.

He has extensive experience as instructing solicitor to counsel in District Court criminal trials. He has run matters to the Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court special leave applications.

Paul has a wealth of experience contesting and winning a wide-range of criminal charges, from domestic assault and AVOs to manslaughter; defending cases of drug supply, fraud, drink/drug driving, negligent/reckless drive causing grievous bodily harm, break & enter and robbery – as well as proceeds of crime charges, adult and child sexual assault trials, indecent assault/sexual touching and child pornography matters.

He also has overseen several complex suspicious death matters in the NSW Coroner’s Court, as well as professional disciplinary complaint matters in occupational tribunals.

He is a member variously of Legal Aid NSW’s Summary, Indictable and Children’s Law Criminal Law Panels, as well as the ‘Back Up Duty Scheme’ (South-Western Sydney).

In addition to this, he maintains a civil practice of matters arising from defeated or improperly maintained criminal prosecutions for individuals pursuing justice against the State as plaintiff parties, as well as representing personal defendant litigants against various governmental bodies and the Commonwealth of Australia. He also advises his clients in frequently arising media law aspects of their cases, such as defamation claims.

He spends his free time outside work reading history, biography, 20th century fiction, and watching films, appreciating wine, and playing tennis and touch rugby.

Any reference to a “Partner” means an employee with sufficient seniority. KPT Defence Lawyers is an incorporated legal practice and not a partnership.